cantankerous pig

[Farwell]

Bird,
I didn't have much mentoring at that age and in thinking back my 4H leader could have helped in the training area. If I had won a few blue ribbons I may have returned to farming when I became an adult. I still have my red ribbons, one for the sow, a couple for some chickens and one for photography. Photography became my obsession and still is even though I don't take many photos anymore. I processed millions of feet of motion picture news and Army film. Made a good living doing it, probably much more than if I had stayed with farming.
I do not know the breed of the sow it has been around 50 years since we left the farm, the sow was black with a white belt.
David B

 

[Bird]

Bird,
I didn't have much mentoring at that age and in thinking back my 4H leader could have helped in the training area. If I had won a few blue ribbons I may have returned to farming when I became an adult. I still have my red ribbons, one for the sow, a couple for some chickens and one for photography. Photography became my obsession and still is even though I don't take many photos anymore. I processed millions of feet of motion picture news and Army film. Made a good living doing it, probably much more than if I had stayed with farming.
I do not know the breed of the sow it has been around 50 years since we left the farm, the sow was black with a white belt.
David B

David, black with a white belt sounds like a Hampshire; quite possibly the most popular breed of all. I had one other big advantage in the show ring when I was in 4H; that being that I raised Berkshire hogs, a much less popular and plentiful breed. A kid with a Hampshire or Chester White might be competing against 20-30 other hogs, even the ones with Red Duroc or Poland China might be competing with 15-20 other hogs, while those of us with Berkshires were usually competing with about 10 others and sometimes fewer.

I, too, still have the 17 ribbons I won; one showmanship blue, 8 first place blue, 6 second place red, and 2 third place white. I think 3 were for chickens (White Leghorn) and the rest for the hogs. They're pretty faded now, but a couple of years ago, one of my daughters mounted them on some kind of a board, under plexiglass?, so they're hanging on the wall now.

I'd say your photography ribbon was more important and assume it's the one you're most proud of, or at least I think I would be. I've snapped lots of pictures in my life, but very few "good" pictures; just another talent that I lack.

 

[3RRL]

LOL ... I must have missed a lot as a kid. They didn't offer 4H at the reform school I went to. The only thing I learned to read was a dipstick.

 

[Egon]

4H is quite independant of the education system.

 

[3RRL]

Egon,
My post was supposed to be funny.

 

[Egon]

Sorry my Friend, there are times when my faculties could make a sack of hammers look good. This must be because I'm short and most things just pass right over me.

 

[LBrown59]

there are times when my faculties could make a sack of hammers look good.

I'll take yer word for it.

 

[Farwell]

LOL ... I must have missed a lot as a kid. They didn't offer 4H at the reform school I went to. The only thing I learned to read was a dipstick.

Rob,
Bet they didn't offer FFA (Future Farmers of America) at your "Reform School" either. I had a year of it here in Michigan before my dad got a job at Aerojet in the Sacramento area. Quite a change for a Michigan farm boy.
I don't remember what the 4Hs are so maybe they did teach it at your school but didn't tell you. From the projects you have done and the photos of your home shop maybe I would have been further ahead in my areas of interest had I been taught dip stick instead of pitchfork.
My attempt at humor, not sure if I made it though.
David B

 

[Bird]

I don't remember what the 4Hs are

Head, Heart, Hands, Health

 

[Farwell]

Head, Heart, Hands, Health

Bird,
Thanks for the meaning of the 4Hs. I knew it had to be something good but I racked my brain and could not come up with an answer. I should have Googled like I do for almost every other question that I have.
In thinking about it I think that Rob probably did get some 4H training at the "Reform School". He would have to use his head, protect his heart from knife wounds, use his hands to work out with weights so he could be tough, and stay healthy so when he got out he could put his dipstick knowledge to use. LOL
David B