Contest veterans go 'hog wild'
By Kirsten Ballard
Published in News on September 26, 2014 1:46 PM
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Gideon Linton guides his pig, Prime, as he tries to capture the judge's eye during the show.
Prime burst from the stall.
Gideon Linton didn't blink.
He didn't budge.
Prime's speed was impressive given his large girth and short legs.
His determination unsurpassed by anyone.
Except Gideon.
Prime made a beeline toward the man in the center of the ring, only to be stopped short.
Again and again Prime tried to escape back to his trough, only to be thwarted by the man standing to his right.
Gideon kept eye contact with the judge as he led his hefty, 200-plus pound hog around the ring.
Gideon is eight.
He practices showing Prime almost every night for the past 8 months.
The Junior Hog show took place last night as the first livestock even of the 2014 Wayne Regional Agricultural Fair.
The judges had a tough time deciding between the expert showmanship displayed during the events.
Gideon and his brother Isaac Linton competed against each other in the 5-8 age range.
"It's hard to judge because they learned the same thing," said judge Ron Hughes. Hughes has been around hog showing for over 30 years.
"Pigs taught me patience," he said.
Isaac won the 5-8-year-olds showmanship competition, while Gideon and Prime took home the first place ribbon in their market class.
In the junior category, ages 9-15, Zachery Keeter, 12, took home the blue ribbon while Justin Conner, 13, placed second.
In the novice category, ages 14-18, Alex Linton won the blue ribbon, while Casey Hux of Halifax County got second.
Issac Linton won Grand Champion, Casey Hux won Reserve Champion.
The junior meat goat show will be tonight at 6 p.m.