4-H and FFA went ‘hog wild’
Anderson County youth excelled in the market hog show, earning many county and regional honors. Following the state show in January, members will have outstanding finished market pigs for sale. This is a great opportunity to stock your freezer with quality meat from local animals — and invest in our local youth.
Raising, training and exhibiting a livestock project is lots of hard work, but youth learn valuable life lessons in those daily chores — responsibility, work ethic, teamwork, record-keeping skills, and knowledge about raising a quality meat product, just to name a few.
This year’s group demonstrated they had learned a lot, excelling in both the county and regional shows.
Members exhibited their market pigs in the county show, earning cash premiums sponsored by Carroll Excavating, Claxton Bus Lines, Inc.; Deals Distributing; Gary Long, Anderson County Road Superintendent; Long Branch Salon; Lake City Family Dentistry – Dr. Noe; Quality Towing, Ray Varner Ford, and Robert Giles Construction.
The Grand Champion market pig was exhibited by Bryce Collins, earning $200 sponsored by Anderson Farmers Co-op.
Reserve Champion honors were awarded to Zachary White, earning $100 sponsored by Anderson County Farm Bureau.
New this year was the addition of the Premier Exhibitor Awards.This year’s honorees were Bristol Brown (4th-8th grade division) and Bryce Collins (9th-12th grade division), earning belt buckles sponsored by John’s Tire and Service.
The Showmanship Contest evaluates a member’s ability to care for, train, groom and exhibit their market pig to the judge, earning cash prizes sponsored by Anderson County Farm Bureau.
Showmanship Winners:
Explorer Grand Champion - Ella Gamble; Reserve Champion – Emma Foust
Juniors Grand Champion - Bristol Brown; Reserve Champion – Gracie Giles
Sr. I Grand Champion - Bryce Collins; Reserve Champion – Avery Chandler
Sr. II Grand Champion - Bobby Hunley; Reserve Champion – Bayley Daniels
New this year was the project record competition and skillathon contests. These events were sponsored by Giles Family Farms and Anderson County 4-H.
“All of that hard work really paid off. Nine of our youth earned “Top 10” regional honors in the Skillathon Contest,” said Donna Carter, 4-H Extension Agent.
Project Record Winners:
Elementary Grand Champion - Bristol Brown; Reserve Champion – Gracie Giles
Sr. I Grand Champion - Nicholas Monday; Reserve Champion – Bryce Collins
Sr. II Grand Champion - Zachary White; Reserve Champion – Skylar Mozingo
Skillathon Winners:
Explorers Grand Champion - Ella Gamble; Reserve Champion – Emma Foust
Juniors Grand Champion - Abby Foust; Reserve Champion – Jo Jo Hunley
Sr. I Grand Champion - Avery Chandler; Reserve Champion – Bonnie Chandler
Sr. II Grand Champion - Skylar Mozingo; Reserve Champion – Daniel Gentry
Members are now preparing for the State Market Hog Show in mid-January.
Following the show, members will wrap up their project and have outstanding finished market pigs for sale.
This is a great opportunity to stock your freezer with quality meat from local animals that have been raised utilizing outstanding animal husbandry techniques, so you know you will get a great finished product — while investing in the development of our local youth.
If interested, call Donna Carter, 4-H Extension Agent, at (865) 457-6246 or email dcarter@utk.edu.