AUBURN - Swine Showmanship requires dedication, practice, and a deep understanding of the animal.
It involves the presentation of the animal to showcase its best qualities and features and includes many aspects like grooming and presenting the pig in a way that shows its strengths.

 The competitors are not only judged on the appearance of the swine, they are judged on how they handle and control their pig in the ring. It takes patience and practice to be able to effectively showcase their hog to the judges. 

At the Nemaha County fair this year, there were 18 people who competed in three different age groups. Each person took the time to get their hogs show ready. These animals can be very frustrating and hard to control but Heidi Gerdes made it look simple.

 


She almost always had her swine in the middle of the ring and had strong eye contact with the judge the whole time. Heidi was named Champion of swine showmanship in the senior age group. Olivia Nichols also had good authority over her hog, and did not struggle to move her swine to where she wanted it. She was awarded reserve champion. 

 In the Intermediate division there were six competitors all trying to show off their pigs to the best of their ability to the judges.

Macy DeBuhr was praised on how well her hog cooperated and obeyed her. The judge made the claim “it’s obvious she works with her hog a lot outside of showtime.”

 

That is what would make her stand out from all the others and make her the champion. Addison Volker stayed calm and collected the whole time even with her pig being difficult. Reserve champion would be given to her.

 Carson DeBuhr stood out greatly in the Junior division, as he had the most control over his pig throughout the competition. He did an outstanding job at leading the hog to the center so the judge could get a good look at his whole animal. Carson was named champion of swine showmanship in his age group.

Micheal Woerlen got reserve champion due to his ability to remain great eye contact with the judge, even when his hog was not cooperating.