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Hermleigh ISD ag student Kami Smith demonstrated how Wilbur the pig lays down as soon as she begins scratching him. Smith will exhibit pigs in Hermleigh’s Future Farmers of America (FFA) chapter show on Saturday and at the Scurry County Junior Livestock Association Show, which will be held next week. -
Jonah Ferris walked his pig Thursday in preparation for Saturday’s chapter show.
Hermliegh ISD agriculture students will learn if their hard work pays off during Saturday’s Future Farmers of America chapter show.
Kami Smith, Kelsey Digby, Morgan Digby and Jonah Ferris will be among the exhibitors on Saturday and will also compete in next week’s Scurry County Junior Livestock Association show at The Coliseum annex.
Smith, Ferris and the Digbys have raised animals since elementary school. Smith and Ferris began in third grade. Kelsey Digby has been showing animals since the sixth grade and Morgan Digby started in fifth grade.
Smith and Ferris will exhibit pigs and the Digbys will show steers at both shows.
“It takes time to get a pig ready for the show circuit,” Smith said. “I spend time getting to know mine first.”
One pig, Wilbur, lies down when Smith begins to scratch him. Training an animal for the show ring takes months, she said. About a week before the show, Smith said she begins prepping and washing the pig.
Ferris said the biggest challenge is determining the right mix of protein and fat to feed his pig. Each pig presents a different challenge, Ferris said, adding “each pig has its own personality.”
The Digbys said they prefer showing steers because they believe they are easier to control. They place halters on the steer and walk it daily in a pen. They work together on raising show animals and Morgan Digby said they have a “friendly competition.”
Raising animals requires work and dedication, but all four students said they welcome the responsibility.
Ferris said he gains “satisfaction when his work comes to fruition (at shows).”
Smith, Ferris and the Digbys said they become attached to their animals, but Ferris tries to be pragmatic about parting with them after the show season ends.
Morgan Digby said she had cried at some events.
Last year, she and her sister hid their pigs from their father so they would not have to load them on a truck after a show.
“We got to keep them,” she said.