This is my niece, during her senior year of high school. For about 6 years, she raised a pig for the 4H Fair. This was her final year. Her pigs typically garnered the highest price on sale day. This photo was taken during the sale. It always makes me cry.
@cdonohoue Cathy, pigs, by nature, are not healthy animals. Once all the swine are gathered together for judging, they are never allowed to go anywhere else other than to the slaughterhouse. Many years ago, the swine industry had problems with disease being spread this way. Other animals in the show (lambs for instance) can be purchased and go home to wherever. Sometimes people have paid $$$$ to purchase animals and then they give them back to the student. Personally, I don't think I could do it, but that is certainly farm life. It is the basis for Charlotte's Web.
And if she is selling her pig does that mean that someone is going to eat it? That would be so very difficult.