How to Prepare Your Show Pig for County Fair — A 4H Competitor’s Guide

County fair is the whole point. Everything from selection day to the last morning walk in the barn comes down to one class in one ring. Here’s the complete prep timeline I use for Randall County — what I feed, how I condition, my washing routine, and what goes in the show day bag.

I’ve been showing pigs through 4H long enough to have learned most of these lessons the hard way. Pig came out too fat. Pig came out too thin. Got to the show and forgot the oil. Showed a pig that wasn’t used to crowds and spent the whole class fighting her instead of presenting her. Each one of those is a lesson I don’t want to repeat — and that you don’t need to learn the hard way if I can help it.

This is the complete guide I wish I’d had going into my first county fair.

Phase 1: Selection (12–14 Weeks Out)

Everything starts with which pig you pick. A mediocre pig prepared perfectly is still a mediocre pig. Selection day deserves your full attention.

What I look for at a sale or on the farm:

• Structure first. Sound legs, straight feet, good angle through the shoulder. A pig that moves wrong at the sale barn is going to move wrong in the ring. Don’t buy the problem.
• Muscle shape. You want a pig that shows potential muscle expression through the ham, loin, and forearm. You can’t put muscle on a pig that doesn’t have the genetics for it — so evaluate shape, not just size.
• Body condition. You want a pig that has room to grow into its frame without already being over-conditioned. A pig that’s already too fat at 12 weeks before the show is going to be hard to manage.
• Temperament. A pig that’s difficult to handle at the sale barn will be difficult to handle in the show ring. Pick a pig that’s used to being worked with if you have that option.
• Weight projection. Know your county’s target weight range and work backward from show day. Buy a pig that can realistically hit that window on the right feed program.

If possible, bring your ag teacher or a trusted mentor to help evaluate. Two sets of eyes on selection day is worth a lot.

Phase 2: Feed Program (Weeks 12–3)

I’m not going to pretend there’s one magic feed program that works for every pig. There isn’t. But here are the principles I work from:

Start with a base show pig feed designed for your weight class and timeline. Your ag teacher or county extension agent can help you select one. Follow the bag recommendations first, then adjust based on how your specific pig is responding — some pigs push fat faster than others, and you’ll learn your pig’s metabolism in the first few weeks.

Feed twice daily, consistently. Same times. Same amounts. Consistency in feeding is consistency in condition. Don’t skip mornings, don’t double up to compensate. The routine is part of the program.

Track body condition weekly. I run my hands over my pig every single day, but I do a deliberate condition evaluation once a week — looking at backfat, rib coverage, and hip prominence. You want to see gradual, steady progress toward your target condition, not a scramble in the last two weeks.

Water matters. Fresh, clean water at all times. Pigs that aren’t drinking well don’t eat well and don’t grow well. Check waterers daily.

Phase 3: Conditioning & Exercise (Weeks 10–2)

Feed program gets your pig to the right weight. Exercise and daily handling build the muscle expression and temperament that separates a good show pig from a great one.

Daily walking. I walk my show pig every day, starting short (5–10 minutes) in the early weeks and building up to 20–30 minutes as we get closer to fair. Walking builds muscle, keeps condition tight, and — critically — gets your pig used to being driven and used to the pressure of a show stick.

Show stick work from day one. Your pig needs to be comfortable with you moving around it, touching it, directing it with a cane or show stick. Don’t wait until two weeks before the show to start this. Every daily handling session is training for the ring.

Crowd and noise exposure. If you can expose your pig to different environments — other animals nearby, movement, noise — do it. A pig that has never been anywhere except your quiet barn is going to be rattled by the fair environment. Any preparation you can do helps.

Heat management. West Texas summers are not friendly to show pigs. If your show is in warm months, make sure your barn has adequate ventilation, your pig has access to shade, and you’re managing heat stress. A pig that’s been stressed from heat in the weeks before fair won’t show like a pig that’s been kept comfortable.

Phase 4: Washing & Grooming (Weeks 2–Show Week)

Start your show washing routine at least two weeks before fair. This does two things: it gets your pig accustomed to the process so show day washing isn’t a rodeo, and it lets you identify any skin issues (dryness, irritation, color problems) while you still have time to address them.

My washing routine:

1. Wet the pig thoroughly with warm water — cold water causes stress and tension.
2. Apply a livestock or hog wash, working it into the skin and coat from front to back.
3. Use a soft brush on the body and a stiffer brush on the legs and feet where buildup accumulates.
4. Rinse completely — any soap residue left in the coat will dull it in the ring.
5. Dry and apply a finishing product (show oil or conditioner) while the coat is still slightly damp.

Skin and coat condition reflects the whole prep program. A pig that’s been well-fed, properly conditioned, and regularly groomed will have a coat that reflects that. A pig that’s been neglected right up to the wash rack will look like it.

Phase 5: Show Week Prep

The week before county fair is about maintenance and logistics, not last-minute fixes. If something is significantly wrong with your pig’s condition or weight the week before fair, you don’t have much room to correct it. Focus on what you can control.

Weight management. If your pig is over target weight heading into show week, reduce feed slightly — don’t cut water. If underweight, you can’t put on real muscle in five days, but you can make sure the pig looks full and comfortable.

Final washes. I wash at least twice in show week — once mid-week and once the night before or morning of, depending on your class time and barn schedule.

Organize your show bag. Don’t leave this for show morning.

Show Day Checklist

This is what goes in my show bag:

Arrive early. Give your pig time to settle in the stall, eat, drink, and relax before you wash for the ring. A pig that arrived twenty minutes before class time is stressed. A pig that arrived the night before or early morning has had time to normalize.

In the ring: Keep your eyes on the judge. Move when they’re looking at your pig. Keep your pig moving at a steady walk — not too fast, not so slow it looks like you’re fighting it. Position yourself to give the judge a clean view of your pig’s best angles. Stay calm; your pig reads your energy.

The Last Thing

I’ve been to county fairs where I placed well and fairs where I placed worse than I expected. Both taught me something. The preparation I described above doesn’t guarantee you win your class — livestock shows have judges and opinions and pigs that have a different day than you expected. But preparation controls what you can control. Walk into the ring having done everything you could, and however you place, you placed on merit.

That’s the only part you actually own.