Hogs are fun and easy to work with
Hog project: Bailey Fry smiles with her pig Oliver. This was her ninth year taking a hog project to the Coshocton County Fair. Beacon photo by Josie Sellers
COSHOCTON – The hog barn at the Coshocton County Fairgrounds was bustling with activity Sunday morning as both animals and their owners got prepared for their afternoon show.
“You have to get them to 200 pounds before the fair,” said Matthew Mourer, who belongs to White Eyes Livestock 4-H Club. “You also have to walk and water them and basically take care of them like a dog.”
This is Mourer’s fourth year showing hogs and he said he’s done pretty well in the past.
“My cousin took hogs so I decided to try it,” he said. “It’s pretty fun. You just go out and have fun with your pig.”
This was Bailey Fry’s ninth year showing hogs.
“I like pigs,” said Fry who belongs to Ribbon Winner 4-H Club. “They are my favorite animal, but they also are a good project to do because they are easy to work with and train. They’ve also taught me about responsibility.”
Both Fry and Mourer said it’s important to get the pigs used to the whip, cane or pipe you use to guide them.
“You tap them kind of behind the ear to get them moving and if they stop to root around you tap them on the nose to get them going,” Mourer said.
When show time comes around Fry said you have to wash them and shave their hair down.
She brought two pigs this year, Oakley and Oliver, and plans to sell one of them at the junior fair auction.
“It’s hard to let them go when I get attached to them like I am to Oliver,” Fry said.
josie@coshoctoncountybeacon.com
Category: Multimedia, People & Places, Photo Galleries
