2023 Logan County Fair

Wednesday Swine Show brings big wins to the Bobell sisters

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[August 07, 2023]  At the Wednesday morning 4-H Swine show, Claire and Ella Bobell walked away the big winners with Clair taking the Grand Champion Gilt and Ella the Grand Champion Barrow. The girls had plenty of competition to weed through as though down on numbers of two legged exhibitors, the four-legged versions were plentiful as each kid showed in multiple classes.



The day began with judge Dan Hoge, a retired livestock coach at Blackburn College – East arriving on time and ready to judge the large number of classes held at the 4-H swine show.

The first showings were of gilts by breed including Sptted Gilts, Yorkshire, Chester White, Hampshire, Duroc, Berkshire, AOB (all other breeds) and Cross Bred Gilts.

Within each breed there were up to three classes, light, medium and heavy weight gilts.

During the judging, Hoge shared that during the open show to be held Friday morning at the Logan County Fair, the judge would be his son Mark. He said that Mark will be conscience of dress and personal presentation of the human exhibitor as well as shape, structure, and build of the animal.

Throughout the show, Hoge offered comments and advice as he delivered his determinations by breed and class. He told the young people and the audience that they are part of the history and heritage of multi-generations of families showing hogs in Logan County. It is a fact they should be proud of.

Another fact they should be proud of, is that at the State Fair, “the road to the coliseum comes directly from Lincoln and Logan County.” He said that many great Logan County animals have been shown at the State Fair. He named off families that he has known for the last 40 or more years from Logan County and their long histories of success on the state level.

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Hoge also made a strong suggestion to the Logan County 4-H. He said that at the risk of stepping on toes or offending some, he had to say that the young people needed to have better instruction in showmanship. He said that a good showmanship workshop would go a long way for the youngsters that are working to put on a good show for the judge and the audience.

In spite of that sentiment, Hoge throughout the day offered many good comments to and about the young people in the ring.

In many cases there was only one animal in a weight class. Hoge encouraged the exhibitor to drive the pig as though there were many. He said the drive was for the audience and it was good experience for the exhibitor as well as the pig.

At the end of the day, before announcing the Grand Champion Barrow, Hoge made a few final comments. He implied that he is retiring from judging and if it had been any other county that called him to judge their 4-H Swine Show, he would have said no. He said he had strong attachments to families in the community and to the Logan County Fair, and there was no way he could say no to this particular fair.

Then, with a large array of Barrows, all champions in their breed class, Hoge went out and indicated his Grand Champion, Ella Bobell.

[Nila Smith]

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