⚠️ This page contains Amazon affiliate links (tag: hrpellison-20). I earn a commission on qualifying purchases at no cost to you. Full disclosure →
4H • Randall County • Amazon Associate hrpellison-20

Everything You Need for Show Season

These are products I use in my own show pig program in Randall County. All Amazon links use my affiliate tag hrpellison-20 — you pay the same price, and using my link helps support this site. Full disclosure.

🐷 Show Pig Supplies

🥢
Show Stick / Cane
Lightweight fiberglass show cane for directing your pig in the ring. Get one that fits your height — too long and you'll trip, too short and you'll be hunched over all day.
🛒 View on Amazon
🪣
Show Bucket — 5 Gallon
You need multiple dedicated buckets for water, feed, and washing. Color-code them so you don't mix up the wash bucket with the drinking bucket at 6 AM.
🛒 View on Amazon
⛓️
Hog Snare / Restraint
Essential for safe handling during veterinary checks, washing, and transport. A good hog snare is a barn safety tool, not just a show item.
🛒 View on Amazon
🌡️
Digital Thermometer
Monitor your pig's health during the feed-out period and especially the week before the show. Normal range is 101–103°F. Know your baseline so you catch problems early.
🛒 View on Amazon
📋
4H Record Book
Your project record book is required and judged. Keep it current throughout the feed-out — weight records, feed cost, expenses. Don't try to reconstruct it from memory the night before judging.
🛒 View on Amazon
🧲
Livestock Scale — Digital
Weigh regularly — every 1–2 weeks during the feed-out to track average daily gain. You need to know your pig's weight trajectory to manage feed and hit target weight.
🛒 View on Amazon

🌽 Feed & Nutrition

💊
Show Pig Supplement — Muscle Builder
Top-dress muscle-building supplement during the last 60–90 days of feed-out. Work with your veterinarian or county extension agent on what's appropriate for your pig's stage and class.
🛒 View on Amazon
🫙
Electrolyte Supplement
West Texas summer shows are hot. Keep your pig hydrated with electrolytes added to water during travel and on show day — especially important for long hauls.
🛒 View on Amazon
🥣
Show Pig Feed Additive
Feed additives for bloom, coat condition, and fill. Use only what's approved and appropriate for your show rules — read the entry packet and ask your county agent before adding anything.
🛒 View on Amazon
📏
Feed Scoop — Measuring
Consistency in feed amount matters. A dedicated measuring scoop removes the guesswork and helps you track actual feed intake, especially important when you're trying to hit weight.
🛒 View on Amazon

🏆 Show Equipment

👖
Wrangler Jeans — Show Style
Clean, pressed Wrangler jeans are the standard for livestock show attire. Know your show's dress code — some require western shirts, some are more casual. Always be clean and neat.
🛒 View on Amazon
👢
Rubber Work Boots
For washing and barn work at the show, rubber boots protect your show clothes and feet. Keep these separate from your show ring boots — muddy rubber boots don't belong in the ring.
🛒 View on Amazon
🎒
Show Bag / Tote
A large show bag to carry your brush, show spray, touch-up supplies, and exhibitor paperwork. Everything you need ringside should be in one organized bag you can grab quickly.
🛒 View on Amazon
📎
Exhibitor Number Holder
A good exhibitor number holder keeps your number visible and secure during your class. Simple item, but fumbling with a loose number when you're trying to focus on your pig is distracting.
🛒 View on Amazon

🧴 Grooming Supplies

🧴
Show Pig Shampoo
Deep-cleaning shampoo formulated for show livestock. Remove all dirt, oil, and odor before the show. Wash the day before and again morning of if needed. Rinse completely — residue dulls the coat.
🛒 View on Amazon
Show Sheen / Coat Spray
A light coat spray adds shine for the show ring. Apply sparingly — you want a clean, natural finish, not a greasy-looking animal. This is a final touch, not a substitute for a clean wash.
🛒 View on Amazon
🪮
Stiff-Bristle Brush
Daily brushing keeps the coat healthy and your pig accustomed to handling. A stiff-bristle brush for daily use, a softer finishing brush for show day touch-ups. Both are necessary.
🛒 View on Amazon
🪄
Baby Oil / Skin Conditioner
A small amount of baby oil rubbed into the ears, face, and tail area adds finish on show day. Classic livestock show technique — a little goes a long way. Don't overdo it.
🛒 View on Amazon
✂️
Clippers — Animal Grooming
For trimming around ears, tail, and feet for a cleaner show presentation. Practice well before the show — clipping a pig that isn't used to the sound takes patience to do right.
🛒 View on Amazon
🚿
Garden Hose Nozzle — Adjustable
A quality adjustable nozzle makes washing your pig faster and more thorough. Get one with a fan or shower setting — a jet stream can startle the animal and stress them before a show.
🛒 View on Amazon

Amazon Affiliate Disclosure

All links use my Amazon Associate tag hrpellison-20. I earn a small commission on qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you. Prices and availability may vary — verify before purchasing. I only list products I use in my own show pig program. Full disclosure.

Show Season Tips From the Barn

📅

Start the Routine Early

Begin daily handling, brushing, and walking your pig on a cane from day one. The animal you present in the ring is shaped by months of daily interaction — not the week before the show.

⚖️

Weigh Every Week

Track weight consistently. If your pig is behind on average daily gain, you need to know with enough time to adjust feed — not three days before weigh-in.

🌡️

Watch the Weather

Pigs don’t handle heat stress well. During hot Texas summers, feed in the cool of the morning and evening. Shade and fresh water are non-negotiable.

🐷

Work Them Daily

A pig that’s used to being moved with a cane will work for you in the ring. A pig that only sees a cane at show time will fight you. Daily work in the pen — even 10 minutes — makes a huge difference.

🧼

Wash Smart

Wash thoroughly the day before and do a light touch-up on show morning. Over-washing dries out the skin. Let the coat dry completely before applying any finishing products.

📖

Know the Rules

Read the show entry packet front to back. Weight classes, drug testing rules, feed additive restrictions, dress code — violations can disqualify you or your animal. No excuse for not knowing.