ENID, Okla. — Competitors and spectators from throughout Northwest Oklahoma spent their Saturday on the Chisholm Trail Expo Center for the Northwest Oklahoma Show Pig Circuit.
Held yearly between December and February, NWOSPC is a sequence of member-only junior pig exhibits and, since 2010, has supplied a family-friendly, aggressive atmosphere for junior livestock exhibitors in Northwest Oklahoma, in keeping with its web site.
Alexa Humphries, a NWOSPC board member, stated exhibiting livestock is useful for kids and youngsters.
“It’s a great example of responsibility — taking care of something other than yourself,” stated Humphries, whose personal kids present livestock. “There’s also showmanship and leadership opportunities and then, overall, just growth in the industry, as well.”
Each 12 months, NWOSPC options 5 – 6 jackpot exhibits, and exhibitors earn factors for his or her participation and placings at every present and the Showmanship and “Skillathon” contests, and awards are given to high-point earners on the completion of NWOSPC.
Humphries stated NWOSPC membership is at about 120 individuals. Pig exhibits have been held lately in Fairview and Woodward, and the Enid pig present was the final of the NWOSPC’s 2022-23 season.
NWOSPC additionally helps put together students for each the Northwest District Junior Livestock Show, which will likely be from Feb. 28 by March 5 in Enid, and the Oklahoma Youth Expo in March, Humphries added.
Kelsey Dowdle, a senior at Leedey Public Schools, has been exhibiting pigs since she was 6 years previous and has at all times loved and had a ardour for it.
“It takes a lot of time, hard work and dedication to show animals,” stated Dowdle, who gained third place along with her Hampshire pig Saturday. “And just being willing to put in the work for your goals. … (Showing animals has taught me) to keep going when things are tough.”
Rylee Glazier, a senior at Lomega Public Schools who gained Champion Poland on Saturday, echoed Dowdle.
“Mimicking what Kelsey said, (showing animals has taught me) that no matter when things go bad, never give in — just keep trying,” she stated. “Eventually, it’ll work out for you somehow and someway.”
For Glazier, exhibiting livestock is a household affair, as her mom, father and sister all confirmed animals, too, and at Thanksgiving, there have been “three generations of FFA jackets” there.
Glazier has been exhibiting pigs since she was 2 years previous and stated she likes the arduous work and tasks that include exhibiting pigs.
Lori Glazier stated she’s pleased with her daughter, saying Glazier has developed an excellent work ethic through the years from being up at 6 a.m. day-after-day to exit to the barns and staying out late to deal with the animals, on prime of doing all her homework.
“I’m just super proud of her, and I think that will do her very well with any future career she wants to do,” Lori stated. “Showing livestock is just such a great way to raise your kids because it teaches them that good work ethic.”
Sheila Kelso, a monetary analyst with Smithfield Foods, was busy Saturday at NWOSPC with the “Skillathon,” which is a sequence of quizzes that check rivals’ data of something and the whole lot pertaining to the swine business.
Kelso stated the “Skillathon” helps put together students for the OYE and exhibits Oklahoma youth what their profession alternatives are in the pork business.
“The pork industry in Oklahoma is really large, and a lot of kids that don’t know that there’s opportunities to stay close to home, if they so choose, and work in animal agriculture,” Kelso stated.
Prizes got to the Top 10 individuals in every age division — novice, junior, intermediate and senior — and scholarships for $300 and $200 have been supplied to the top-scoring graduating seniors, which have been Dowdle, the graduate high-point, and Glazier, the reserve high-point.
Dowdle has plans to go to Oklahoma State University to main in agribusiness and agricultural communications, and Glazier stated she plans to attend a junior faculty for livestock judging earlier than transferring to a senior faculty to main in agricultural communications and minor in political science.
The scholarships, the 2 stated, will assist pay for his or her faculty schooling.
“It’ll go toward our education so that we can give back to this industry,” Dowdle stated.
“Same as Kelsey said — this will help with schooling so that we can give back to the industry that’s given us so much,” Glazier stated.
The NWOSPC resumes at 10 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 29.
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