News : The First Bacon Buddies Pig Show arrived at the 2022 Benton County Fair

Bacon Buddies Pig Show was a hit among participants and attendees at the Benton County Fair

The Bacon Buddies arrived at the Benton County Fair on Friday bringing participants from the area. Bacon Buddies was actually first held at the Iowa State Fair. Local students Clayton and Will McKenna applied to be Mentors for the program last year and were among several hundred that had applied. Seeing that this was a great idea, their mom Nichole took the idea and ran with it bringing it to the Benton County Fair for the fist time this year.

Persons aged 10 and older were encouraged to apply to be part of the program. The program pairs 4-H mentors with buddies for the program.

The first Exhibitor was Jack Kuper, the son of Becky & Morgan Kuper. He recently finished 8th Grade at Vinton Shellsburg and will be moving on to high school this fall at Jesup High School. Jack was accompanied by Annabelle Newton the 2022 Benton County Fair Queen, a senior at Vinton Shellsburg, and Kinzy Manson, a 7th grader at Center Point Urbana.

The second exhibitor was Luke Lindauer the son of Tom and Holly Lindauer. Luke lives in Vinton and attends Jefferson High School in Cedar Rapids. Luke was accompanied by his brother Noah and mentors Steiger Manson, a senior at Center Point Urbana, and Landon Stein who will be in 2nd grade this fall at Tilford Elementary in Vinton.

Roman Sallee was the third Exhibitor. He is the son of Drew and Lindsy Sallee. Roman attends the Vinton Shellsburg schools. He was accompanied by Mia Brecht a recent graduate of Williamsburg High School who will be attending Iowa State this fall. Roman's second mentor was Parker Stein, a student at Vinton Shellsburg Schools.

The fourth exhibitor was Norah Kardell, the daughter of Eric and Cheryl Kardell. Norah will be a freshman at Vinton Shellsburg HS this fall. She was accompanied by Clayton McKenna, a senior at Vinton Shellsburg High School, and Caleigh Lewis a 7th grader at Center Point Urbana Schools.

Mentor Helpers were Will Kreutner and Olivia Hanson.

Several Volunteers also made this event possible. Those volunteers included Lauren Wittmer, Angie Wittmer, Tamara Wittmer, Abby McKenna, Becky Kuper, Diane Kenney, Garrett Wittmer, Robin Manson, Jeff Manson, and Kelly McClintock.

The Mentors in the program were able to share with the participant about the care of the pigs in the show and explain how to guide the animals. There was an opportunity to show how to feed, water, brush, and wash the pigs. 

The event which was held in the pig barn on the fairgrounds was held in partnership with the Special Olympics Iowa and the Benton County Fair. The Mentors along with their Buddies gathered ringside to show their pigs. 

Pig Farmers are guided by "We Care" ethical principles. One of those is contributing to a better way of life in their communities. Bacon Buddies is just one way that young individuals can be involved in their community with the help of the local Pork Producers. 

Judging the event was Lindsey Pullen with the following sponsors for the event: Farm Credit Services, Benton County Pork Producers, and Farmers Savings Bank & Trust.

Click to view pictures of the event.

(Some photos taken by Laurie Ortner.)

Click for a short video about Bacon Buddies.