Berry, Brattain and Koger grand champion winners

Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Jordan Berry won grand champion barrow with his crossbred barrow.

By their own admission, the duo judging Monday's swine show at the Putnam County Fair had their hands full all day. Both Brian Arnold and Mike McCoy commented on the quality of the Putnam County show.

"This is a show that's a lot of fun to sort through," said McCoy, the barrow show judge. Arnold judged the gilt show.

At night's end, the grand champions of the swine grand drive were Justin Koger in the litter competition, Kallie Brattain in the gilt show and Jordan Berry in the barrow competition.

After all the breed champion market litters from the day competition were brought out, Arnold narrowed it down to Koger's Yorkshire litter and Courtney Mann's Duroc litter.

Before making his choice, Arnold commented on his happiness that Putnam County still has a litter competition, as many county's have done away with the litter show.

"I think it's a neat part of this show that these kids get to exhibit these hogs," Arnold said.

As is the point with any good litter, he called Koger's Yorks "extremely uniform" upon choosing them.

Mann's Durocs claimed reserve grand champion.

For the gilt grand champion class, the judge once again tried to make clear what he was looking for.

"When you can keep livestock balanced and sound, that's what you want," Arnold said.

Arnold also made it clear that while some in the crowd may disagree with a judge's choices, it is his job to evaluate the best hogs as he sees them and be consistent in those evaluations.

"At the end of the day, I guess the microphone's in my hand," Arnold said.

Brattain's crossbred gilt won the grand champion's banner. The reserve grand champion prize was claimed by Mindy Fordice with her Duroc gilt.

To conclude the show, McCoy had the chance to judge what he called "an excellent set" of champion barrows.

With his choice made, the judge commented, "I think you have an excellent grand champion barrow here." He then walked across the arena to shake the hand of Jordan Berry.

The 10-year member won with his crossbred barrow.

Upon Berry's victory, the reserve champion crossbred barrow of Kristen Fordice was brought out. Although the Duroc and Yorkshire were also in consideration, McCoy stuck with the crossbreds, choosing Fordice as the Reserve Grand Champion.

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  • Justin Koger ya worked hard!! Great JOB!!

    -- Posted by sad_but_true on Wed, Jul 23, 2008, at 5:36 PM
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