Friends raise 4-H market swine together
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RONAN — In the heat of the day,Cornelius and Alfonzo were stretched out full length taking a nap. With such aristocratic names, the two could be refined gentlemen resting in a Venetian hotel, but they are hogs snoozing on fluffy shavings at the Lake County Fair.
Cousins, the two Duroc cross pigs were born one day apart and were purchased by best friends, sophomores Cody Grant and Cade Howlett.
The piglets grew up together at the Howletts. Cade fed in the morning, and Cody took the evening shift. When hot weather came, the two young men made sure the porkers had a mud hole to keep cool. According to Daniel Howlett, Cade’s dad, the pigs are sometimes known as Corny and the Fonz. They shared the same pen at the Lake County Fair. Even their weights are close: Cornelius weighed 238 pounds while Alfonzo tipped the scales at 240 pounds.
Pigs have a lot of personality, according to Cade.
Cody said the two hogs “act like two-year olds. There are moments when they are really nice and moments when they aren’t.”
Both Corny and the Fonz received blue ribbons in the market hog judging while Cade and Cody each earned a blue ribbon in showmanship.
Then it was Thursday, “the funnest part of the fair,” according to Cade, since everybody comes for a barbeque dinner and then market animals — sheep, swine and steers — are sold at the 4-H Market Auction.
Corny was sold to First Interstate Bank for $6.30 per pound, and the Fonz was purchased by John and Amanda Lea for $6.50 per pound. Good prices for good pigs.
