At 13-years-old, 4-H member Sam Doty could go the rest of his
life without winning another trophy and be satisfied.
n Christine Tognetti Staff Writer
Hollister – At 13-years-old, 4-H member Sam Doty could go the rest of his life without winning another trophy and be satisfied.
“It doesn’t matter what I win later in life, because this is the ultimate prize,” he said. “I can’t win anything higher than it in California.”
Last Saturday, instead of getting ready for school, Doty was in the pig barn at the California State Fair in Sacramento, getting his hog, Atilla, ready to show. Before stepping into the judges circle with Atilla, Doty was already on a roll. Earlier that day, his pig Princess won Champion York, which is a breed of hog, and he also won Champion steer in the All Other Colors breed division.
Those prizes were exciting, but Doty arrived at the fair wanting one thing, and one thing only – Supreme Grand Champion status.
And he nailed it.
When he arrived at the fair last week, Atilla – a six-month-old blue butt pig, which is a cross between a Yorkshire and a Hampshire breed – was in primo condition at 269 pounds and ready to prove she was the best kept pig in the state.
“Everyday when he would feed her, he would walk her right after,” said his mother Becky Doty. “He also always kept her nice and clean and always conditioned her coat.”
Now that his three older brothers have retired from showing, Doty said it was time for him to have a moment in the spotlight.
“I came to the fair knowing what I wanted to accomplish,” he said. “I had been showing pretty well the past year, and I knew I could do it.”
For months before the fair, Doty would spend hours with his animals, walking them, making sure they were properly fed, and sometimes washing and grooming them four times a day.
“You really need to take care of your animals,” he said.
After he won 4-H Champion, it was time for Doty, and Atilla to enter the Supreme Grand Champion arena, and prove they were the best around.
“I was confident because from the minute I started showing Atilla earlier in the day, I saw the judge look at her, and I could just tell he fell in love with my pig,” he said. “When they announced that I was the winner, I had a feeling of shock and disbelief. It was awesome. I mean I not only had the best pig in my county, but also in the state.”
When Doty returned to school Wednesday morning, he had a flashy new wardrobe accessory – his prize belt buckle – and a hefty addition to his college fund.
“All together I got around $11,000,” he said. “My grand supreme champion pig went for $6,000 by itself.”
Still giddy with excitement from his state prize, Doty said he’ll be bucked off his high horse the minute his brother’s get a hold of him.
“I called and told them, and they’re all jealous,” he said jokingly. “They’re going to kick my butt for showing them up.”
