Ava Genter strives to promote youth and their involvement in the show pig industry across Ohio and beyond. Throughout her high school career, she has been able to take part in organizations and opportunities across the country to spark the love and passion in others that made her fall in love with the livestock industry. She is currently a junior at Pettisville High School and plans to attend Kansas State University to major in agriculture communications and marketing in the future. Over the course of her show and FFA career, she has had the opportunity to be successful on the state and national level. Ava is so excited to be able to share her knowledge and passion with others as they navigate such an impactful industry.

As Ava Genter covered in Skin and Hair 101 – a daily routine focused on cleanliness, brushing and hydration is critical to be show ring ready. However, to elevate to another level, tanning your pig before the show, and perfecting your skin and hair prep prior to hitting the ring can be a game changer.

One of my favorite things to do in order to prepare my pigs for the highest level of competition possible involves sun tanning. Tanning helps to promote intense dark hides. One key question I ask myself from the moment a new pig enters our facility is, how dark am I going to be able to have this pig be? Reaching full tanning potential takes time and dedication, mixed in with a little bit of patience. The initial start of the tanning process tends to occupy a majority of your time as the tanning time periods tend to be longer daily. In the early stages of tanning we take our pigs out to tan anywhere between 10am and 4pm each day, as this is when the UV index tends to be the strongest throughout the day. During this time each pig is brought out to their own individual pen that sits out back in an open area unlimited to lighting. These pens can range in size, but one thing that remains constant for all tanning pens is the ability to let light in. Once pigs are set out in the pens, we then continuously spray them with water to help keep them cool on a hot day over the course of the general two hour to one and half hour time period.

One thing I do not recommend, however, is applying oils to help the tanning process. Although oils can speed the process, they tend to cause burning within the white regions of pigs. Recognizing sun burns or the start of burning is important as it can set your pig’s skin and hair quality back by weeks. This is why the application of conditioners and oils is recommended the evenings after tanning. These hydrators can help to prevent peeling, dryness, and irritation that may be caused from excessive sunlight. If your pig shows any signs of burning, it is best to hold off on tanning until their skin is completely healed. Once pigs are darkened to a level at which you are satisfied, daily tanning is unnecessary. However, tanning at least once to twice a week even while tan helps to maintain their darkness and quality.

In the winter months, however, with limited sunlight strength and dropping temperatures, the installation of tanning bulbs above pens, plugged into outlet timers may be a quality solution. Although tanning bulbs tend to take a greater amount of time in order to see results, they are an effective alternative during periods when natural sunlight is not an option. 

Once your pig is dark, hydrated, hairy and ready to load up and go to the show, it is important to consider and establish your show day hair care routine in order to show off your hard work daily in the barn. When traveling to shows, I think it is important to remain consistent with your pig’s skin and hair routines. Drastically altering products and/or methods can negatively affect your pig’s skin and hair as it may cause skin reactions from alternative products. When it comes time to work your way up to the ring, taking the time to present your project to the best of your ability should become your top priority. Washing our pig at least three classes prior to yours is the first step we always take to ensure our pigs are as clean as possible. If they have white, we like to use whitening shampoos such as Bright Lights, Natural Light or Weaver Shimmer Brightening Shampoo. From this point, brushing/working the hair of your project to lay flat and neatly against the body is your next step. Remember that when wet, the direction you brush hair dictates the direction it will dry, so place close attention to the direction of your brush to ensure no calics. Once these steps are completed, take time to mist oils/water (depending on show regulations) over the entirety of your pig. This helps your pig’s skin and hair to shine and stand out around the ring.

Though all of these aspects of a daily routine and final show ring prep contribute greatly to the skin and hair quality of your project, without the consistency and determination to put forth effective practices, results can be limited. Skin and hair quality will not change overnight; it takes a great amount of time to prepare your projects from point A to point B. The important step is to find a routine that works for you, products you can trust and stay consistent and patient with it! When you stick to your plan, great results can follow!