Manheim Family Continues Farm Show Traditions

Young Aunt, Nephew Team Up to Exhibit Swine

Joyce Zimmerman
Southeastern Pa. Correspondent

MANHEIM, Pa. — When 13-year-old Chelsey Becker and her nephew Travis Dull, 10, show their hogs at the 2009 Pennsylvania Farm Show, they will continue a family tradition started by their father and grandfather, Marlin Becker, who showed swine, beef and dairy heifers in the late 1960s and early 1970s.

Chelsey, a seventh-grade student at Manheim Central Middle School and five-year Farm Show veteran, is the youngest daughter of Marlin and Nancy Becker of Manheim. Not only will Chelsey be following in her father’s footsteps, but also those of her three older sisters, all of which showed champion hogs at the Farm Show.

“Chelsey was born 14 years after our next youngest daughter,” said her mother, Nancy. “That makes her a little older than our grandson, Travis.”

Travis is a fourth-grade student at Doe Run Elementary School and the son of Chelsey’s oldest sister, Karen, and her husband Larry Dull, Jr. Both he and Chelsea are members of the Lancaster County 4-H Swine Club.

Obviously, the Becker family knows how to raise and show hogs since they have the distinction of capturing four state championship titles. According to Marlin, “People tell us that to have one state champion in a family is great, however, it is almost unheard of to have four champions at the state level in the same family.”

Karen started the tradition in 1987 when her market hog received the grand champion honors. Next sister, Melissa, married to Jason Sauder, captured the reserve grand champion titles two times, once in 1988 and again in 1994.

Rounding out the family championship winners is sister Amy, recently married to Kevin Rohrer, whose pure-bred swine entry in 2001 received the reserve grand championship title.

The three older sisters were all members of Manheim Central High School’s FFA chapter and Chelsey plans to continue family tradition by becoming a member when she enters high school.

According to Karen, “Any 4-H member who showed at the county round-up is eligible to show at the Farm Show. They are only allowed to raise two hogs which must be identified as “farm show hogs” before they are started on feed.” From these two hogs, members choose one, preferably the best one, for Farm Show competition. “This year the hogs must weigh between 230 and 280 pounds,” added Karen. “Hogs over or under this weight will not be qualified.”

Hogs for the show arrive at the Farm Show Complex on Sunday morning between 2 a.m. and 7 a.m.. “Our trucker usually leaves soon after midnight and still has to wait to unload,” said Nancy. “There are between four and five hundred swine entries in the show.”

The swine show starts at 8 a.m. Monday morning and continues through the day. “The top animals in each class are eligible to be sold at the sale on Tuesday, where they bring really decent prices,” said Marlin. “All other hogs not in the top classes just go to market and bring regular market price.” Last year, about 180 head of swine sold at the sale, held Tuesday morning. “I usually tell the girls to count their blessings if their animal makes the sale.”

While showing at the Farm Show, the Becker family usually stays at a Harrisburg hotel for Sunday and Monday nights. After Tuesday’s sale, they are finished with swine responsibilities at the show.

In preparation for the show, Chelsey and Travis are responsible for keeping the hog pen exceptionally clean and dry and regulating the amount of feed the hogs receive in order to achieve the proper weight levels. “When we get to Harrisburg, we need to wash the hogs and get them ready for the show,” said Chelsey. “I like to keep the pen clean because it is easier to get the hogs clean and ready.”

In addition to the swine club, Chelsey is a member of the Lancaster County 4-H Goat Club and Travis the 4-H Dairy Beef Club.

“In order to win, you must have a pig that really catches the judges’ eye,” added Marlin, who works in the hog department at New Holland Sales Stables and for Kline, Kreider & Good Auctioneers. “But over and above winning or losing, we enjoy the camaraderie with other exhibitors and people in the industry.”

With Chelsey and Travis showing now, and with younger grandchildren coming along, the Becker family is in a great position to continue their winning tendencies into the future.