some Bay Area Variety

When Pigs get Hair Cuts

This was an emotional week. It started when I found out I had to give Pinky a haircut! Yes, a haircut! So I go to the barn to meet with my ag teacher, Mr. Peak, and we start shaving her hair off with a giant buzzer thingy and after a few minutes he leaves it up to me to finish the rest. Luckily, my awesome friend Erik was there to help me. We were in Pinky’s pen together, all three of us, trying to keep Pinky calm so we could shave her but she didn’t like one bit so it came down to the snare? Its basically this thick wire that wraps around the pigs snout and it gets them under control. Everyone was promising me that it wasn’t hurting her but it killed me to have to do that to her and I started to cry? We finally finished it up though after a good hour or so and Pinky was exhausted and so was I. If you’re wondering why I had to give her a haircut it’s because we were getting all the animals ready for the show we had on Saturday morning. I had no idea what to expect but it was a really great learning experience. The show made me realize how much work I still have to do before the CCISD livestock auction. Me and Pinky are going to be doing a lot of exercising at the barn for the next few weeks, so feel free to come say Hey!

Pinky is doing still doing great!

I thought this week I’d let y’all know my daily routine now that I have to take care of Pinky. Wake up at 6:00 a.m., get ready for school, go to the barn at Clear Creek High School and feed Pinky, drive to Clear Springs High School, start school at second period (another benefit of being a senior, I don’t have a first period class ) student aid for the special ed class, LUNCH! Then I leave to help teach a 7th grade math class at Victory Lakes till about 3:00 p.m. After all of that, I usually head to the barn around 5:00 p.m. or so and I exercise her in the arena, clean out her pen, wash her (which can get very messy because she’s not a huge fan of baths) give her fresh food, tell her how much I love her and then I go home and go to bed.

This past Saturday was quite eventful as well. First I drove to Tully Stadium to support our Clear Springs Chargers Varsity football team… tough lost to the Katy Tigers but I’m still very proud of our boys… First year of seniors, second year varsity, 4th round of playoffs? I’ll take that any day of the week, way to go Chargers! After the game I met up with my mom and we got ready for League City’s Holiday parade! This year I was actually in the parade though. I’ve been honored with the title of Clear Springs FFA 1st Chapter “Sweetheart.” Because of this I got to ride on top of a very pretty, super awesome, gorgeous, sparkling white Mercedes. A special thanks goes out to everyone at Alex Rodriguez Mercedes for letting me and my mom borrow the car. Also, thanks everyone who attended the parade, I had a great time and I hope you did too!

Pinky n Haley

Never in a million years did I think I’d be only 17 with a baby already. It’s been just about two months since I was blessed with my baby. Her name is Pinky! She’s weighing in at about 115 pounds now, a big difference from the 37 pounds she weighed when I first got her. They grow so fast! I truly am getting a small dosage of what it’s like to be a mom… I find myself spending a lot of my time with feeding her, cleaning her pen, working her out, bathing her; it truly is a full time job and I’m learning a lot about responsibility. I’d like to thank my parents for spending the money and running to the barn for me when I don’t have time.

I never thought I’d be raising an animal like this. No one in my family owns a pair of boots or likes to hunt or anything like that. After learning that a friend made 12,000 dollars by raising and auctioning off his pig, I immediately asked where to sign up. I met the agriculture teachers at my school and they put me onto the livestock judging team, which I insisted that it was a bad choice because I knew nothing about “farm” animals. I ended up falling in love with FFA and the people in it. Unfortunately I didn’t discover it until the end of my junior year but I’m thoroughly enjoying my senior year with my pig, Pinky!

Note from Proud Dad (Eddie of www.Wiredin.cc )

Hats off to Haley and her venture. She's doing a great job with Pinky. I admire her thinking and willingness to commit to doing something outside her box. She has always participated as an athlete in school until her senior year at Clear Springs High School. She will have to part ways with Pinky on January 25 ~ 28 for the 28th Annual CCISD FFA Livestock Show and Auction (that will be a hard day for the whole family).

Haley's goal is to raise some tuition for her education. She plans to attend Texas State University to pursue a teaching degree. Haley already participates in a program called Ready Set Teach. She is a teachers assistant at Victory Lakes Intermediate where just a few years ago went to school and was taught by coach Wilson.

Haley did not mention that she was elected FFA Sweet Hart by her peers at Clear Springs High School. Haley has clear goals and will apply the proceeds toward her degree. So if you plan to attend the auction be sure to keep in mind Pinky the Pig and what your bid will represent. Chiquita and I plan to be there to shoot the event and Haley will send us reports about Pinky's progress as the date nears.
 
 

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