Heidi Fuchs has already had a busy week.
After settling her two pigs into their pen and her steer into a stall at the Chelsea Community Fair on Monday night, she spent Tuesday moving into her new housing at Michigan State University before heading back to the fair grounds to ready her pigs to show Tuesday night.
The 18-year-old daughter of Dan and Ali Schneider of Dexter, plans to major in animal science, and after graduation, work in the livestock industry in some capacity.
But first, Fuchs, 18, plans to thoroughly enjoy her last Chelsea Community Fair as a youth exhibitor.
Fuch’s fair week got off to an incredible start. She was named the senior showmanship winner, and her pig, Petunia, was chosen as the champion guilt (female) winner and ultimately grand champion pig.
This was a first for Fuchs in her 12 years showing animals at fair. She’s had reserve champion pigs in the past, but never had one of them chosen as the top swine of the night.
Petunia was judged as the best of more than 80 entries.
Born Feb. 2, Petunia was picked at the Powers Family pig auction in Chelsea. When asked what made her the top choice, even at a mere 45 pounds, Heidi said she saw something special in the young animal’s structure.
Proper feeding and conditioning took care of the rest.
“She’s stout and powerful and has a nice neck. She’s just a fancy show pig,” Fuchs said.
And, quite friendly, too.
Although Fuchs started showing feeder calves at fair, then advanced to steer, she’s always enjoyed pigs and lately, she’s placed more focus on them.
In fact, she’s really looking forward to taking a swine management class at MSU starting next week.
Fuchs is no stranger to taking top honors during her years showing at fair.
She’s shown champion feeder calves when she was younger, taken reserve honors in pigs and during the last few years, won the grand champion banner and trophy showing several different steer.
Plus, last year she was chosen as the overall showmanship winner for her knowledge of and ability to handle a variety of different livestock species.
Wednesday afternoon, she will show a steer for her last time as a youth exhibitor at the 86th annual fair.
And, although it will be bittersweet moment for Fuchs, the week’s adventures have certainly gotten off to a very sweet start.
