Hollister resident Sarah Nino is raising quite a hog – one she hopes will be worth thousands of dollars when she goes to the San Benito County Fair this year.
Nino, 16, has been selected to raise a pig for the San Benito County Heritage Foundation, and proceeds from the sale at the fair’s livestock auction Oct. 4 will go toward beautifying the event’s home: Bolado Park.
“I was born and raised in San Benito County and I live just a few minutes away from Bolado Park, so it’s a very big deal to me because I show at the fair every year and I show at the Saddle Horse Show every year,” Nino said. “It’s a very great way to help out the fairgrounds.”
Sales of previous Heritage hogs have contributed toward installing a new P.A. system and sand at Bolado Park’s main arena; updating and repairing the 4-H buildings and Pavilion; improving the fairground kitchens; and building new portable barbecues for the picnic areas.
Nino’s got big shoes to fill, since the hog last year sold for $58,425 and the one her sister auctioned off the previous year cashed out at $47,725.
“I don’t have a set goal exactly but I’m hoping not to go backwards, which I don’t think is going to happen because I think we’re going to have a big year this year,” Nino said.
Luckily, Nino is no newbie to the pig-raising tradition. She’s been raising them for half her life – since she was 8 years old – and this pig is likely her 13th or 14th hog.
The pink pig, which Nino calls “Heritage Hog,” is a Yorkshire Hampshire cross that currently weighs about 185 pounds. Nino plans to fatten him up to about 270 pounds, just five pounds less than the maximum weight for a show pig.
So far, Heritage Pig has been spending his days playing with Nino’s other show pig and chasing around the family’s new puppy.
“It’s kind of playful,” Nino said. “It’s a good hog.”
Powerhouse Farms donated the pig, and McAbee Feed donated feed – meaning the costs of the project were covered by donations and all proceeds from the pig’s sale will go directly to the foundation.
To learn how to become one of the pig’s buyers at this year’s auction, call Nino’s mother, Tracy, at (831) 902-0567. Those selling animals in the county fair auction can also purchase a certificate showing he or she made a donation to the Heritage Foundation in honor of the animal’s buyer.
MORE INFORMATION:
Heritage pig profiles, by the year:
2012 pig’s name: Buster
Raised by: Katie Nino (Sarah’s sister)
Sale price: $47,725
2013 pig’s name: Cash
Raised by: Mary Alameda
Sale price: $58,425
2014 pig’s name: Heritage Hog
Raised by: Sarah Nino
Sale price: unknown
