Photos submitted to Times Observer In no particular order, Kaitlin Sleeman, Isaac Smith, and Katharine Smith showed pigs at the State Farm Show Monday.

Three Warren County members of the Ham Handlers 4-H club participated in the Junior Market Swine Show at the 2017 Pennsylvania State Farm Show in Harrisburg, on Monday, Jan. 9.

Isaac Smith placed 11th in the show with his 279-pound pig. His sister, Katharine Smith, placed ninth with her 272-pound pig.  Both placed in the purebred spotted breed division.

Kaitlin Sleeman placed ninth in the heavyweight crossbred division with her 288-pound pig.

All three agreed the day was well-spent.

“It was awesome to spend time down here with some of our local members and compete against the best pigs in the state,” said Isaac. Katherine added that “the most fun part of this experience was walking into the awesome show ring with a stadium around it. It was so cool.”

“I can’t believe how many great pigs there are here and it’s fun to walk my pig around and get him all ready for the show,” said Kaitlin.

The three traveled to Harrisburg for the show. According to Isaac and Katharine’s father, Brian Smith, the family left at 1 a.m. Sunday morning, traveling through the winter snowstorm.

    Both Isaac’s and Katharine’s pigs were born and raised at the family farm — Hilltop Sunrise Farm.

     Kaitlin’s pig, Brian said, was bred by Rachel Enos at Enos Show Pigs in Sugar Grove. Kaitlin and Isaac are four year veterans of 4-H. This is Katharine’s second year.

“I love showing pigs because I like the challenge of showing an animal that is not on a leash,” said Kaitlin. She loves the spotted breed.

According to Brian, Isaac and Katharine both own their own breeding stock swine and are interested in working with other breeders to help improve the quality of locallyy-bred purebred hogs.

The three weighed their pigs in early Sunday morning. After making weight, they moved on to showing throughout the day on Monday.