Lisenby bringing bacon

Flomaton Elementary School 5th grader Colby Lisenby captured the grand champion prize Saturday at the annual Escambia County 4-H swine project show and sale and then pocketed a cash prize when his champion pig was sold for $4 per pound at auction.

Brewton Middle School 7th grader Landon Barrentine captured the reserve grand champion award among 22 4-H students from across the county who participated in the program.

Anthony Wiggins, county extension coordinator for the Escambia County Extension Office, said the program, which climaxed with Saturday's show and sale, was a complete success.

"We had 24 students start the program and 22 completed the program," Wiggins said.

The students received the pigs, averaging about 50 pounds, during the last week of November. The program is designed to teach the students how to care for the pig to prepare it to one day end up on the dinner table.

"The show went great," Wiggins said. "I need to thank Double A Livestock Auction for not only allowing us to use their facility for the show and sale, but also handling the auction."

Wiggins said by the time of Saturday's show and sale, the average weight of the pigs was about 225 pounds. Wiggins also said the price sold at auction ranged from Lisenby's $4 per pound to $1.50 per pound.

Buyers had the option of either taking the pig home or having it sent directly to a processing plant.

"The community really supports this program," Wiggins said. "At a normal auction for pigs the price would run between 60 and 65 cents per pound. People come out and help these students make a little money and learn how to raise pigs."

The pig show followed the recent cow show and in past years has included a chicken show and sale. Extension officials have noted these are not pet shows, but food shows to teach students how to raise livestock for market.

For more information on opportunities through the extension office's 4-H programs, call 867-7760.