The remote-controlled cars are charged and ready to roll. Bubble gum machines are filled to the brim. Water guns are ripped out of their packages. Scooters are lined up for what seems like miles around the show ring.
For the peewee pig exhibitors at the Illinois State Fair, Christmas has arrived a few months early.
“Santa,” otherwise known as Eric Fugate, strategic account manager for Merck Animal Health, looks forward to this day all year. He spends hours upon hours searching for the right toys then loads up his F-150 so full that his 4-pound dog, Penny, can barely find a spot to sit.
It’s not a job that Fugate takes lightly. Ribbons and banners are nice, but there’s just something about toys, especially when you are 6 years old.
“My goal is to get these young kids excited about agriculture and livestock and pigs – and stay with it as they get older. If they can have a positive experience and leave with a little treasure under their arm in the process, hopefully they will want to come back here every year,” Fugate says.
Penny, Eric Fugate’s dog, helps load up the truck with cool toys for the peewee show.
A Window to Agriculture
One of the most attended days at the Illinois State Fair is the last Sunday of the fair. Unfortunately, there are very few animals or 4-H kids in attendance on this day, Fugate explains.
“That was a little disturbing as people would come for their big day at the fair, but there were no animals in the barns,” he says. “So, 15 years ago, a couple guys got the idea of having a show on the last day of the fair for the little kids who weren’t old enough to show in the big state fair shows.”
Fugate works closely with Mark Anderson, chairman of the peewee show, to make sure the show runs smoothly and provides a glimpse into agriculture for fairgoers.
“I never realized the magnitude of this until the year our daughter was penned closest to the main door where people enter the swine barn – just the number of questions we got and the people who earnestly wanted to learn shocked me,” Fugate says. “From why do they have triangles in their ears to what do they weigh? And from how old are they to why do you do this? I realized then why we do what we do with the peewee show.”
The 2021 judge, Brandon Stickler of Chrisman, Ill, says livestock shows provide the public with an incredible representation of how much we care for our animals.
“Watching a young person brush, bathe and condition their animals at the show and each day at home is a prime example. At the peewee show, you could see the connections and love that those young kids had for their animals from the way they interacted with them to the pride they held in exhibiting them,” Stickler says.
Judge Brandon Stickler (right) said seeing all the peewee exhibitors’ smiles made his day.
Search for a Scooter-Worthy Pig
He adds it was an extremely humbling experience to evaluate the state fair peewee show. After all, it wasn’t that long ago that he was participating as an exhibitor.
“Being able to stand in the ring that I had shown in for a large portion of my life was surreal. It was also a very special moment to see the excitement on the faces of the young kids to be out there showing,” Stickler adds.
The event includes a gilt show, barrow show and showmanship contest. The committee strives to make the show as fun, enjoyable and light-hearted as possible. Winning animals are deemed “scooter-worthy” as the Grand Overall Barrow and Grand Overall Gilt take home electric scooters.
“It’s my favorite day of the year for a lot of reasons. I love watching the kids have fun and getting back to what showing pigs is all about – having fun participating and meeting friends that you’re going to have for a long time,” Fugate says.
And the reality is that it’s often easier for the public to approach a kid about their project rather than asking an adult. It doesn’t matter how old you are, advocates for the pork industry come in all ages.
Tessa Schultz gives her pig a kiss before the show starts.
For example, Tessa Schultz, 3, of Neoga, Ill., enjoys showing off her Tamworth gilt to fairgoers.
“My pig’s name is Hot Lips. She is the best,” Schultz says.
Now, who can argue with that?
Gavin Down, a 6-year-old exhibitor from Cabery, Ill., says he likes going to the peewee show because he likes showing pigs. But rest assured, he says he’s always “going for the scooter.”
Gavin Down drives his pig, Snowball, at the peewee show.
A Pivotal Moment
With so many opportunities in front of kids today, Fugate believes it’s important to create ways for young people to connect with agriculture early.
“Shows like this are so important because not only is it the first step in teaching young people responsibility, but it also provides those who are too young for 4-H the chance to begin gaining the experience and creating friendships,” Stickler says. “Peewee shows are about learning, growing and having fun!”
Fugate is also proud to be able to engage former peewee show exhibitors to help work the ring and he’s been able to hire former exhibitors to serve as judges now, too.
“I’ve got a list of probably about a half dozen kids that are either just out of college or will be out in the next two years. I want to help give these young people an early exposure to a decent-sized hog show at their state fair,” he says.
Fugate says he plans to keep playing Santa on the last day of the Illinois State Fair for years to come. The extra work and time it requires is worth it to see the smiles on the peewee exhibitors’ faces.
“My biggest hurdle is getting all the prizes in the truck,” Fugate says.
Watch more scenes from the show below.
More from Farm Journal’s PORK:
The Stock Show “Prize” We Need to Talk More About
Grandma’s Still Got It: 92-Year-Old Pig Showman Gets Back in the Ring
