Typed as spelled and written - Lena Stone Criswell

THE DAILY DEMOCRAT
(Year missing) - Number 103
Marlin, Texas, Friday Morning, March 18, 1955

GRAND CHAMP HOG MISSES
PLUSH LIFE ENDS UP AS
PORK CHOPS

The news is getting around about the end of the Houston Fat Stock Show's grand champion hog that was exhibited by Louis Klawitter of the Marlin FFA Chapter.

Klawitter's Berkshire hog really got into the deep lard class when it was chosen as the grand champion of the show.

The Uncle Johnny Feed Mills at Houston bid in the hog at $725.  Uncle Johnny Vinson of the feed company was here last week and delivered the check to Klawitter at a special FFA chapter meeting.

But as far as the hog was concerned it was all a posthumous ceremony.

According to the news about the developments in connection with the grand champion hog, the feed purchased a station wagon, had it all fixed up, air conditioning and a plush finish.  It all added up to being a $3,000 job.

The grand champion was to be taken on a de luxe Texas tour.  FFA and 4-H clubbers were going to see what a grand champion Berkshire looked like and the Marlin lad's hog was headed for a luxury career.

While the grand champ was being shown over the state the club boys would be registering and some boy was scheduled to be awarded the gilt for a brood sow with a future that could have meant being the mother of more grand champions.

When the company sent to the exhibition place to get Miss Grand Champion Berkshire, those in charge said that due to the rush of others getting animals out of the exhibition at that particular time--would they please come back the next day to get the hog?

That request seemed very reasonable and the call was made the following day.  Then the tragedy was disclosed.

Miss Grand Champ had been slaughtered.  It was by accident.  It was a misunderstanding.  It was mistaken identity.  It was all of those things and more.

Now the reserve champion hog of the show is getting the Texas tour in air conditioned fineray.

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Copyright permission granted to Theresa Carhart and her volunteers for printing
by The Democrat, Marlin, Falls County, Texas.