A Judge’s View
Kevin Wendt, Dublin, Ohio
Understanding Division Champions
A Market Hog Show
Kevin Wendt of Dublin, Ohio has judged over 200 livestock shows since his graduation
from the Ohio State University in 1990. A member of The Livestock Judging Team while
at Ohio State, Wendt shares his views on One Final Drive for Champion Market Hog
versus Divisions.
One Final Drive for 250 Head Market Hog Show
1. Classes are broken up by weight. (This example: 18 classes, 10-15 pigs in each
class.)
2. The judge places each class from top to bottom or as may places as needed by the
fair management.
3. All pigs chosen for the final drive are the class winners from each of the 18
classes. All 18 pigs are in the ring.
4. The overall grand champion and reserve champion pig is chosen from the final
drive of the class winners and the second place pig out of the Grand Champion’s
class is asked in to show for Reserve Champion.
Final Drive
All final drive pigs from classes 1-18
Overall Grand
Champion
Overall Reserve
Champion
Divisions for 250 Head Market Hog Show
1. Classes are broken up by weight. (This example: 18 classes, 10-15 pigs in
each class.)
2. The judge places each class from top to bottom or as may places needed by
the fair management.
3. All class-winning pigs from classes 1-6 chosen for final drive come back to
compete for the light weight final drive class. After class 6, champion light
weight is selected. The second place pig out of the Grand Champions class is
asked to show for the Reserve Champion.
4. All class-winning pigs from classes 7-12 chosen for final drive come back to
compete for the middle weight final drive class. After class 12, champion
middle weight is selected. The second place pig out of the Grand Champions
class is asked to show for the Reserve Champion.
5. All class-winning pigs from classes 13-18 chosen for final drive come back to
compete for the heavy weight final drive class. After class 18, heavy weight
champion is selected. The second place pig out of the Grand Champions class
is asked to show for the Reserve Champion.
6. Light weight, middle weight, and heavy weight winners from the 3 final drive
classes come back to compete for Grand and Reserve Champion overall.
7. After the champion is selected, the Reserve Champion from that final drive
weight range will show for Reserve Grand Champion.
Light Weight Final Drive
Middle Weight Final Drive
Heavy Weight Final Drive
All class winning pigs from
Classes 7-12
All class winning pigs from
Classes 13-18
Champion
Middle Weight
Winner
Champion
Heavy Weight
Winner
All class winning pigs from
Classes 1-6
Champion
Light Weight
Winner
Reserve
Light Weight
Winner
Overall
Grand Champion
Market Hog
Reserve
Middle Weight
Winner
Overall
Reserve Champion
Market Hole
There Are Many Positives to this System
1. More kids are recognized having 3 division Grand and Reserve Champions. (
more trophies given to more kids.
2. Judge has a better view of ALL hogs working his way to the final drives –
NOT 18 pigs in the ring at the end.
3. Parents with multiple kids can target divisions and weight ranges to divide up
family members for a fair chance.
4. At the Junior Fair Premium Sale, buyers will give more Premium money as
they are buying 6 champions and Reserves, not just two.
Frequently Asked Questions
Reserve
Heavy Weight
Winner
1. We only have 100 head in our show, and 8 classes. What do we do?
Have only light weight and heavy weight divisions. Eliminate middle
weight.
2. We have 400 head in our show with 20 classes. What do we do? Use division
champions and number them – Divide 20 classes by 5 and have 5 division
1-5 champions and reserves.
3. In our market show, we show barrows against market gilts and 90% of the
time gilts win. Have a Barrow show and a market gilt show. Pick division
champions and a champion and reserve barrow, a champion and reserve
market gilt and they compete against each other for Grand and Reserve
Grand Overall. This will even the playing field and recognize more kids.
4. With your format and showmanship our show is too long. What do we do? Do
showmanship all on one day or night, then recognize more kids. Spend
more time, use a different judge. Showmanship at most fairs is the most
prestigious award.