C2-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, January 15, 2000
Seventh Year Is Charm
For Supreme Swine Exhibitor
ANDY ANDREWS
Lancaster Fanning Staff
HARRISBURG (Dauphin Co.)
Debbie McAllister is all too
familiar with the adage “if you’re
not successful the first time, try, try
again.”
She had to try about seven times
to get it right
But the fruits of Debbie's efforts
paid off handsomely Tuesday
afternoon when, after showing
seven straight years at the Farm
Show, Debbie took home the
Debbie McAllister won supreme hog at the Farm Show
Junior Swine Show. At right is Sam Hayes Jr., state secret
ary of agriculture. Photo by Andy Andnwa
supreme champion trophy at the
Junior Swine Show.
Debbie, 14, daughter of Scott
and Barb McAllister and a fresh
man at Poms Valley Area High
School, showed her 251-pound
light heavyweight division champ
ion, a Hampshire/Yorkshire
crossbred supreme champion
named “Grade,” to supreme mark
et hog.
This Centre Hall 4-H Ag Club
secretary purchased the hog in
October from Keith Bard, Ebens-
burg. Debbie said she enjoys exhi
biting at the Centre County Fair.
She noted she won reserve junior
barrow on foot at the Keystone
International Livestock Expo last
October.
For the second year in a tow,
Tom Baas, lowa State University
Extension swine specialist, judged
the show. Baas noted how close
the show was. Though Baas noted
the quality of the breeds compared
to the crossbred competition, he
pointed out the strength in genetic
diversity of the crossbreeds.
“Good purebreds (be)get good
crossbreeds,” Baas said
For reserve. Baas noted the
reserve overall crossbred champ
ion. On the crossbred champion
ship drive. Baas spoke about die
“big-framed, bold-shouldered,
wide-fronted, well-balanced,
heavily muscled, and sound hog,”
he said, shown by Ryan Balzano.
Ryan, 16, is the son of Mary and
Ted Balzano, Gallitzin. This was
Ryan’s first championship in eight
tries at the Farm show.
A junior at Penn Cambria and
Clover Club 4-H member, Ryan
exhibited the 258-pound Hamp
shire crossbred bog to heavy
weight champion.
Ryan attributed the reserve
overall championship to feeding it
correctly. He didn’t have to exer
cise it, as so many 4-irets do, to
ready the hog for the show.
Ryan also shows at the Cambria
County Fair.
There was a total of 379 exhibi
tors, 17 from last year, at the
junior swine show. Of those, there
were 289 crossbred hogs and 90
purebred.
Following is a list of show
placings.
(Turn to Pag* C 3)
Will HIKy won Duroc champion Tuesday at the Farm
Show Junior Swine Show.
Berkshire champion at the Farm Show Junior Swine
Show was Carrie Merkel.