A salute to pork producers: Learning lifes important lessons

The Willard family raise show stock and spend time together showing hogs around the state. From left are Dennis Willard with Daniel, Rachel and Jeremy Corrigan with trophies they have earned.

The hogs raised by Dennis Willard on his farm near West Point are more than a profit-making enterprise. They help young people grow and learn in ways that may help them for years to come.

“We are a very small operation. We run about 12 sows,” explained Willard. “Our operation is based on raising show pigs to sell and for 4-H and FFA kids to show.”

Willard farrows pigs from his 12 sows in January and February, and again in the early fall. The pigs are weaned and fed out to about 50 pounds when they are merchandised as show pigs.

Willard raises purebred Hampshire and Yorkshire hogs and a crossbreed combination of Hampshire, Yorkshire and Pietrain.

“The Pietrain is an exotic breed that comes from Germany. It is noted for its muscling,” he said. “Our sows have an eighth or sixteenth of Pietrain in them to try and put more muscle on the pigs.”

They are able to sell about a third to a half of what they raise as show animals.

“The numbers vary. Some litters many have a lot of good prospects. Then some others will only have one or two turn out.”

He uses artificial insemination for breeding his sows.

“We don't do anything special. If we see a boar we like anywhere in the country, we will buy semen from that breeder,” he said.

Some of the pigs they raise are reserved for his family to show. Dennis and his wife, Judy, have three teens who are part of the swine showing circuit: Jeremy Corrigan, 17, Daniel Corrigan, 14, and Rachel Corrigan, 11. Their youngest, Deanna Willard, is 1 year old.

“All three show at the fairs,” he said. “It is a good family activity. Like anything else, it gets a little expensive, but it makes an outing for the family. We have fun.”

In the last few years the Illinois Junior Swine Association has held preview shows, with 13 to 15 shows running from May to September.

“It is carbon copied off of youth shows held in Oklahoma and Texas. The hogs get points for each show. They are totalled at the end of the season for monetary awards. The show pig industry has taken off big time. There get to be 200 entries at some of the shows. The Hancock County Fair in Augusta is on the circuit and it has helped their numbers,” Willard said.

“They try to have shows at all parts of the state, enough shows that if you can't get to one because of a family vacation or a sport camp, you can get to one the next week. Most are operated so they just last one day.”

As well as hog competition, there is usually some kind of skill event like showmanship, or a speaker on nutrition talking to the kids about the car and feeding of their livestock.

“Some people raise their show stock, but more are purchased. This system gives you more chances to show the hogs, maybe get more winnings from them. You also get to see all parts of the state and meet people.”

In addition to learning about swine production, Willard believes his children and the other young people involved in showing hogs gain much more.

“The number one thing is confidence. They become confident in doing some things before they ever get into the show ring,” Willard said. “They have to be clean and well groomed, and the same goes with their pig. They have to practice. The kids know if a pig gets used to them it will perform better in the ring.

“When they get into the ring, it is like any other activity, they are going to be a little nervous. They know what to do. They know how. Now they just have to do it. In working with livestock or with humans, you are going to have some good days and some bad days.”

Which leads to the second important lesson young people get: learning to be a gracious winner or a gracious loser.

Willard said his son, Daniel, has particularly taken a liking to showing.

“I see he has a lot of confidence from it. Just like playing sports or driving a tractor, experience is the best teacher. The quicker you learn from your mistakes the better. Some judges want different things. You have got to be able to adjust on the go. A lot of this is the same later in life.”

Willard has applied that principle as he continues as a small farmer.

“I've been involved in hogs my whole life, working in seed stock with my mom and dad,” he said. “Things are not the same now as they were back then. But just like in showing hogs, you've got to adjust to the changes in farming and in the hog business.”

Willard raises row crops on his farm and runs hogs on the side. His cousin, Mark, and his daughter, Whitney, keep their sows at his place.

Willard fits raising pigs in between the busy times of crop farming, timed to the show schedule.

“We farrow in mid-January to February. To be eligible for the Illinois State Fair, hogs must be born after January 15. The fall farrowing pigs usually go to Oklahoma, Texas, Arizona or New Mexico for their shows in the early spring.”