Show.” His parents first took him to the South Dakota State Fair when he was three. Randy’s late father focused on Durocs. “Now my grandkids are raising them again. Hampshires are my passion. And we do have a few York sows and few Spot sows. About half the sow herd is crossbred animals.” Adam said most of the traditional seedstock producers who were around for years are not operating any longer because the industry converted to more youth events, demonstrating the need for agricultural operations to be flexible and diversified. “Kids have so many choices to be active today. The livestock associations are really trying to make their events big and keep the livestock kids engaged,” Adam said. “Livestock takes so much time and a lot of people don’t want to make the effort. So the associations are trying to make the shows special, making the trip and the money invested worthwhile.” In addition to hogs, the Wirt family also raise sheep for FFA and 4-H projects. In the pig and lamb youth markets, Randy said the Wirt operation falls somewhere in the middle size-wise.
Chris and Randy Wirt of Parker.
Their other strong tie to livestock showing is the fact that Randy’s wife, Chris, works for the SDSU Extension Service in Turner County. Randy joked, “Some people might call the Turner County Fair the four best days of summer, but my wife works for the Extension office, so don’t ask her that question. But she still enjoys every minute of it.” Chris has worked for Extension for 26 years. Adam said, “The month before and the week of the fair is a blur for her.” Chris helps with the Turner County 4-H program throughout the year, but says the fair is the showcase of what 4-H’ers have worked on. According to Randy, “It’s helped Chris in her job that she grew up showing livestock in Minnesota as a 4-H’er and then had experience with us at the national level at places like Aksarben and the American Royal in Kansas City.” After Adam and Sarah finished their years of showing at the Aksarben Stock Show in Grand Island, Neb., Randy continued the tradition set by his father of helping out at the shows for six or seven additional years. “Another tradition my dad started years ago, if you’re going to put on a show, it better be a good one and a well-run one. We work hard to uphold that tradition. I try to give a little advice to people running shows to make them better – hopefully without stepping on their toes.” Adam said, “Grandpa Russell knew everybody.” Randy said his dad was often called ‘the oldest 4-H’er.’ “He had one of those personalities – he was a people person, always goofy and telling jokes. That was my dad. Once you met him, you never
When it’s your livelihood that counts … count on me. Mark Kasten, Agent 180 N Main Ave 180 N Main Ave. Parker, SD 57053 Parker, SD 57053 Bus: 605-297-4747 Bus: 605-297-4747 mark@markkasten.com 368 N Main St. Freeman, SD 57029 Bus: 605-925-7353 mark@markkasten.com
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September 2021 | www.agemedia.pub | The Farming Families Magazine
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