This is our 3rd year doing Jr. Livestock. The first year Ford and Cambria did pigs through the FFA. They did all the care and feeding and we relied an awful lot on Mr. Walker to help since we as parents had no idea what to do.
Last year Cambria, Hannah and Sadie all raised pigs. Cambria's didn't make weight so she showed Sadie's and Hannah showed hers, again through FFA.
This year all the girls and Soren wanted to raise a pig so we went through 4H. We've had the pigs since April and they are very good, nice pigs this year. They are all big enough this year as well, in fact some are almost too big!
One of the requirements for Jr. Livestock is doing a couple of hours of service at the fairgrounds. We went early on the Saturday morning when the fair began and spent time helping spread the wood shavings in the show arena, mucking out the steer stalls and pulling weeds. It was fun to watch them do a bit of work and realize it wouldn't kill them!
Jr. Livestock has been good for our family. It has helped the kids learn to care for animals. It has caused them to do hard things like doing showmanship when they'd rather not. It has made them stretch themselves a bit further than is comfortable. Kind of hard to smile at the buyers when in the sale ring. :) It has been a source of income for them as well. I imagine we'll be involved for many years to come.
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| Sadie bucking a bale of wood shavings... |
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| Hannah, raking the fluff around... |
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| Cambria |
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| Hannah and her trusty rake... |
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| Soren trying to shovel it, which is like trying to shovel cotton balls. |
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| Cambria, Soren and Sadie |
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| Soren, Cambria, Sadie, and Hannah |
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| Making ourselves useful, getting those service hours in... |
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