Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First
Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First
Jordan McGinnis (15), Cameron McGinnis (6) and Connor McGinnis (13) squeeze the fencing panel together as one of their seven pigs slowly makes its way to the scale for weigh-in. This weekly process tells the boys, and mom, Julie, whether the pigs need more or less feed.
Cameron McGinnis, 6, readies the fence as his mom, Julie, coaxes a pig onto the scale with a Twizzler. This in preparation of weigh-in for the upcoming Kimball-Banner County Fair.
Cameron McGinnis, with the help of his big brother, Jordan (not pictured), squeezes a pig into a chute leading to the scale. The McGinnis boys and their mom, Julie, weigh their seven pigs one evening each week in preparation for the upcoming Kimball Banner County Fair.
All four McGinnis boys, from left, in the forefront, James (10), Cameron (6), Jordan (15), on the opposite side of the fence, and Connor, (13), begin coaxing one of their seven pigs away from their favorite hang-out, the mud, and eventually onto the scale.
A mother of four is always busy, but becomes even busier at county fair time.
That is certainly the case for Julie McGinnis, whose four boys will show their fair share of livestock next week at the annual Kimball Banner County Fair.
Her four sons, Jordan (15), Connor (13), James (10) and Cameron (6), show a total of seven pigs, one steer and a lamb for a cousin. James, who is showing the lone steer, also has a broken arm.
"Cameron is in Clover Kids, so he is doing the fashion revue and he showing a lamb for his cousin, Britton," Julie said. "It keeps me busy. Showmanship time and market swine is kind of crazy some of the time, especially if they are in the same class."
Julie spends much of her time feeding the kids, in addition to helping feed the livestock, helping clean the livestock and then cleaning the kids.
"Usually the kids are harder to wrangle than the pigs," Julie said.
The kids enjoy the pigs more when they first arrive and as time goes on, Julie said, their interest begins to fade.
The rewards outweigh the troubles, Julie said, as caring for the livestock teaches the boys responsibility. Julie and her husband, Jim, do not force the boys to participate. They are given a choice each year.
"It's either you like them or you don't," Julie said of raising livestock.
Jordan, for instance, plans to join FFA this coming school year, and he is unsure whether he will continue in 4-H. Connor has also said he will retire from the program after this year.
"I would have quit last year, but (Cameron) keeps convincing me into joining again," Connor said.
All four boys busy themselves weighing pigs, which is generally done at night, Julie said.
"For the most part we just sit back and relax," she joked while she encouraged each of the boys to coax the pig out of the mud and onto the scale.
Raising livestock and showing the animals at fair provides many benefits to youngsters, and each of the McGinnis boys have their favorite aspects.
"I like that people get to know their animals real good," Connor said. Though he said it is hard work, he likes showing pigs the best.
Like Connor, oldest brother, Jordan enjoys showing pigs. When asked why he does not like showing steers, he answered simply, "Because pigs don't stomp on my feet."
Connor said that pigs are safer, making them a better animal to show than steers.
James, however chose to show a steer this year, as well as two pigs, because his brothers would not do it. Though it has been hard, getting his steer tamed has been his favorite part.
"This year's steer is jumpy," James said. "Last year's steer, I could sit on his back."
Cameron also likes working with the pigs and said it was exciting to go to the fair to see all the animals they show.
"They show bunnies," Cameron added.
The boys clean out the feeders, feed the stock and care for them. The night before fair, the boys spray the livestock down.
The family loads up their camper on the day of the fair, loads the livestock into trailers and hauls everything and everyone into town before doing the really hard work – cleaning the pigs, though they seem happiest wallowing in the mud.
Cameron pointed out a very happy pig, "The happy ones make juicy bacon!"
