Warner Robins students compete in pig show

It is true that "this little piggy will go to the market" but first, the FFA pigs from Warner Robins Middle School went to Athens.

Students, who raise pigs through the school's agricultural education classes, competed in their first pig show of the season in Athens on Dec. 19.

Camden Hicks, a sixth-grader at Warner Robins Middle School, is raising Winston and said having a pig isn't all fun and games.

"I thought it sounded fun and it is fun. But it is also a responsibility. You have to keep him clean and keep the pen clean. You have to feed him every day, twice a day and walk him every day. But I have learned a lot of new stuff like the parts of a pig and all the breed names," Camden said.

Seventh-grader David Larkin participated in the Warner Robins Middle School agriculture program last year and has already had to say goodbye to one pig. After show season, the pigs go to the slaughterhouse.

"She tasted good, especially her bacon, and it is a good way to save money, too, instead of going to the store. I didn't get the feet or tail to eat because, well that is disgusting, but everything else was great," David said.

David explained that at the pig show students are expected to show their skills in managing their pigs in front of judges.

"You have to show them how good you can direct your pig, and then they look at the pigs and see which ones look good for their weight. You have to take responsibility to raise a pig. It is almost like taking care of a child. You don't want them in a bad environment with poop all over the ground and then they have to live there and sleep there. You don't want them to gain too much weight. It is really fun, but it is a dirty job," David said.

Klayson Rummell, an eighth-grader who also took a pig to market last year, said the first bite was a little hard.

"He was my baby after all," Klayson said. "But after that it wasn't a big deal."

Tripp Tolleson has been the agricultural teacher at Warner Robins Middle School since the program was started at the school in 2013. In the first year, students raised money to build a pig barn. Although the FFA organization has categories for everything from chickens to cattle, Tolleson said that choosing pigs for middle school students was the best decision.

"Cattle is an 11-month project, while pigs are about five months. When you think of the size of a pig and a cow, it is easier for smaller middle school student to control a pig," Tolleson said.

Tolleson said that the lessons learned about raising livestock will go with his students the rest of their lives.

"I doubt that these kids grow up and go out to be a pig farmer," Tolleson said. "But what they are gaining is a lot of leadership skills, the ability to care for something above and beyond a pet. They have gained the understanding of what goes into raising a livestock animal, the right way."

Several of the Warner Robins Middle School students won awards at the Jackson County Young Farmers Livestock Show at the University of Georgia: Keifer Rich, third in market class; David Larkin, third in market class; Carrie Foulks, fourth in market class; Rebecca Edelman, fourth in market class; Klayson Rumell, fifth in market class; and Aiden Moore, fourth in market class.

This story was originally published January 12, 2016 at 9:36 PM with the headline "Warner Robins students compete in pig show ."