Age: 14
Parents: Clint and Kayse Conner
Hometown: Coweta, Okla,
How did you get started with 4-H?
“When I was in third grade, I wanted to start showing hogs. Joining 4-H was the best way for me to do that. I was very nervous at first because it was something new. Now I really like it because it keeps me busy and I have made many good friends.
Why do you like showing and how has it changed over the years?
“I really like showing because I get out of school, have fun and hopefully win. However, I never name my pigs though my Chi steer Tatar, who I will show for the first time this year, was named by somebody else. I started showing pigs with a cross and a Yorkshire my first year. I was nervous and wanted to win everything but only got second or third place and quickly saw I needed to work on control and movement, especially around corners. Now I’ve been doing this for five years. We have crosses and Hampshire because those breeds tend to show well. We also have Berks. Berk show pigs have to be selected carefully in terms of potential body build and stability, but you can do really well. My last Berk barrow won reserve breed, breed and grand. I travel and show a lot to jackpots. I show from January to March and again in the fall and early winter.”
What is your farm like?
“We have eight momma cows and 11 sows that we breed by AI so we don’t have to keep a boar. AI also allows us to control when the piglets are born. Our last round produced 62 piglets. Those pigs we don’t keep for showing or feeding out for ourselves, we sell privately for others to feed out or show.”
What do you do to help out on the farm?
“My dad and I do almost everything together. My favorite part is haying when I get to drive and use all of the equipment. Haying doesn’t seem like work, but repairing fences and taking care of the animals is, but I like the results. I also practice working with Tatar and my show pigs daily in preparation for showing.”
What are your future plans?
“Right now I want to be a crop duster because I really like airplanes. We have a friend who flies a four-seater, and he and I go a lot of places including tractor shows. Having a job that combines agriculture and planes would be great.”
