Posted: 02.08.2011

Sometimes young people doing the right things are passed over.  All the attention in the media seems to be focused on kids with troubles, or in trouble.

This weekend a group of "good kids" will be working together to polish their skills in animal handling - and their communication skills in telling that story.  The group is relatively new, and seems to only deal with hogs - but the message plays across all species. 

The Wisconsin Show Pig Association will be holding their annual "Educational Forum" this Saturday at the UW-Richland Center campus in Richland Center.  The event starts at 9:15.  TJ Dougherty from Johnson Creek is one of the young board of directors members that saw a need in mentoring other animal owners about their responsibilities.  TJ along with Devon Brugger of Monroe help to spearhead the effort - but are not alone.  TJ told the Wisconsin Farm Report that membership has basically exploded - going from just a handful of kids to more then 80 that are involved today.

"We just want to help kids know how to take care of their animals, how to handle them properly at those shows - and how to explain to consumers why we're doing what we do,"  Dougherty says.  Saturdays educational forum isn't the only event the group works with.  Dougherty says they also have "preview" shows to help prep kids and animals for the county and state fair "circuit".  TJ Dougherty explains the circuit as all the shows that the Wisconsin Show Pig Association participates in.  Youth gain points not just from placing in shows - but also by showing good leadership, proper showmanship conduct, and education of others.

"Its kinda like NASCAR,"  explains TJ Dougherty, "We accumulate points by being involved in all the areas connected with our show pigs."

You can find out more about Saturdays conference and the organization in general at www.wisconsinshowpigassociation.com.

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