Tuesday, July 31, 2007 1:03 AM CDT
4-Hers go hog wild at Coles County Fair swine showing
By LISA BARTELT, Staff Writer
lbartelt@jg-tc.com
CHARLESTON — While some youngsters spend their summers lazing around; 9-year-old Charlotte Jaeger of Ashmore has been showing pigs every weekend.
She placed fourth at the World Pork Expo in Des Moines, Iowa, and on Monday, she added to her accolades a junior showmanship award from the Coles County Fair. It was her 14th show of the summer, but her first time at the 4-H Swine Show.
“I like him because he’s well-behaved — sometimes,” she said of the pig she showed. “He likes to squeal a lot.”
The senior showmanship award went to Coartney Campbell, 19, of Charleston, who entered her final 4-H Swine Show this year after 10 years of entries.
Campbell said she was glad to go out on a high note with a showmanship award.
“You have to know your pig and be respectful of other pigs,” she said of being a good showman. “You make sure your pig is cleaned up. And just have respect for others.”
Jeff Galle, who judged the swine show, said showmanship is about preparation, not the pig.
“Both did an excellent job of having their pigs prepared,” he said. “They drove their pigs with confidence and authority. It’s learning to present your animal at its very best.”
Two other area girls also took home top honors from the swine show.
Amber Veach, 16, of Oakland brought a champion boar to the show.
“We walk him every day for a month before the fair,” she said. “I knew he was good, but I was just happy to get champion.”
Veach, who has been showing pigs for three or four years, said she’s taking the champion boar to the state fair next month.
“He’s sound, wide, has a lot of muscle,” she said. “Overall, he’s just a good pig.”
Brooke Homann, 12, of Charleston, won the award for grand champion market hog.
“He likes to run,” she said of her pig.
It was a relief to be named the winner, she said.
“It’s hard work,” Homann said. “My brothers help me a lot, but you have to work for it. It doesn’t come easy.”
Galle said for the boar and market hog, he’s looking for a combination of factors for a winner.
“You combine meat and muscle quality, structural correctness, but you want it to grow and perform and be profitable,” he said.
Galle has been judging swine shows since 1974, and during Monday’s show, he repeatedly said it was difficult to choose only one winner.
“The kids all do a nice job,” he said.
Contact Lisa Bartelt at lbartelt@jg-tc.com or 238-6858.
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Amber Veach, whose animal won champion boar, shows her award at the fairgrounds in Charleston on Monday. Kevin Kilhoffer/Staff Photographer
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