August 2, 2024
In a collaborative effort between the Ohio Pork Council and the Ohio Department of Agriculture, the second annual “Battle for the Bacon” Legislative Pig Showmanship event at the state fair drew 12 legislators from across the state to participate last Wednesday.
Serving as the event’s judges were Rep. Don Jones (R-Freeport) and Bob Peterson (R-Sabina). Brian Baldridge, ODA director, kept the capacity crowd informed of the show’s events (and provided some comedic antics by donning a bacon costume). Meanwhile, OPC’s Cheryl Day encouraged plenty of cheers and applause throughout the show.
All legislative participants were paired with youth mentors from the OH-PIGS circuit led by OPC’s own Kelly Morgan, who prepped the legislators for their showmanship tasks and kept the show’s logistics running smoothly.
After each legislator and mentor was introduced to cheers and applause, the showmanship contest began, and the crowd watched intently as the lawmakers tried their best to keep their animals showing their best.
The two judges weighed the participants’ performance and answers to their questions to make their final choice. Although last year’s inaugural grand champion Rep. Sean Brennan (D-Parma) was formidable in the ring, in the end the judges decided it was Rep. Kevin Miller (R-Newark) who was the 2024 Grand Champion with Reserve Champion honors going to Josh Williams (R-Sylvania Twp.).
“In just two years, this event has already proven to be a great way to engage with our state’s key political leaders in a unique and fun way that makes the pork industry and its issues much more real to them,” Day said. “It’s all about building relationships with people and connecting them with all parts of our dynamic industry that includes our youth and great show pig families across Ohio—who we can’t thank enough for making this event work.”
State Legislative Participants included:
- Rep. Sean Brennan (D-Parma)
- Rep. Haraz Ghanbari (R-Perrysburg)
- Rep. Allison Russo (D-Upper Arlington)
- Rep. Josh Williams (R-Sylvania Twp.)
- Rep. Anglela King (R-Celina)
- Rep. Mark Johnson (R-Chillicothe)
- Rep. Juanita Brent (D-Cleveland)
- Rep. Kevin Miller (R-Newark)
- Sen. Paula Hicks-Hudson (D-Toledo)
- Sen. Michele Reynolds (R-Canal Winchester)
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