Its very impressive to watch a 10-year-old manhandle a 275-pound hog. Leading up to Thursday nights swine show at the Allen County Arena, Josey Ellis of Humboldt, tended her pig, Pete. At our first introduction, Pete was asleep in his stall. He does that a lot, Josey said. He is, after all, only 6 months old. Josey hopped in and began to gently nudge the beast with her boot as she cooed sweet nothings. Pete acknowledged Josey with a grunt, but kept his eyes firmly shut. Josey then became slightly more aggressive, pushing one side of Pete and then another. Still nothing. Then came the slapping, loving but firm. OK, OK, Pete grumbled, as he came to. Meet Pete, Josey said. I kept the gate between us. Josey is a member of Logan Pals 4-H. She is the daughter of Scott and Amanda Ellis, who farm south of Humboldt, and is their eldest daughter, followed by Jadey, 7, and Jesey, 3. All three girls showed their pigs Thursday evening. Ive been doing this for four years, Josey said in a confident manner. Tomorrow I show my horse, Bill. Then on Saturday my steer, Oreo. I thought to myself, And theyre even bigger. Bill is a Palomino. Oreo, a crossbred roan, black with white spots, Josey said.
Pete, meanwhile, is a solid brown Berkshire, who enjoyed having Josey brush his coat to a luster and mist him with cool water.
LEADING up to show time, Josey imparted all her wisdom on how to show a pig as part of an arrangement in which 4-Hers instructed local celebrities in the art.
I now see we were the comic relief of the evening.
If you want him to go left, tap his right shoulder. For right, tap his left. You can also tap his nose, she said, but I wasnt clear on what that message gave. And were talking about a 2-ounce plastic switch that you could handily break across your knee.
You want to be like a ham sandwich, she said. You and the judge are the bread; Pete is the ham.
Always keep Pete between you and the judge. And smile!
Of course Josey made it look easy-peasy, tap-tap-tapping Petes sloping shoulders as they paraded the arena.
After trying it myself, Im not so convinced pigs are all that direct-able. Perhaps its in the wrist.
Joseys distinct advantage is that she is not the least bit intimidated by something five times her size, whereas I was Jell-O.
Once let loose in the arena, it was mayhem. Hogs going every which way with me pathetically calling out, Here Petey! This way Petey! Tap, tap, tap.
City Administrator Sid Fleming could relate. You could see the fear on our faces, whereas old-timer Loren Korte just chuckled as he strolled the arena.
IM JUST glad my performance did nothing to reflect on Josey.
But Josey took it with grace.
Thank you for coming, she said afterward. I hope you had a good time.
