Donnie Myers woke up as probably the proudest grandpa in Lawrence County this morning.

Friday, July 14, 2000

Donnie Myers woke up as probably the proudest grandpa in Lawrence County this morning.

Two of his grandchildren – Michael Williams and Cassie Myers – took the top three places at Thursday’s champion hog show at the Lawrence County Fair.

"Like I told them, I’ve just been grinning and grinning," Myers said, standing behind the livestock show cages.

Family and friends stopped by to congratulate Michael, also grinning, on his grand and reserve champion wins.

"I’ve got chill bumps," he said, helping his dad, Keith, feed and water while the judge continued placing championship class winners.

"I still can’t believe it. It won’t take long for our sale to be done, because we got first and second."

Cassie said it felt great to have the third-place hog.

After all, it’s only her first year showing them. She took the grand champion lamb trophy home last year.

"I decided to try something new this time, and pigs are fun," she said.

Before the championship class, Michael, a member of Starlite 4-H, readied his hogs then watched other show members.

What’s it take to win?

"Um, a good pig," he said.

And a good pig means good quality for the market.

"If it’s got a good crease down its back, long and a lot of muscle, not fat, it’s good," Michael said. "For a pet, they can be fat, but fair pigs don’t need to be fat."

Myers said his grandson always wanted to show pigs at the fair and he’s glad he got to see him win Thursday.

It was tough, though, because the show ring was filled with county 4-H members’ good hogs, he said.

"We knew they were good pigs," Myers said. "We just didn’t know they were that good."

The entire hog show taught people what 4-H is all about, too.

"All my grandkids and kids come up through 4-H," he said. "Out there in the ring it teaches responsibility, they earn money for college, learn what it takes."

Mark Dickess, whose daughter, Gretchen, took first in one class Thursday, agreed.

"Everybody likes to win, but it’s really having fun and learning," he said.

"You just go out and do your best."