HAMILTON, Ohio – There were 84,330 kids in 4-H in 2021 (numbers aren’t in yet for 2022), and 72,144 of them had animal projects – they are the most popular. This year Mya Glasshagel, age 9, joined that number for the first time by taking two Hampshire-cross pigs to the Butler County Fair.

Taking part in 4-H and the county fair is often a family tradition and the Glasshagels are no exception. Mya’s dad, Dave Glasshagel, was a 4-H member for 10 years about 20 years ago.

“It was the highlight of my summer,” he said. 

Her mom, Kari, is new to the 4-H experience. Her three younger sisters will probably follow in her footsteps.

“This is my first year in 4-H,” Mya Glasshagel said. “I chose pigs because I like pigs. They’re cute, and they’re fun. We worked with them in our yard by the barn. We walked with them once a day every day for about 25 minutes each. We got them used to walking, and we had to put lotion on them. There’s this special pig lotion.

“There’s a whip we use, and if you want them to turn right, you tap them on the left side,” she said. “What I did to get them to move forward was tap them on the legs and sides.”

Glasshagel is in the Milford Mini Farmers 4-H club. Her advisors are Jeff and Tony Schwab. The family bought the pigs from Butler County producers Mark and David Korb, which enabled her to show them in the Butler County Born and Raised class. She named them Dottie and Oreo.

“Dottie is a Hampshire cross; she’s called a blue butt,” Glasshagel said. “Oreo is a Hampshire cross. She looks more like a Hampshire, but she has a wider belt.”

To get ready to show her pigs, Glasshagel washed them and sprayed on a special oil-free shine product, she said. Then she had to brush the shavings off.

Glasshagel took home her share of ribbons. She won first and third place in her 4-H class, second and third place in the Born and Raised class, and fifth and sixth in the open class. However, showing presented a few difficulties to the beginner.

“In the first two shows they found the exit and wanted to leave; some boys helped me get them back in,” Glasshagel said. “I tapped them and turned them away from the exit. It was hard, but I got them back in. But by the last show, they shaped up.”

Glasshagel plans to put the money she makes from selling her pigs at auction into her bank account, and she will definitely be back at the fair with pigs again next year.