After months of hard work and dedication, the Decatur County 4-H Swine Show Team kicked off the spring show season at the Winter Pig Classic in Perry, Ga on January 11-13, 2019. The Winter Pig Classic is hosted by the Decatur County Young Farmers at the Georgia Agricenter in Perry, Ga with approximately 960 total swine entries from Georgia, Florida and Alabama.

Taylor Barber placed 2nd in senior showmanship and received 1st in class with her market barrow and was awarded reserve heavy- weight champion in division. Jake Barber placed 4th in 4th grade showmanship and won a class with his Yorkshire. Jake was also awarded Grand Champion Prospect Yorkshire. Preston Lynn received 5th in 4th grade showmanship and placed 3rd in market class with his crossbred hog. Langston Bennett received 5th in class with his crossbred market hog and Brannon Parker was named 8th in market class with his crossbred gilt.

Pre-Club showman Scott Ross Hayes won 3rd in 2nd grade showmanship. He also received 1st in class with his market gilt and 5th in class with his market barrow. Charlie Griffin placed 5th in Pre-K and under showmanship while Kirksey Hayes was named 7th.

Other exhibitors representing Decatur County 4-H included Abby Bennett, Kristin Bennett, and Madison King. Pre-Club showmen that represented Decatur County included Crosby Giddens and Heidi Griffin.   

Decatur County 4-H swine exhibitors Madison King and Preston Lynn represented Decatur County as they competed with their market hogs at the 2019 ABAC FFA Swine Classic held on February 2nd in Fitzgerald, Ga. Scott Ross Hayes, Pre-Club showman from Decatur County, also exhibited at the ABAC FFA Swine Classic where he received 3rd place honors with his market barrow in weight class and 4th place with his market gilt. Additionally, Scott Ross attended the Georgia National’s Biggest Little Show in Fitzgerald on February 9, 2019.

His market gilt received 1st in weight class and his crossbred barrow placed 4th in class. The Georgia National’s Biggest Little Show is specifically targeted to highlight those youth that do not meet the Georgia Junior National Livestock Show age guidelines.

Congratulations to each of these students for their diligence and industriousness.  Youth involved in the livestock program are challenged with real-life issues as they learn responsibility through raising, showing and judging livestock. Livestock projects give students the opportunity to practice and acquire new knowledge in the fields of animal science, business, time management and leadership.

For more information about exhibiting livestock, please contact the Decatur County Extension/4-H Office at 248-3033.