The front gate of the enclosure swung out just enough to allow the 400-plus pound pig to begin to slip through into the aisles of the livestock pavilion Tuesday at the Coosa Valley Fairgrounds.
Cassidy McReynolds and her dad, Adam, worked to the corral the beast back into the wash station and continue prepping her for the evening’s swine show.
“I like the competitiveness and winning when I can,” the Sonoraville High School sophomore said.
Darla, a February breeding gilt, has been to a number of fairs with McReynolds this year and has won three Grand Champion titles.
“She’s really big and people have started to know her for her size,” McReynolds said. “She’s actually a little too big.”
Size and presentation were two of the aspects that came into play when contestants began showing their pigs in the 2012 Coosa Valley Fair swine show.
After the showmanship portion of the evening, where the handlers are judged on their ability to maneuver their pig and knowledge of the breed, each class is brought out separately.
McReynolds said that even after three years of showing pigs she still gets nervous whenever she brings her pig to the floor.
“The judge will ask questions and I just want to have my pig ready to show her best,” she said.
Dustin Wheat from Resaca was leaning on the side of a pen, taking a break from preparing his two pigs, Lucy and Lola, when Lucy began gnawing on the heel of his boot.
“Yeah, that’s why I tuck my pants into my boots,” Wheat said.
A junior at Gordon Central High School, Wheat was hoping to continue his run of earning Reserve Grand Champions at shows this year.
“It just depends on what the judge wants,” he said. “He may want more of a breeding type and mine are more commercial and market types.”
Wheat will travel to Perry next week for the Georgia National Fair where he will show Lucy and Lola for the final time this year.
“It’s fun,” he said. “It gives you a chance to take on responsibility. You have to feed them, care for them and walk them 30 to 45 minutes a day.”
Click here to see a list of all the 2012 Coosa Valley Fair winners.
Wednesday
KIDS DAY
1 to 3 p.m. — School’s Out Special: Free admission for all students
1 p.m. until closing — Unlimited rides with purchase of $20 armbands
1 p.m. — Junior and Open Beef Shows
2 p.m. — Brian Staples Animal Encounters Show
6 p.m. — Brian Staples Animal Encounters Show
7 p.m. — Little Miss Coosa Valley Fair: ages younger than 12 months to 5 years old, sponsored by Miss Rome Scholarship Program
9 p.m. — Brian Staples Animal Encounters Show
Thursday
SENIOR CITIZENS DAY
1 to 5 p.m. — Free admission age 55 and older, featuring entertainment, games and prizes
1 p.m. — Miss Senior Coosa Valley Fair (age 50-plus)
2 p.m. — Brian Staples Animal Encounters Show
5 p.m. — Gates open: unlimited rides with $20 armbands valid until closing
5:30 p.m. — Junior Lamb Show (Dairy Show to follow lamb show)
6 p.m. — Brian Staples Animal Encounters Show
7 p.m. — Little Miss Coosa Valley Fair: ages 6 to 17, sponsored by Miss Rome Scholarship Program
9 p.m. — Brian Staples Animal Encounters Show
Friday
5 p.m. — Gates open. Unlimited rides with purchase of $20 armbands
6 p.m. — Brian Staples Animal Encounters Show
7 p.m. — OTR Chuck Wagon Cook-Off encampment and wagon judging
9 p.m. — Brian Staples Animal Encounters Show
Saturday, Oct. 6
10 to 11 a.m. — Pre-opening special: Carload admitted for $5 (no trucks or vans)
10 a.m. — Coosa Valley Fair gates open until midnight. Armbands $25, unlimited rides until closing.
10 a.m. to Noon — Little Miss Coosa Valley “Challenger” and Miss Coosa Valley “Challenger” pageants
Noon to 1 p.m. — OTR Chuck Wagon food serving: tickets required
1 p.m. — Brian Staples Animal Encounters Show
5 p.m. — Brian Staples Animal Encounters Show
7 p.m. — Miss Coosa Valley Fair Pageant
9 p.m. — Brian Staples Animal Encounters Show
Note: Any and all Coosa Valley Fair activities, including armbands, may be canceled because of inclement weather.
Armband Pre-Sale: Go to CoosaValleyFair.com to save as much as $7 per armband — offer valid through Monday.
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