The hogs are alright
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BENTON COUNTY, Wash. - You'll find almost as many FFA students in these pens as there are kids.
The Future Farmers of America members are now forced to pay more attention to their show animals and less focus on other distractions like fair food and rides.
Keith Holman is the FFA Advisor for Riverview High School. He said, "I'm seeing that there's more kids on hand. Are they liking to have to water? No."
Automatic watering containers used to be allowed. Similar to what you'd see in a hamster cage, only 100 times bigger.
"The PVC was anywhere from 4 to 6 inches in diameter usually about 24 inches tall," Keith said.
It kept the pigs cool automatically, while the kids were free to roam. Fair officials didn't think the hogs were getting enough water. So they banned the containers altogether. Students must do the job by hand every 30 minutes.
While the procedures changed this year on how Jill needs to take care of her hog Pearl, it doesn't seem to be bothering her very much. She seems pretty happy and pretty content. As a matter of fact, Pearl and Jill won the Grand FFA Champion hog prize.
Keith Holman advises the Finley FFA team. He doesn't think the pigs are being put at risk at the expense of teaching the students more responsibility.
He said, "Before, sometimes you'd walk through, you'd see some one on barn duty and the water's would still be empty."
Now, no one can cut corners on barn duty and sneak off to the midway.
Fair manager Lori Lancaster said, "There's a reason why they get to sell those animals on Friday and get a big check and it's because they've done a good job and cared for their animal."
All part of the lessons the fair is fighting to protect.
Advisors and students ask that if anyone sees a fair animal in distress or looking sick they should let someone know.
The Future Farmers of America members are now forced to pay more attention to their show animals and less focus on other distractions like fair food and rides.
Keith Holman is the FFA Advisor for Riverview High School. He said, "I'm seeing that there's more kids on hand. Are they liking to have to water? No."
Automatic watering containers used to be allowed. Similar to what you'd see in a hamster cage, only 100 times bigger.
"The PVC was anywhere from 4 to 6 inches in diameter usually about 24 inches tall," Keith said.
It kept the pigs cool automatically, while the kids were free to roam. Fair officials didn't think the hogs were getting enough water. So they banned the containers altogether. Students must do the job by hand every 30 minutes.
While the procedures changed this year on how Jill needs to take care of her hog Pearl, it doesn't seem to be bothering her very much. She seems pretty happy and pretty content. As a matter of fact, Pearl and Jill won the Grand FFA Champion hog prize.
Keith Holman advises the Finley FFA team. He doesn't think the pigs are being put at risk at the expense of teaching the students more responsibility.
He said, "Before, sometimes you'd walk through, you'd see some one on barn duty and the water's would still be empty."
Now, no one can cut corners on barn duty and sneak off to the midway.
Fair manager Lori Lancaster said, "There's a reason why they get to sell those animals on Friday and get a big check and it's because they've done a good job and cared for their animal."
All part of the lessons the fair is fighting to protect.
Advisors and students ask that if anyone sees a fair animal in distress or looking sick they should let someone know.
