On Thursday, August 19, 2021 Pigs Ignited Greatness at the Missouri State Fair. It was on this day that the Missouri State Fair Foundation hosted the first No Limits P.I.G. Show. The show provided youth with cognitive and/or physical challenges the opportunity to enter the show ring at the Missouri State Fair. Each of the 13 novice youth exhibitors was paired with an experienced 4-H or FFA swine “ambassador”. Our goal was to give the novice exhibitors a day without limits; a day where they could be a regular kid showing an animal at the state fair; and as such, experience the adrenaline, camaraderie, and excitement that happens in the show ring.
Each exhibitor was provided a No Limit t-shirt and fair admission tickets for them and their family. Once on the Fairgrounds,
Don’s Truck Towing took them by limo golf cart to his tent where Bud Summers provided everyone with a donated lunch. Mike Johnson (
Truck’s Place) rounded up swag bags full of goodies and donated the plates and silverware. Next the limo golf carts delivered the exhibitors and ambassadors to the Swine Barn.
Katina Livestock Photography took a group backdrop photo (donated) with the Governor Mike Parson who just happened to stop by. Afterwards, the exhibitors were taken to meet their pig and presented with pig whips donated by
Team Sloan Livestock.
Then it was show time! Words can’t express the sheer joy on the faces of the exhibitors as they drove their pig into the show ring. As each exhibitor entered the ring, Rusty Black announced their name, Jay O’Bannon judged the pigs and commented on the fantastic job each exhibitor was doing, and the audience cheered loudly. As the exhibitors left the ring they were presented with No Limits belt buckles and gold medals … and the audience cheered loudly. The energy, joy, and gratitude in the barn was palpable!
An impromptu auction took place immediately following the show which included selling a No Limits belt buckle TWO times with FFA exhibitor and Grand Champions Barrow Sale of Champions participant, Connor Keithley, winning the bid. A set of concert tickets sold THREE times and was ultimately purchased by the Brackman Family -
LAG Industries. Other donations were made by
BTC Bank, Joel & Megan Western, Jennings Show Team, Ron Wolf, and Janice & Kent Heimer.
The response was overwhelming. The No Limits P.I.G. Show was made possible through the generosity of volunteers, everyone who purchased a No Limits t-shirt and private donations. The pigs truly ignited greatness … in the exhibitors, in the ambassadors, in the donors and those who had the privilege of witnessing the awe-inspiring event.
#DoWhatWeDo ;
#FairStrong