Sumner named top swine showman

By Carrie A. Mizell

Swine showmanship judge Paul Wiggley was looking for exhibitors who kept their pigs moving around the arena, while maintaining eye contact with them during the swine showmanship contest at the Suwannee River Fair Monday.
A seasoned judge with 33 years experience in the swine field, Wiggley found an ideal showman in Flatwood Friends 4-H Club member Will Sumner.
Wiggley went so far as to say that Will made showing his animal appear very easy, much like he was driving a Cadillac rather than a Volkswagen, which is what the pig acted like.

The 2011 Suwannee River Fair marks Will’s third year showing a hog, and his second first place showmanship win. The son of Rhett and Lolly Sumner shows unmatchable showmanship skills, explained Wiggley.
Will was selected from a primary division group of five top showmen, including Sydney Groom of Dixie Wranglers 4-H Club, who placed second, Raigan NesSmith, of Dixie Wranglers 4-H Club, who placed third, Breanna Berry of Old Town Natives 4-H Club, Kenlee Stinson of Dixie Wranglers 4-H Club and Matthew Martin of Santa Fe 4-H Club.
In the junior showmanship competition, Hannah Hurst of Bell Middle FFA placed second behind Hunter Cason of Williston Middle FFA who won first place. Shelbi McCall of Dixie Middle FFA was selected third place winner. The junior showmanship finalists included Haelyn Saunders of Dixie Middle FFA, Taylor Whitfield of Shamrock 4-H Club, Whitney Stemple of Dixie Middle FFA, Jordan Elmore of Trenton Middle FFA, Noah Cason of Williston Middle FFA and Cayla Lord of Cross City 4-H Club.
Lee Goodson of Dixie Sr. FFA won first place in the senior showmanship competition. Kyle Weeks of Chiefland Sr. FFA placed second and Allison Green of Gator Country 4-H took third place in the senior division. While there were only two classes of senior showmanship, Wiggley selected a group of finalists including Shelby Hank of Dixie FFA, Kaley Wilder of Williston FFA, Kendra Stephenson of Trenton Sr. FFA, and Ricky Roe of Bronson Sr. FFA.
As the county extension agent in Calhoun County, Georgia, Wiggley took three hours to select the top swine showmen in the primary, junior and senior divisions often utilizing tricks to keep the showmen on their toes.
More than one exhibitor broke a sweat during the often fierce compition, but as Wiggley explained, “If I don’t pig the right pig during the pig show later you all will forget about it in a day or two, but if I don’t pick the right showman, you will never forget it.”