PIGGING OUT AT 180TH CANFIELD FAIR
Contestants hog up awards, learn valuable skills for life
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CANFIELD -- Nikki Bregar is happy to see her son showing his pig, though she's probably more grateful for the likely indelible impact the experience will leave on him long after the dust settles and the last prize has been awarded.
"This is his fourth year showing his pigs, and he absolutely loves it," Bregar, of New Springfield said, referring to her son, Nathan Bregar, 13.
Specifically, Nathan was preparing to show Ferrari, his Berkshire brown pig born in February, which was among those that took part in the Market Swine Showmanship competition Thursday morning as part of the 180th Canfield Fair.
The fair opened Wednesday and runs through Monday, which is Labor Day.
The competitors were judged largely on how well they were able to connect and interact with their pigs, along with the obedience factor, Nikki Bregar explained.
The competition also is broken into senior, intermediate, junior and beginner classifications. Nathan is in the intermediate category, his mother said, adding that such placings depend on the person's age on Jan. 1 of each year.
Ferrari came from Knott Farm near Salem, Nathan said.
To get his animal ready for the event, Nathan used a common type of classical conditioning in which the teen walked Ferrari several times around the pens at the fair. Beforehand, he had walked the swine in his backyard, then got it used to a whip that was used for guidance. After that, it wasn't long before the pig was comfortably following Nathan around, he said.
Caring for a pig may be enjoyable, but it also carries with it valuable life lessons such as being responsible, disciplined and following through to complete tasks, Nikki Bregar observed. In her son's case, the work includes cleaning the animal's stall, along with feeding and walking it, even if he also was in school, she added.
"You have to have a connection with these animals," Bregar said.
Very little time was necessary to see and appreciate the connection between Maylin Hartzell of Berlin Center and her Berkshire brown pig, Gamora, which she got from Raisin' Cain Livestock LLC near Wooster, and which sports a lot of black with a white belt in the middle.
"She was third in her market class," Hartzell said as she carefully shampooed, conditioned and gently brushed her animal before Thursday's competition. "It was better than I placed last year, and I was excited about that."
Their connection, however, extends beyond the animal pens that have for generations been a ubiquitous presence at the fairgrounds.
"This pig is living the life, she gets walked daily," Hartzell said, adding, "Sometimes she can be a little spunky."
Little spunkiness was evident, though, with Tibet, a hog that Elizabeth Handwork, 13, of North Jackson got five or six months ago from Smith Club Pigs near Salem.
Tibet also was the champion for Wednesday's market hogs competition at the fair. That event was based largely on the animals' bone density, flexibility and body width, Elizabeth explained.
As a result of Tibet's top placing, the teen took home two banners and a belt buckle, said Elizabeth, who has been working with animals since age 8 and has shown them as part of her 4-H club for about five or six years.
Perhaps the most difficult aspect of the Market Swine Showmanship gathering for Elizabeth and Hartzell was having to sell their pigs at an auction Thursday evening.
"It's very sad," Elizabeth said. "It's like giving away your kid, almost."