You showed what?

That was a response from some teens when I told them about showing pigs.

Possibly you are wondering what showing pigs is all about and why would someone show pigs.

4-H and FFA are not as common here in Las Vegas as Texas and many miss out on the life lessons and value of raising and showing a pig.

Here are three reasons I am thankful I showed pigs for 4 years in 4-H and FFA.

(Image: Univ of Miss Ext)

1. You learn the value of borrowing money from a bank or your parents to buy a pig early in the fall. After you have raised a pig the pig goes to auction and sometimes you get big money, other times you get enough to pay back the loan and your expenses for the year.
   
2. The discipline of taking time to feed, exercise, and maintain an animal that is not a pet requires patience. (Although one year my mother let one of my baby pigs into the house several times.) There is a difference between a pet and an animal that has intentions of being showed and sold.
   
3. You do not get what you want over night. There was an inherent value in working hard trying to raise a good pig because it was about the money you could possibly make at the end of the year.
   

In essence the life lesson here is short term versus long term gratification.

Did I mention I won showmanship in my age division on year, yep, I am a pig master.

Now you know something about me you probably never knew. What are those random things in life that you look back on and would like to share?

Leave a comment and let me know about your pig showing abilities or dare I say quilting abilities (yep did that to).