Wheeler County Show Team Participates in Winter Pig Classic
Courtesy of Wheeler County Schools
On January 5, 2024, the Wheeler County Show Team traveled to Perry to participate in the Farm Credit Winter Pig Classic. Eleven students carried 31 pigs to compete against nearly 500 other pigs.
Showmanship began in the afternoon with the youngest students. Remi Bateson placed 5th in the 1st Grade Showmanship Class winning a belt buckle. In 4th grade, Clay Ryals placed 4th, while Layla Vann won 1st place. In 10th grade, Anna Beth Ethredge placed 5th, Zoey Vann was 7th, and Keaton Pickle finished 10th.
On Saturday, the market hog show started with prospect pigs that weigh under 200 pounds. Zoey Vann placed 3rd in class 3 with her Duroc gilt. Clay Ryals finished 2nd in class 7 with his Yorkshire barrow while Molly Bridges was 5th in that same class. Briley Rowland placed 3rd in class 20 with her crossbred gilt, and Zoey Vann finished 5th in class 27 with her crossbred barrow. The progress show for pigs over 200 pounds began after the prospect show. Layla Vann placed 2nd in class 32 with her Yorkshire gilt and went on to win Reserve Champion Yorkshire. In class 35, Anna Beth Ethredge finished 3rd with her crossbred gilt.
The advisors and teachers said that they are proud of how the students placed this early in their show season, and they look forward to the upcoming shows. FFA advisors and agriculture teachers for Wheeler County are Bryant Oliver, Les Bateson, and Hannah Henry.
