By ASHLEY WEBEL
Sheridan High School Student
The Sheridan Student Column is brought to readers by Sheridan High School’s 10th grade English class, taught by Abby Williams.
The Indiana State Fair takes place during the month of August. During the fair, I show meat type goats and swine. This year we did not have a swine barn due to construction. Swine got bumped up over the weekend and showed in the cattle barn. They put gilts and barrows on the same weekend, which isn’t usual. The swine was the only species that was affected with the construction.
To get ready to take our pigs to the state fair we had to get a lot done. We had to pack the tack part of the trailer with our showbox, feed cart, feeders, fans, extension cords, feeder hangers, water buckets, feed buckets, cut gates, and shavings. In the showbox we pack shampoo, brushes, whips, zip ties, zip tie cutters, towels, conditioner and oil.
While we had to get everything packed in the trailer, we also had to clip some of our pigs. We cut their hair shorter to make them look better in the show ring. We will give them Vanilla Wafers to keep them calm while they get their haircut
At the state fair, to get our pigs ready to show, we wash them so they are all clean. We then put oil on them and brush it in. We also spray water on them to keep them cool. After the show, we wash them again to get all of the oil off of them and to keep them cool. We then let them lie down in their pens.
I am the only one in our family who shows goats. I have to pack the trailer with our show box, feed buckets, feeders, feeder hangers, water buckets, stands, fans, extension cords, blowers, and shavings. In my show box I pack adhesive, powderful, drench gun, zip ties, soap, hose, show halter, hoof trimmers, conditioner, show coat, and towels. A few days before we left for the state fair, I cut my goats’ hair with shears to make their hair coat shorter for the show. After I shear them, I put a blanket on them to keep them clean.
To get goats ready for a show, we rinse their legs and then dry them with a blower. After we get their legs dry, we use adhesive, powderful, and a comb to fit their legs. We also put baby powder on their bodies. Once we are done showing, we use a breakaway to get the glue out of the goats’ legs and we wash their legs. We then dry their legs, and they get to go lay down in their pens.
At the state fair I took three pigs, a Hereford gilt, cross barrow, and a duroc barrow. With my Hereford gilt, I won my class and got reserve Hereford gilt. With my cross barrow, I won my class. With my duroc barrow, I got eighth in class.
Overall, it was a really good state fair for the pig side of things. For the goat side, I took three market goats. I took a market doe who got second in her class. Along with my market doe, I brought two weathers: one got fifth in class while the other one got seventh in class. I also did showmanship and made the cut.
Overall, I had a really good state fair.