‘Girl on Fire’ Sells Pig for $111,000 in Parker County Livestock Auction
Summer Hardin burst into tears when lot number 22 brought in a shocking $111,000 on Saturday night at the Parker County Stock Show Sale of Champions.
Although one could say the Champion Berkshire Market Hog at the Parker County Stock Show was a great one, the money raised wasn’t about the pig. The money raised was to honor a young woman who wasn’t able to show that pig this year because she’s fighting a battle that no one saw coming.
A group of friends pulled together to buy 16-year-old Paizlee Hardin’s barrow in the premium auction. Since March 15, Hardin’s life turned upside down when this avid pig showman from Brock, Texas, lost her ability to walk and began experiencing “crazy symptoms” as she refers to the intense pain she began to experience that baffled doctors.
On May 6, Hardin made her way into the show ring with the help of her occupational therapist Kailey King who guarded her from falling.
“If a pig barely touched me, I would probably have fallen without my OT there because it would have sent my body into shock,” Hardin says. “I am not good at walking now and had to think about how to step, what move comes next, how to control my pig and know where it was at all times.”
Paizlee Hardin with her check for $111,000 from the premium auction. Photo provided by Hardin family.
Since then, her symptoms haven’t improved, making it incredibly difficult to walk safely in the show ring. Her sister, Madi, showed her pig at the Parker County Stock Show and has been caring for both her own pigs and her sister’s.
Casey Mabry, a friend of the family, spent two days and made 17 phone calls to round up the $111,000, he says.
“Paizlee’s father, Chris, is probably the most giving person in the world,” Mabry says. “We grew up together. For the last couple months, lots of people have been asking how they could help. It was easy to call and gather the money to help them pay for all the medical bills.”
The Hardins are beyond grateful for the support they have received during this time.
Supporters gather around the Hardin family at the premium auction. Photo provided by Casey Mabry.
“Our county sale left us speechless,” says Hardin’s mother Summer. “Our show family, friends and county showed us so much love.”
Paizlee wasn’t able to go to the auction because it would have been too much for her sensory system.
“I called Paizlee after the auction,” Summer says. “She was crying tears of joy and had an overwhelming feeling of gratitude. We can’t thank everyone enough who had a hand in this. Chris and I say it all the time – the stock show family is just something different.”
Read More:
