By LINDA McGURK
Indiana Correspondent

VEEDERSBURG, Ind. — In the swine barn at the Fountain County 4-H Fair last week, some kids were relaxing in the shade while awaiting their next class. Others were hosing down their animals to keep them cool in the heat.

Occasionally, young handlers came storming down the aisles, trying to rein in their grunting, uncooperative animals. As the kids were heading into the ring with their pigs – the biggest ones weighing close to 300 pounds – some received a final word of support and a pat on the back from their parents.

Come fair time, the pig show is a favorite with the kids as well as the crowd. “It’s probably our biggest day in terms of livestock shows. It seems like no matter which fair you go to, most kids are involved with (the swine show),” said Amanda Smith, extension educator with the Fountain County extension service. “Swine make a good project. They’re easy to care for and easy to get ready for the show.”

This year, however, participation in the livestock classes was down compared with previous years.

“I can imagine it’s got something to do with $4 gas and $7 corn,” said Smith.

“But most kids had already bought their animals this year. I can imagine we will see more of an impact (of higher prices) next year.”
Few of the kids who show animals at the fair actually live on commercial livestock farms, though some live on grain farms. But the effects of rising corn and gas prices still trickle down to the fair.
“It’s not just feed and gas prices,” explained Kathy Murray, extension educator with Fountain County, “it’s the whole economy in general. People have to prioritize what to spend their money on and what to cut back on.”

The number of kids enrolled in Fountain County 4-H held steady compared with previous years, but the number of projects was down, including the less expensive homemaking projects. Some of the livestock classes charge participants a small fee, but Murray said the cost is kept down as much as possible.
“4-H is probably one of the least expensive things there is to do. There are poster projects that shouldn’t cost more than three to four dollars and if you bake cookies, the cost is minimal.
“Of course, if you raise livestock that costs more,” she added.
Murray said the extension service also tries to help kids whose families are struggling financially, so that everyone who wants to can be a part of 4-H.

“That’s the wonderful thing about this county. People will find a way to get struggling youth to participate,” she said. “And the nice thing about 4-H is that there are enough projects to choose from that you can choose how much to spend.”

Higher feed prices didn’t deter Linley Smith of rural Veedersburg, Ind., from raising a few pigs to show at the fair. She bred a couple of sows this year and currently has nine hogs, in all.
“We’re just doing it for 4-H and since we’re not producing for a living, it (higher feed prices) doesn’t directly affect us,” said her father, Jerry Smith.

For Kelly and Curtis Pigg of Hillsboro, Ind., it’s a different story. Their kids, Samantha and Billy, have been in 4-H for three and five years respectively, and showed several pigs at the fair. The family has also raised feeder pigs for the past 15 years.

“With the corn market high and hog market low, producers are cutting numbers,” said Kelly. “If you raise your own corn you’re probably okay, but we don’t.”

Even though participation was down in the livestock classes, overall attendance at the fair didn’t seem to suffer due to the weak economy.

“On Sunday, we sold 600 to 700 pork burgers and we had 800 people in here for the Fish Fry Sunday night. Fountain County is probably 1,000 pounds heavier, thanks to that,” Smith joked.
She believes one reason why the Fountain County 4-H Fair attracts a lot of visitors is it’s the only one in the area without a carnival – instead, the focus is solely on 4-H and families.

“We want the crowds, but we’re not all about the money,” said Smith.