Staff writer
Karl, Kyle, and Kara Riffel of Tampa were among the approximately 300 youths who attended the Junior Swine Producer Day Saturday at Kansas State University. They are the children of James and Beth Riffel and are members of the Tampa Triple T’s 4-H Club.
This was 7-year-old Kara’s first time to attend the event, which is conducted every other year. She said she learned about the different breeds of pigs. She also learned the basics of good showmanship.
What not to do?
“When you want him to turn, don’t hit him in the eye with your stick,” she said. The stick is used to guide the pig around the show ring.
She also learned how to position herself and her pig before the judge: Don’t stand too close to the judge, and be sure to give him a side view and a butt view of the pig.
Kara is a second-grader at Centre Elementary School. She had her first experience in the show ring last June when she placed third overall at the Washington County spring hog show, an event where Karl showed the grand champion and Kyle showed the reserve champion in their respective classes.
Karl, the oldest, is 14 and a freshman at Centre High School. He has been showing pigs for seven years.
Karl said there is always more to learn about showing pigs. He has attended K-State’s Junior Swine Producer Day several times.
“I learned some neat stuff,” he said after this year’s event.
Specifically, he learned about feed additives that can be used to provide the finishing touch and to build muscle on a show hog.
Karl has had the grand champion at the Marion County and Tri-County fairs several times. He also was the high-point intermediate showman in the North Central Kansas livestock circuit in 2009.
Karl sees his experience in showing pigs as the springboard to one day having his own operation. While he says the fun part now is “going to shows, seeing my friends,” he also realizes the project is teaching him about responsibility, leadership, and proper care of livestock.
Kyle, 13, a seventh-grader, has been showing hogs for five years. He said this year at the swine producer event he learned what to look for in purchasing a pig for show. He learned how to evaluate its muscle, top, and bone structure.
Kyle showed the champion York gilt at the 2009 Kansas State Fair. He said pigs are fun to raise.
“People may think pigs are stubborn,” he said, “but it’s fun training them to obey and do tasks.”
The Riffels will be showing pigs they have raised as well as some they plan to purchase soon. Their first show is April 30 at Herington.