The Legard boys raise hogs for 4-H auction
<p><strong>Jake, 12, (left) and Travis Legard, 11 (right) practice handling their two hogs. The hogs, Spamola and Lady will be in the 4-H market auction at the fair.</strong></p> <div><strong><br /></strong></div>
PLAINS - Travis, 11, and Jake Legard, 12, come from a long line of raising hogs. This year will be their fourth year participating in the 4-H swine project, where they are currently raising hogs that will go to auction.
Throughout their four years, Travis has participated in the breeding project once, focusing the other three on the market project, while Jake has spent all four years working with the market project.
Kathy Legard, their grandmother and a swine leader for 31 years said that all of her kids were in hogs, and now the grandkids too, holding a long-standing family tradition.
“I enjoy having the kids around and seeing them with the hogs,” said Kathy.
A lot of work goes into maintaining the hogs. Travis and Jake are responsible for buying the feed to raise the hogs and spend many hours walking them, feeding and watering them, maintaining the shelter and keeping the hogs clean.
Since hogs do not sweat like humans, Jake said it was very important to provide them with a mud hole and spray them down with water to keep them cool, calm and collected. If they get too hot, the hogs can become stressed which is not good for the hog itself or its other pen-mates.
Travis and Jake led the way to the hogs, proudly talking about how excited they are for the upcoming auction. On average, hog prices range between $500 and $700 at the market, some hogs for as much as $1,200 to $1,300.
“We have a nice batch of hogs this year, it’s so nice,” said Travis with his contagious smile, grinning from ear to ear.
Jake explained that they get a new batch of hogs every year after they sell at market, starting them out as piglets and raising them throughout the year.
As the two boys led their hogs out of the pen, they took them to a field and showed off how they handle them, tapping them in the direction they want the hogs to go.
“My favorite part is spending the time watching (the hogs) grow and seeing their personality grow,” said Travis, explaining that hogs vary in personality greatly, some being more aggressive and others taking very well to people.
These two hogs in particular that are being raised for auction, Lady and Spamola, have a “great personality,” said Jake as the hogs munched on pine trees, one of their favorite treats, according to Travis.
Throughout their four years raising hogs, Jake has had one favorite hog named Jasmine, while Travis said that he has never had a favorite and has loved each of them equally.
The key is to not get too attached when they’re in the market.
When asked if it is a sad experience selling the hogs, Travis said yes and no.
“Yes because you spend so much time with the pigs and no because you get used to it after the first and second year,” Travis said.
The two boys have big plans with the money they will receive at auction. Travis plans to buy a four-wheeler and snowplow to help plow people out during the winter, while Jake plans to use the money to go to college, although he is unsure of what he would like to go for thus far.
Pat Legard, their grandfather, stressed that hogs often times get a bad reputation but they are quite intelligent.
“Hogs are smarter than dogs. It makes (raising them) a challenge,” said Pat. “If there’s something to get through or turn up, they’ll figure it out.”
“Sanders County has always had a soft spot in their hearts for 4-H, always have and it really shows at the fair,” said Pat. “The support for the 4-H in this county is unreal.”