by Paul Marr

Created on: July 14, 2009   Last Updated: July 15, 2009

The experience of working at the farm and participating the the county fair.

My experience with cows, pigs, and chickens was really a fun experience during my High School years. For the two years working with farm animals it was really an exciting learning experience for me. It would be nice to do it again. When I was in High school I got involved with an ROP (Regional Occupational Program) called Animal Care class which was held on River road in Salinas ,California. I was working with the farm animals. It definitely was a lot of work. As the class started my Instructor Mr. Watje told me about an FFA organization (Future Farmers of America) which I could join if I had an Agriculture class on my schedule. So I joined the club. It taught me a lot about raising livestock. Although most of my experience was with pigs, I learned quite a bit about the fair experience.

In the Animal Care class, I bought a Hampshire Hog on January 23 of 2003; it weighed about 76 pounds. This was my first pig that was raised for the King City fair, which was a really fun experience. It was a lot of work to raise the pig. I used to ride my bicycle to the farm every day, except on some days I had the day off to get out there and clean the pig pen and feed her. That alone was a lot of work. Upon arrival I was covered with sweat and very tired but still did my duty. One nice thing at least while I was in the ROP class I would get a ride with my instructor and took care of the pig.

Once it came to fair time it was lot of work to set up at the fair. We did a lot of loading and unloading. First day the pigs are expected to get weighed in. My pig weighed in at 234 pounds. She lost some weight on the way up to King City which happens on any long trip due to stress. So what happened was anyone who had a animal or a project would have to set up extra early before it came to the market round and the showmanship rounds. In the market rounds their would be a judge who would place the prize based on the pigs. It is based on muscle tone and market value which was always hard and competitive because so many other students from 4H and FFA clubs competed for 1st prize and best auction price. My first time was 8th place in market. What happens is usually to the 1st, 2nd, or 3rd place contestants they go on to another round and then possibly to a final round.

The next day sometimes is the showmanship round which is much more difficult to win at. The first time I did this, the judge placed me at 10th

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