SAC CITY - Livestock shows at the Sac County Fair may only last one day, but many 4-H'ers spend an entire week preparing their animals for the show ring.
The washing stations were a busy place Thursday afternoon as several 4-H members began preparing for the show ring after bringing their swine and cattle entries to the barns on Wednesday evening.
Hannah Huser, 16, of Sac City, said she'd be busy with her pen of three hogs for much of the next two days, making sure they would be ready to show. She has been caring for the swine since they were just 3 weeks old.
"They're about 6 months old now," she said. "I'll show them as a pen of three and also individually."
Using a bottle of dish soap and a brush, Huser hopped into a pen with the pigs and began washing them in preparation for this morning's show.
She gets a little dirty in the process, but it doesn't bother her.
"It's one of the harder parts, but it's not too bad," Huser said.
Although they let out an occasional squeal, Huser said the pigs don't mind the washing either.
"Unless they get a bit of a sunburn; then they don't like it," she said.
Once the pigs are done in the washing station, Huser said they have to be dried.
"That can take a long time, about 20 minutes on each pig," she said. "You don't realize how much hair a pig really has until you wash and dry them. It's more than you'd think."
Huser's 12-year-old sister Nicole was also preparing to show her swine. She thinks the show ring is the easiest part.
"But washing is the least favorite part," Nicole Huser said.
Kyle Kolbe, 12, of Sac City was spending part of his afternoon in the cattle barn with his cow, Colly. Kolbe said he has been caring for Colly - now almost taller than he is - since she was small.
Thursday afternoon Kolbe washed his cows in preparation for the show and fed and watered them before giving Colly a little love. In his second year of showing cattle, Kolbe said the washing and feeding are the easy part. It is the leading that can be a bit more difficult.
"Breaking them to lead is always the hardest part," he said. "But I've got that down now."
Besides being judged in the show ring, the 4-H'ers are also judged in the barns on their herdsmanship.
Herdsmanship Judge Pete Houska, of Sac City, was walking up and down each aisle of every barn making sure the livestock, along with their pens, were well-kept.
"We looked at how clean the animals are and make sure the feed pans aren't out of place," Houska said. "We're also looking at the cleanliness of the pens and how they are bedded. Herdsmanship is a pretty big thing, especially when they are down at the state fair."
Houska said there is one thing that's considered a slight herdsmanship violation as he pointed to a little something one of the cattle had left behind.
"No messes in the pens," he said with a laugh. "Now that's one way to lose a few points."
The Sac County Fair will open at 8 a.m. today with working exhibits and swine judging and continue through Sunday afternoon.
Contact Emilie Nelson at (515) 573-2141 or enelson@messengernews.net
