Story and photos by Bob Crum

Tons of hard work, hours of toil and a little serendipity paid off in a huge way at the Ventura County Fair. Eleven Fillmore, Piru, Bardsdale youngsters raised animals for show and auction that won championships. Incredible!

Presented at the Junior Livestock Auction for sale by 4-H and FFA (Future Farmers of America) youngsters were 347 market pigs, 52 market steer, 5 replacement heifers, 47 market goats, 144 market lambs plus a couple chickens, rabbits and turkeys. No peacocks.

First chance you get, visit any grocery store of your choice. Go immediately to the meat counter. Aaaah... there it is... lamb. And you have the perfect recipe. About a pound will do. And it's only $225 a pound. Enjoy! Ummm... is there a problem? At the County Fair's Junior Livestock auction the high bid for the Grand Champion market lamb was $225 per pound! (a new record) The lamb weighs 148 pounds. That's a grand total of $33,300. That is how these 4-H and Future Farmers of America (FFA) youngsters pad their college funds.

Besides friends and relatives of all description bidding on animals, there are also several large entities the likes of TNT Truck & Crane, AAA Propane, The Wood Claeyssens Foundation and others that buy many animals at the auction. Sometimes they keep the animal. Sometimes it's returned to the youngsters. Most of the time it's donated to Food Share. It's all extraordinarily good!

The following are conversations with the 4-H and FFA award winners at the Ventura County Fair.

Macie Wokal, 16, Fillmore FFA, raised a 274 lb. market swine that was awarded FFA Grand Champion. Auction results: $40.00/pound; $10,960.00.

Did Macie expect to win Grand Champion? “Umm... kind of,” said Marcie, adding “because when I picked my pig the breeder that I bought it from was really, really into it. The breeder is Leonard Cruz.

Daisy is her name but turns out Macie didn't come up with her pigs name, her friend Breanna Berrington did. And how was Daisy as a growing pig? “She was pretty easy going,” Macie explained, adding... I used to raise cattle so this was easier for me.” Kind of took a year off? “Yeah,” she said, pretty much but I'll redo cattle next year. Why raise a pig this year? “Because I've been pretty busy... I play softball so this gave me more time to do softball because cows... you have them for like nine months and pigs you only have them for like four,” explained Macie.

But there's more to Macie's story. “This the my first year raising a market hog which goes to slaughter so I'm easing my way into slaughter and then I'm going to do a steer next year, she said. Asking for clarification Macie added, “well because I don't really like the slaughter thing so a pig you only have for four months so you don't get as attached but a steer you have for nine months so you get really attached so I'm easing my way... slowly.”

Does Macie have plans for the auction proceeds? “Yes, a car, because I just got my (driving) license,” Macie quickly said. Macie's future plans? “Graduate high school and attend Cal Poly (California Polytechnic State University), San Luis Obispo to become an ag teacher.” Not surprised!

Silver Perez, 16, Sespe 4-H, raised a 273 pound market swine that was awarded the 4-H Champion/Reserve Grand Champion.

Porky's name is Buttercup. Why? “Ummm... I really like the name and having watched Powerpuff Girls I decided to name her Buttercup,” explained Silver. A little detective work revealed that Buttercup can be selfish at times, as revealed in one episode when the Powerpuff Girls started working for silver dollar allowances and Buttercup became fascinated by silver dollars, but soon discovered that she could obtain more by knocking out criminals' teeth and leaving the teeth for the Tooth Fairy. Yes... the connection (silver) becomes apparent.

Surprised to win? “I was pretty surprised, she admitted. Did you raise a pig last year? “Yes.” How long have you been raising pigs? “Six years,” replied Silver. And next year? “Another swine.” Should have I even bothered to ask? Why just raise pigs? “I just really enjoy raising pigs, it's really fun and I love the animals,” Silver explained.

Any problems raising Buttercup? “Not really,” said Silver. I went into beg mode. “Well, she didn't like to be shaved or pet sometimes... get real mad at me and start squealing. She likes to run around a lot but most of the time she was pretty mellow.” How different is Buttercup than previous pigs. “She walks a lot faster,” said Silver, adding, “and the other pigs were way more mellow than Buttercup.”

And of course pigs all have individual personalities. “Usually I base their names on their personality. Which means usually I give it about a month so I know how it acts... how it is... before I name it. That's the science to animal science!

Next is the auction. “Yes.” And? “I'm hoping to sell for a good amount of money.” And do what with the money? “Well I was going to buy... to try and do another sow project to be a breeder.” Further explanation was requested. “I want to breed pigs to make more pigs for the Fair, and sell them.” And there you have a hint of Silver's future plans upon graduating high school. But the plans also include photography.

High bid for Silver's pig was $21.00/lb. X 273 lbs = $5,733. A good amount of money indeed!

Jazmin Olvera, Sespe 4H, raised a 268 pound market swine that was awarded 4-H Reserve Grand Champion. High bid at auction for Jazmin's pig was $9.00/lb. = $2,412.00.

Apologies for not finding Jazmin in the confusion at the Fair for an interview.

Hailee Smith, 18, Fillmore FFA, raised a market swine of 273 pounds which was awarded FFA Reserve Grand Champion.
Expecting to win or surprised? I was hoping to get the same as last year and move forward and I got the same”, (as last year). This was Hailee's fourth year raising pigs. Going to do it again next year? “Oh yeah,” was Hailee's immediate response. No goats, no steers? “No,” she said, “I'm going to stick with the pigs.” Why? “More profit” she said, laughing! That’s it... follow the money and you'll find a pig! But I digress. “They're more calm and easier to control, I think,” said Hailee, adding “you get more attached with a pig because you have to work with them more than with a steer.”

Pig’s name is Hannah. Any issues raising Hannah? “No,” said Hailee, “and this is the first pig that didn't get sick.” Sick? “As in almost dying”, explained Hailee, adding, “My pig last year almost died.

Breeding lines seem to be an important aspect of winning championships. So, where did Hailee get Hannah? “Leonard Cruz,” she said. And another pig from Mr. Cruz next year? “Yes.” Why? “Because”, she said, “he's a good pig breeder... he comes by to check on the pig... asks if I need any help with the pig... helps with feed at the fair to plump it out if it lost weight from the travels to the fair etc.”

Hailee usually picks out her own pigs to raise but being away at a school function, she didn't get to pick her pig this past round. But had she done so... what would she look for. “Long, lean, the butt, the shoulders kind of thing,” explained Hailee. So you learn what the judges look for? “Yes,” said Hailee, “and the fact that it's the same judge as last year, it's a little easier to figure out what he's looking for.” A system of sorts? “Oh yeah,” said Hailee with a grin, “you have to know who the judge is and talk to people to find out who the judge is and figure out what they like. Or just raise the pig the way it wants to be raised and if you come out on top you come out on top and if not, you try again next year.”

Speaking of weight, regulations dictate a maximum and a minimum. Is it difficult to control the pigs weight to ensure meeting the regs? “It was pretty hard to control her weight,” Hailee explains, considering the maximum is 280 lbs. Saturday before the Fair Hannah weighed 292 lbs. So it was pretty hard to get her back down and I stressed out a lot. The Saturday prior she weighed 292, the following Monday... at the Fair... 273? How'd that happen? “I loaded her up in the trailer and she spent two nights in my driveway.” Really? OK... how does that produce the desired weight loss? “Confined to a small area they stress out a lot.” she explained. And that helps them loose weight? “Oh yeah... makes them poop,” she said. And less food. How much less? “Cut back a lot and my pig got a lot of bananas. OK... I got it. Forget Jenny Craig... I'm going to confine myself to a closet, stress out for two days with nothing but a bunch of bananas and loose 20 pounds. Stay tuned for the exciting results!

And the auction proceeds? “Apply some to my college fund and hopefully buy my first car,” said Hailee. And the college? “Ventura college and major in photography,” she said. Afterward... Hailee explained that she might go on to a university and major in animal science and come back to Fillmore and be an agriculture teacher with photography on the side as a backup plan.

Hailee received $8.00/lb. for a total of $2,184.

The Berrington sisters, Breanna and Erin, won Grand Champion and Reserve Grand Champion market steer respectively. A family affair at the Fair.

Breanna Berrington, 16, Fillmore FFA, raised a 1,342 lb. market steer that won FFA Grand Champion and overall Grand Champion.

Surprised? “I was pretty surprised especially for winning overall Grand Champion... I competed against my sister (Erin) and I thought she had it at first,” said Breanna. As a layman... the two huge steers looked like identical twins. So how does one win? “I don't know,” Breanna said, “it's all up to the judge but I honestly thought my sister's steer was going to win because it's chunkier than mine.” Obviously the judge saw something? “Yes, I think mine is more finished.” More finished? “He had a nicer fat layer then the other one,” Breanna said, adding, “my steer is more of a showy steer so he's more finished.”

Used to be Breanna named here steer after designer names like Gucci and Armani. Remember them from previous writeups? This year? “His name is Bentley,” said Breanna, with a grin. Last year Armani won Reserve Grand Champion. Obviously Bentley proved to be better finished. But if Breanna won the lotto... what car would she buy? “A Range Rover,” she said.

As Breanna relates... she had fun raising Bentley. “He was one my favorite steers,” she said, “he's kind of like a dog to me. I'd be walking him and I'll say his name... Bentley come here... and he'd come running after me. I liked raising him.” So how does one train such a large steer? Breanna explained: “I worked with him a lot (four hours) every single day at the (Fillmore High) school farm. Whenever I walked him I always talked to him, saying his name. I'll let him run around and then say Bentley, Bentley... letting him get used to his name and then he'll start coming to me. And every day Bentley got washed and pampered. “Yes, that's how I keep his hair looking great,” said Breanna. One wonders what if his name was Porche.

And the auction? “Yep... and I’m ready for it,” said Breanna. And the auction proceeds? “Use it towards buying a new steer for next year,” she said. Breanna's plans include raising a steer the next two years and then upon graduating high school: “get a business degree and eventually open my own hair salon,” she said. In the meantime, Breanna had one final comment: “I want to thank my parents for all their hard work and helping me out all the time. And thank my breeder Randy Silva for provide me with a great steer. Bentley fetched $25.00/lb. - $33,550.00.

Erin Berrington, 12, Piru 4-H, raised a 1,275 lb. market steer that was awarded 4-H Champion steer, overall Reserve Grand Champion. Erin received $5.00/lb. X 1275 = $6,375.

And the champ's name is Ferrari. The story? “Me and my sister (Breanna) basically just like to choose expensive cars to name them (steers) after. Favorite car? “No... well... maybe a little bit,” said Erin. Would Erin like to own a Ferrari? “Oh yeah,” came the instant reply.

Perhaps Ferrari was high maintenance? “He was tough sometimes,” she said, “but he was sweet at other points.” Tough points? “Getting him out of the pen and having the hay right there with my sister's cow right there. Many times he didn't want to go out and that was the tough part.” So ole Farrari has a mind of his own? “Oh yeah.” Here's Erin, stating that she weighs 90 lbs. and there's Ferrari weighing well over 1,000 lbs. Is it fun pulling around Ferrari? “Aaaaaah no,” she said.

And then the auction. People will bid for him. “Yep.” And then? “On Sunday we load him on the truck to take him to a 30 feeding pen and then after 30 days, they get killed.” All said by Erin as a simple matter of fact. Is it bothersome about where Ferrari is going to go? “A little bit... like you get sad on that one night... and then the next day it's just... OK.”

Next year? “I might take a year off and then do another steer or I might just keep on doing them.” A year off? “Over the last three years a heifer, a lamb and then it's hard to raise a steer for 10 months... it's a lot of work... so I might take a year off,” Erin explained. Why not something else? “I showed a lamb last year and those are really hard and my mom won't let me do a pig because they like stink a lot and hard to feed in the morning. Case closed.

What to do with the auction money? “I'm going to buy a trampoline, a new phone and some new shoes.” The trampoline because Erin does cheers for the California All Stars.

Future plans? “I want to become a police officer in a crime scene unit,” said Erin. Really? “Yes... I like to solve crimes on the TV shows so...” Favorite show? “CSI Miami,” Erin said. Bad guys... your gig is up!
Will continue in next week’s edition of The Gazette with the last five winners: Jeffrey McGuire, Phillip Theising, Samantha Points, Timmy Klittich and Paula Laureano. [Part II of the story next week]