Of the 350 hog exhibitors at the fair, more than 75 percent competed in the showmanship event.
“It’s one of the best county swine shows in the state, and it’s exhibited here today,” said Ed Funderburgh, co-chairman of the swine showmanship show.
Funderburgh said the show is perfectly timed at the beginning of the fair.
“(The competitors) aren’t worn out from the weeklong affair,” Funderburgh said. “We’ve got a lot of good showmen, kids who show at state fair and jackpot shows and things like that.”
Garrett Stickley, a sophomore at Graham High School, said he’s been competing in the showmanship competition since he was an 8-year-old and has won several different championships.
“It’s great being here with family and friends and knowing all the hard work paid off,” Stickley said.
Regardless of the caliber of their pig, Funderburgh said, the showmanship event allows the exhibitors to show off their skills.
“It’s all about the showman and not the pig,” Stickley said.
It also helps to have a cooperative pig.
“If you don’t, you’re pretty much done,” Stickley said.
He said he’s never had a pig run off, but has dealt with plenty who didn’t want to move.
“They’re just stubborn,” Stickley said.
2012 Pork Princess Jenna Rittenhouse, a 16-year-old junior at Urbana, performed double duty at the show. She watched the competition as the Pork Princess and also showed a hog.
“It’s been a great experience,” Rittenhouse said.
Graham grad Cody Lensman was named the overall swine showman of showmen.
The Stickley family, all cousins and Graham students, had a strong showing on Saturday, winning four separate divisions. Garrett Stickely was champ in the FFA Junior Division, while Mariah Stickley won in the 4-H Senior Division, JD Stickley in the 4-H Intermediate Division and Isaiah Stickley in the 4-H Junior Division. Other champions included Mechanicsburg’s Austin Black in the FFA Senior Division and Paige Martinez in the 4-H Rookie Division.
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