Published: February 06, 2010 05:28 pm      

Bringing the bacon

HoG show provides local students with learning experience

DUNCAN — The Oklahoma Club Pig Association show Saturday provided a learning experience for youths of varying ages and experiences. But despite their differences, the hog showers could all relate through their love of showing.

Five Stephens County school districts were represented by some of the youths participating in the event. There were also many students from outside the county, who chose to take part in the event at the Stephens County Fair & Expo Center. Local youths were from Bray-Doyle, Central High, Empire, Marlow and Velma-Alma.

Josh Shepherd, Marlow freshman, said he’s been showing hogs for two years and has enjoyed every moment of the experience.

“You’ve got to work for what you get,” Shepherd said. “They depend on you.”

He said he chose to show in the OCPA program because its location was convenient.

Lexi Newman, a fifth-grader at Empire, was another student from Stephens County participating in the swine show Saturday.

Newman, who’s been showing hogs about three years, said it takes a lot to take care of and show pigs. She said it’s important to learn how to properly walk them and how to use a stick to move the animals around.

“It’s a learning experience,” Newman said.

She said she wanted to start showing hogs because she enjoys them.

“I love pigs,” Newman said.

While the show provided an opportunity for students from around the region to get some showing experience, the event also acted as the Bray-Doyle jackpot.

Austin Long, a Bray-Doyle freshman, said many of the school district’s agriculture students were on hand to help out with the show, which was overseen by Danny Fisher, Bray-Doyle agriculture teacher.

Long said the show is important to help give some of the younger hogs showing experience. He said he’s been showing about six years and began when he was about 9 years old.

He said he has learned a lot from showing hogs throughout the years. But there’s two things youths are more apt to learn by having to take care of their show animals.

“Responsibility and respect,” Long said.

Although many of the participants had a few years experience going into the event, Jaycee Patterson, Marlow sixth-grader, said this is her first year to show.

“My cousin shows,” Patterson said. “It introduced me to it.”

She said she was excited about taking part in the show and putting her recently found knowledge to use in the show ring.

“It’s fun,” Patterson said.



— Derrick Miller is a reporter for The Duncan Banner. He can be reached at 580-255-5354, Ext. 160, or via e-mail at derrick.miller@duncanbanner.com.