CASSOPOLIS — Placed outside of the swine stalls at the Cass County Fair hung a sign posted by organizers announcing a decision to not allow pigs to go through the sale ring at Thursday’s youth market livestock auction.

Organizers wrote the decision had been made as outside pressures on public and animal health increased. Under the new rules, only two swine were permitted to enter the ring.

“Ever since the swine flu broke at fairs, it was a big deal,” said Dean Hass, a swine superintendent.

Hass said the swine were brought in on Sunday, showed on Tuesday and could be under a lot of stress already.

“If we stress them out again today by getting them out of their pens and bringing them all in here, there is a way more likely chance of them breaking with something like swine flu,” he said.

One swine granted permission to show in front of the crowd of buyers was 14- year-old Katherine Gregory’s grand champion market hog named Vader. Before she escorted him to the auction ring, Gregory spent time with Vader in his pen. Vader, a black pig, weighing in at 283 pounds was named after Darth Vader, which was an idea Gregory’s mom thought of. 

“I feel nervous and scared,” Gregory said. “We work with them for so long, and then they are just gone. It is a good thing, though.”

Gregory, who is from Edwardsburg, not only won the grand champion market hog with Vader, but also won the champion swine showman title. She is grateful to Vader for helping her get to the showmanship sweepstakes, which will be hosted at 6 p.m. today in the show arena, she said.

“So far, showing pigs has been my favorite because I’ve done the best at it,” Gregory said, after naming off a list of all her 4-H animals, including two rabbits, two sheep and a friend’s goat. “Vader got me to what I really wanted to do.”

Gregory, who has competed with the Flaming Youth 4-H club since she started attending the fair, said she was surprised to have won the grand champion swine showmanship title.

“I wanted the best chance of doing well and was told if an intermediate shows a senior, you are bound to do well,” she said. “I was watching all the seniors and just started learning what they did.”

Gregory competed with another pig of hers, named Peppa, who placed second in her class and will not be gracing the auction circle. The only other swine to show in front of the auction crowd was Kaden Sparks’ reserve grand champion market hog.

As 10 a.m. rolled around, Gregory entered the ring of the livestock auction with Vader by her side, as she patiently waited for the bidding to begin. After the voice of the auctioneer sounded, a few minutes passed before the highest bid placed by Butch Bender, his daughter, Michele Harlow, and granddaughter, Mackenzie Whitmyer was accepted. Bender has been coming to the Cass County Fair and supporting the livestock auction for 50 years, he said.

Gregory and the auction winners smiled for a photo as Vader enjoyed some food placed on the ground for him.

As Gregory presented a small arrangement of pig cake pops, copies of Vader’s winning show ribbons and a thank you letter to the auction winners, she described Vader’s personality as goofy and funny. 

“Sometimes, he will sit like a dog and stick his tongue out,” she laughed.

After the selling of Vader for $11.50 a pound, Gregory is focusing on next year, she said.

“It kind of is sad, but in the end, there is always next year,” Gregory said. “I plan to compete until I am too old to show here.”