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Happy as a hog

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XENIA — She was worried during the market hog show when the judge placed every showman except her.

“Everyone got placed and I was like, ‘Oh no, I didn’t place’,” Danielle Clarkston of Jitter Bugs 4-H Club said, recounting the story in hog barn aisles Aug. 1.

When the judge told her she was first in her class, she responded, “I’ve never won a trophy before.”

Clarkston walked out of the ring, a blue ribbon and trophy in hand, with her hog — Jasmine — by her side.

“It was very exciting. I loved it,” Clarkston said. “I love doing it. I love all the excitement. I just love showing,” she said, bubbling over with delight.

But the winner — in her second year as a hog farmer — undoubtedly has the right attitude when it comes to showing.

“It’s not about whether you win or not. It’s about if you have fun,” she said, very seriously.

Last year she didn’t win, but that didn’t matter to her. It only made the surprise better this year.

She’s had Jasmine and her second hog — Jeffrey — since April.

“They grow up so fast,” she said.

But before hogs, she took other animals to the fair.

“My aunt thought pigs would knock me over,” Clarkston laughed. “So I took chickens and turkeys.”

Jasmine didn’t knock Clarkston over in the ring, but the showman did fear her hog might not walk well for her.

“I didn’t think she was going to do so well,” Clarkston said. “But she just had to learn who was boss, who was in charge.”

“She’s like me — stubborn,” Clarkston continued, as Jasmine — unperturbed by the comment — snoozed behind her, alongside Jeffrey.

“I was worried … But she’s a winner,” Clarkston gushed.

Anna Bolton | Greene County News Danielle Clarkston was surprised when she walked away from the market hog show with a first place trophy.
http://www.xeniagazette.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/32/2017/08/web1_Danielle.jpgAnna Bolton | Greene County News Danielle Clarkston was surprised when she walked away from the market hog show with a first place trophy.

Jitter Bugs 4-H Club member Danielle Clarkston showed hogs at the fair for the second year in a row.
http://www.xeniagazette.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/32/2017/08/web1_Clarkston2.jpgJitter Bugs 4-H Club member Danielle Clarkston showed hogs at the fair for the second year in a row.

By Anna Bolton

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Contact Anna Bolton at 937-502-4498.