MARDI GRAS 2023

Laissez les bons temps rouler with a night of fun & giving for Seguin ISD!

New Orleans Hurricanes

LIVE JAZZ Live & Silent Auctions

Chicken & Sausage Gumbo

Bread Pudding Crab Cakes

“Pay-WhatYou-Pull” Game for a Beverage Wagon Prize!

“Golden Ticket” $100, 1-in100 chance raffle for a Trip to Cabo, Puerto Vallarta, Tuscany, or Vegas!*

*Do not have to be present to win!

With Live Performance by The Dirty River Jazz Band!

February 23, 2023

5:30 PM - Seguin Coliseum

Tickets: $50

Tickets, Sponsorships, & Auctions by scanning the QR Code or by visiting: tinyurl.com/4zxw86sx

Info: 830-379-0325 l kfollis@seguin.k12.tx.us

Bethany gets two pigs each year just in case one cannot show due to injury or illness. This year’s duo is a colorful pair –– one white, the other black. They go by the names Mr. Swagger and Romeo and enjoy all the best things in life, like snacks and snuggles.

“They can get super lovey,” Bethany said. “Take Mr. Swagger here for example. I’m over there sitting with my legs out, and what does he do? He sits on them. Romeo is a Berkshire and little Mr. Swagger is a cross. Both pigs are very sweet. They love belly rubs and marshmallows. My friend told me pigs like Nilla wafers and marshmallows, so that’s their treat. When you walk them with their head up, they’ll get a marshmallow and you reward them. Every now and again it can get a little bit hard when you’ve got a crazy pig, but all you’ve got to do is feed them a treat and soon they’ll walk good and be all happy. It takes a lot of time. We’re walking about a mile and a half a day. They pick up sticks while they’re walking. Mr. Swagger, he’ll be carrying a branch from a tree that just dropped. The other day, I let him out and he just goes barreling –– running around and around. And then he starts tumbling, and he’s literally just going in circles. We’ve watched him roll so many times. They’re funny.”

All of this time and effort leads up to the stock show, which of course, requires even more work to get ready. Leading up to show day, hogs need their coats clipped and to be washed to look their best for the judge. The smallest details matter in a class where multiple animals look similar. This can mean the difference between selling your animal or going home with an full trailer and empty pockets.

“You have to bathe them because you’re going to need clean skin,” Bethany said. “Let’s say there’s a pig that looks exactly like your pig, but your pig has mites all over his stomach; he’s going to pick the pig with the better skin. So after the show, we keep them for a couple of months and then, well... we have to eat them because it’s part of their life cycle. I’m a meat eater. I’m not a vegetarian. It’s hard. I cry my soul out, and then I take my blanket that I’ve had my entire life and throw it over my head. It may get tough sometimes, but just keep going –– just keep cruising along. Like Dorey says, just keep swimming.”

A life lesson learned at only eleven years old.

Abigail’s father, Tommy, is a master electrician for the city of Seguin and fully understands the importance and weight of the things he’s helping teach his daughter because he learned them at home as well.

“My family did it to me, too,” he said. “It’s just part of agriculture. Now, I don’t make her dress it out; we take it to a processor. We have a local guy we use. We’re also deer hunters, so we make our own sausage. Normally, we just get ground pork and use it like hamburger meat. But then we have the pork chops and roast.”

According to Tommy and Bethany, there is a significant difference in the flavor and quality of the meat they produce at home as compared to what you might purchase at the supermarket.

“Store bought is more flavorless,” Tommy said. “You know, if you get a good steak that’s got great flavor, well that’s what these pigs have. There’s actually another breed that my cousin raises, they’re called Herefords. She’s had several of them, and they are by far the best tasting.”

Bethany enthusiastically added that Herefords are the “Wagyu of the pork world” and that she loves them.

Bethany didn’t make it to sale this year, but isn’t bothered. Next year, her brother will start third grade, which means finally getting to show animals. Then, as his big sister, Bethany will take on a new responsibility to guide him on a journey full of fun and help comfort him when the hard part comes. Right now, Bethany sees agriculture in her future ––unless she becomes a lawyer, but no matter where she ends up, the lessons learned lying in the corner pen at the county show with two happy pigs will stay with her for the rest of her life. •

Happy Valentine’s from the staff at Seguin Today!

Upcoming events communitycalendar@kwed1580.com

February 20, 2023

will be a No One Left Behind Community Recovery Awareness Event

Feb.

11

Dinner & Dance

The Seguin Sunrise Rotary will have its Sweethearts Scholarship Dinner & Dance from 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 11 at the Big Red Barn, located at 390 Cordova Rd. in Seguin. Tickets are $50. Attire for the evening is red, black, and white. For table sponsorship and tickets, call 210-8341240. For more information visit www. Seguinsunriserotaryclub.com.

Mar. 4

Kickball Fundraiser

The Seguin Little League will have a Kickball Fundraiser Saturday, March 4 and Sunday, March 5 at the Seguin Little League Fields. The fee is $25 per individual or $250 per team. There are 12 players per team. Forms will be provided to register at the Seguin Little League Fields. Proceeds benefit the Seguin Little League Program for the upcoming year.

Feb. 23

SEF Mardi Gras Gala

The Seguin Education Foundation will have its Mardi Gras Gala at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 23 at the Seguin Coliseum. The event includes live jazz, Cajun food and beverages, and live and silent auctions. To purchase tickets or sponsorships register online at https://tinyurl.com/4zxw86sx or by visiting the SEF Facebook Page. For more information call 830-379-0325 or email kfollis@seguin.k12.tx.us.

Mar. 5

ALICE Training

The Southwest Preparatory School will be hosting Active Shooter Response Certification Training (ALICE Training) from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday, March 14 and Wednesday, March 5 at the Main Building, located at 6535 Culebra Rd. in San Antonio. Attendees will range from law enforcement, local school officials, and area business leaders. For more information, visit www. alicetraining.com. To register, visit https:// cvent.me/4Oe7g4?RefId=social.

Mar. 2

Annual Art Show

The Seguin Art League will accept entries for its 15th Annual Elementary (grades 1-5) & Middle School (grades 6-8) from 4 to 6 p.m. Thursday, March 2 at St. Andrew’s McKeogh Hall, located at 201 E. Nolte St. in Seguin. For a prospectus, visit www.seguinartleague.com. Winning entries will be displayed at the Seguin Art League’s Henry Moore Gallery from Saturday, March 4 to Saturday, March 18. For information, call 830-305-0472.

Mar. 9