Local swine exhibitors find success at the Indiana State Fair

Representing breeds from across the spectrum of the swine industry, Putnam County 4-H’ers represented themselves and the county quite nicely at the recent Indiana State Fair 4-H Swine Show. Bringing banners back to Putnam County are (from left) Gunnar Ensor, Chester White Reserve Champion Junior Showman; Kason Ames, Champion Division 2 Duroc Gilt and Third Overall Duroc Gilt; Matthew Goodpaster, Reserve Champion Berkshire Barrow, Third Overall Chester White Barrow; Brett Van Rensselaer, Champion Spot Gilt; Boston Clark, Fifth Overall Tamworth Barrow; and Stiles Stauch, Champion Hampshire Barrow.

Courtesy photo

mid the hectic scene that was the 2022 Indiana State Fair 4-H Swine Show, a number of Putnam County 4-H’ers came away highly decorated.

In swine circles, 2022 will be remembered for two things: 1) The year the Putnam County and Indiana State fairs overlapped due to the state swine show moving up while waiting on the new Fall Creek Pavilion in 2023, and 2) the year the pigs were shown in the cattle barn at the state fair.

While the Fall Creek Pavilion is under construction, the swine project has no permanent home at the State Fair this year. That did not mean, however, that there was no swine show.

Most recently, and with a planned return in 2023, barrows and gilts have been shown on separate weekends. This year, due to the logistics of being down a building, all pigs were shown the same weekend in four show rings — 1,530 pens and 2,350 head of swine all located in the cattle barn.

All of this began on Friday, July 29, which was actually the last day of the Putnam County Fair. To accommodate the overlap, the county swine show was actually moved forward one day from Monday to Sunday, affording the 4-H’ers and their families the time to get animals from Greencastle to Indianapolis.

Still, they had to juggle the transition of moving pigs to the state fair on Wednesday and Thursday, the same time the Putnam County 4-H Sheep Show and Supreme Showmanship were happening here at home.

Aside from this, the Indiana State Fair is considered by many in the industry to be the best and most competitive state fair in the country.

Against this backdrop, Putnam County 4-H’ers nonetheless shone brightly in the four rings of the Indiana State Fair on July 29-31.

Bringing home high honors from the State Fair were:

• Gunnar Ensor, Chester White Reserve Champion Junior Showman;

• Kason Ames, Champion Division 2 Duroc Gilt and Third Overall Duroc Gilt;

• Matthew Goodpaster, Reserve Champion Berkshire Barrow and Third Overall Chester White Barrow;

• Brett Van Rensselaer, Champion Spot Gilt;

• Boston Clark, Fifth Overall Tamworth Barrow; and

• Stiles Stauch, Champion Hampshire Barrow.

To many of these youngsters, showing livestock is their travel sport, with several traveling every weekend and across state lines to show their pigs. They gather their projects at the beginning of March and begin the process of caring and developing a bond with their animals.

Unlike many of the traditional sports, there are no days off or built-in moratorium weeks as these kids have to care for these projects every day, rain or shine, frigid or hot.

More highlights of Putnam County at the Indiana State Fair will be highlighted in the coming days on www.bannergraphic.com and in print editions of the newspaper.