Farm Progress

The hog barn experience at Pennsylvania Farm Show

A popular video shared on social media captures ‘life in the hog barn.’

John Vogel, Editor, American Agriculturist

January 24, 2018

1 Min Read
PEOPLE PLEASER: Show pigs help enrich farm life and friendships.craigwalsh/iStock/Thinkstock

Most Pennsylvania Farm Show visitors don't experience more than a whiff or two of the hog barn. But it’s the center of family life for many who bring their show pigs.

Before you start snickering, watch the Facebook hog barn video below courtesy of WGAL television. 

  

The video focuses on Beth Innerst and granddaughter Kailey, of Red Lion, Pa., prepping and showing Berkshire pigs at farm show. “It’s a snippet of life in the hog barn,” says Darlene Livingston, executive director of Pennsylvania Farm Link, who has shown hogs with three generations of her family — so far.

Even a hog barn can be a gathering place. “It's a room full of friends who have become family over the years,” Livingston says. “Beth, husband Greg of Red Lion, Pa., and I grew up together at farm show.” 

That one-on-one trusted, farmer-to-farmer contact has covered many topics. “I’ve talked people through farm succession/transitions, financial issues, farm family communication issues and farm family crisis all while standing in the hog barn,” Livingston says. And there were shared prayers for friends, as well.

That, too, is a part of farm life, even in the quieter moments when the crowds leave.

About the Author(s)

John Vogel

Editor, American Agriculturist

For more than 38 years, John Vogel has been a Farm Progress editor writing for farmers from the Dakota prairies to the Eastern shores. Since 1985, he's been the editor of American Agriculturist – successor of three other Northeast magazines.

Raised on a grain and beef farm, he double-majored in Animal Science and Ag Journalism at Iowa State. His passion for helping farmers and farm management skills led to his family farm's first 209-bushel corn yield average in 1989.

John's personal and professional missions are an integral part of American Agriculturist's mission: To anticipate and explore tomorrow's farming needs and encourage positive change to keep family, profit and pride in farming.

John co-founded Pennsylvania Farm Link, a non-profit dedicated to helping young farmers start farming. It was responsible for creating three innovative state-supported low-interest loan programs and two "Farms for the Future" conferences.

His publications have received countless awards, including the 2000 Folio "Gold Award" for editorial excellence, the 2001 and 2008 National Association of Ag Journalists' Mackiewicz Award, several American Agricultural Editors' "Oscars" plus many ag media awards from the New York State Agricultural Society.

Vogel is a three-time winner of the Northeast Farm Communicators' Farm Communicator of the Year award. He's a National 4-H Foundation Distinguished Alumni and an honorary member of Alpha Zeta, and board member of Christian Farmers Outreach.

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