125th ANNUAL ALLEN COUNTY FAIR
The Jaro family learned a reality of 4-H life when their youngest, Teghen, now 10, sold her first pig, Cocoa Joe, at the Allen County Fair Livestock Auction three years ago. She spent two hours saying goodbye to the Duroc hog before it was loaded into a stock trailer.
Later, when Teghen and her mom went to Bollings Meat Market in Moran to pick up the check, Sharon Bolling gushed: That pig tasted so good. It was the best meat. When Sharon saw Teghens eyes begin to swell, she reversed course: I mean, hes on vacation. Hes at the beach, drinking a mai tai.
But Teghen understood and she bravely held back her tears until she was back in the car.
Its farm to table, mom Cindy said. They have good experiences getting to know the animal and showing them, but at the end of the day when they choose to sell, they know theyre going to market.
Even so, the experience never gets easier.
Each pig, you have a new relationship with them, said Teghen.
THE JARO family came to 4-H later than many of their peers. Mom Cindy had never been in 4-H, while dad Craig had just one year of experience.
The family had attended the Allen County Fair strictly as spectators until about five years ago when their three children Cooper, now 16; Gavin, 13; and Teghen watched their friends show animals and wanted to join. The Monday following the fair, Cindy contacted the local extension office for information on their local club, the Logan Pals.
The family had cattle, but the Jaro kids were more interested in showing swine. Craig had worked on a hog farm when he was younger and thought the kids would enjoy them, so the family bought four pigs. Cooper and Gavin learned how to show swine, while Teghen joined the Cloverbuds and focused on arts and crafts projects and swine.
Starting last year, the Nemecek family encouraged them to show beef. When the Jaro siblings saw young children dwarfed by steers in the show ring, they figured if they could handle steer, so could they. Teghen entered the bucket calf competition.
This year, Cooper will show his steer, Blue (so named because he had a blue ear tag), and pig, Nali. Teghen will show her pig, Ziggy, and Angus bucket calf, Ferdinand (hes a big calf but friendly and will stand still to allow her to put on his halter sometimes). Teghen also competes in the food and nutrition contest and buymanship.
Gavin will show his pig, Blaze, and his steer, Franklin. He prefers to show steers because you have a little more control over the animal, he said.
But Franklin is a bit of a challenge. He puts the bully in bull. He likes to headbutt and push Gavin around. Hell step on Gavins feet, too.
Your animal takes after you, Cooper teased his younger brother. Youre both pretty stubborn.
It takes time to work with an animal and get him accustomed to being handled, Gavin said. He likes the work, he said, and plans to try a variety of breeds to see which he likes best.
