Bend teen ‘going for gold’ with her pig

Meet Benny, a Yorkshire hog competing at this year’s Deschutes County Fair. He’s part of a team, with 17 year old Mountain View senior-to-be Makayla Bashian. Together, you could say they’re going for gold.

“This is their Olympics,” said Makayla’s Future Farmers of America (FFA) advisor, Tracy Dulany.

Much like the Olympics, you find parents anxiously watching the action as competitors like Makayla and Benny hit the ring.

“I’m nervous, because I know so much of the work they’ve put in,” said Dulany.

“We’re really proud of her,” said Bobbie Bashian, Makayla’s mom.

Market competitions were held on Wednesday at the fair, each animal being judged on its shape, muscularity — even the way the animal walks.

On Thursday, it’s the showmanship competition, more tightly focused on how the owner handles their animal.

“Makayla is trying to keep her hog more towards the center of the ring, that’s why she’s kind of moving him back out,” says her coach as the showmanship competition continues.

Like the Olympics, getting this far doesn’t happen overnight.

“You know, people come here and they see the pigs, but they don’t see the work,” said Delaney Hood, Makayla’s friend and fellow competitor.

Since Benny was born on the first of February, Makayla has worked with him daily, Feeding, washing and caring for him, along the way training Benny to respond to a gentle tap with a short guide stick.

Competing with animals, you learn to expect the unexpected.

“He’s not a fighter. He got nervous when the other pig bit his ear,” said Makayla after a pre-competition incident with another pig.

Nerves or not, Benny and Makayla put on quite a show. The pair snags a reserve ribbon for their class.

“It’s overwhelming the first time, but once you show, you kind of get in a routine. I don’t know, I like it. It’s fun. It’s something different.”