This year, at the 76th Annual Chelsea Community Fair, the pigs have a new show day — they will lead off the livestock judging on Tuesday night, Aug. 20 at 6 p.m.
But before the swine arrive at the fairgrounds, there’s a lot to do to get ready for their arrival.
In addition to taking care of the animals and keeping a journal of their animals’ progress, including their rate-of-gain, members of the Chelsea-Dexter Swine Club were at the Chelsea Community Fairgrounds scrubbing the gating for the hog pens and setting them up in the barn last Thursday.
Swine Superintendent Joel Powers (who was the 2002 and 2003 champion) said about 38 youth will show and although the club lost a few seniors, there are three new exhibitors this year.
The 2009 champion Savanna Burchett, the 2011 champion Zeke Breuninger and the 2012 champion Amanda Breuninger are among those expected to compete.
In addition to stopping by the Multipurpose Arena for the Swine show and cheering on the youth showmen, Powers encouraged people to attend the livestock auction on Thursday, Aug. 22 at 7 p.m.
The hogs will be the third animals auctioned off to the highest bidder. Plus, the auction is preceded by a delicious buffet dinner for buyers, which begins at 6 p.m.
(Publisher’s note: I attended my first livestock auction last year and it was a blast — from the food to the conversation to the bidding. And, now that I have a new fast camera, I’m looking forward to getting great photos of the kids as they show their pigs. )
