Jones County woman takes part in Bacon Buddies at State Fair

     "I never showed animals before. I was a little nervous."

   Amanda Carey, 34, of Onslow exhibited pigs at the Iowa State Fair this summer, something she had never been exposed to before.

   Thanks to an organization known as "Bacon Buddies," Carey was able to experience what 4-H and FFA youth go through at every county fair and the State Fair.

   This was the third year the Bacon Buddies has had a presence at the State Fair. Working with the Iowa Pork Producers Association (IPPA), they provide people of all ages (youth and adults) with intellectual and developmental disabilities the opportunity to show at the State Fair.

   IPPA Consumer Information Director Joyce Hoppes shared the history of Bacon Buddies. A 4-H/FFA youth from Earlham, Iowa, witnessed a similar organization like this while visiting Wisconsin.

   "She reached out to our pork industry to see something like this come to Iowa," she said.

   As it turned out, the youth took on establishing Bacon Buddies in Iowa as her fair project at the time.

   The national pork association worked with the IPPA during the first year at the State Fair. The last two years, IPPA has run with it.

   IPPA and Bacon Buddies have teamed up with Special Olympics in Iowa to recruit athletes to show at the fair.

   "It takes a lot of work finding people," noted Hoppes.

   How it works is each exhibitor is paired with two mentors either in 4-H or FFA. In Carey's case, her mentors came from Le Mars and Farley.

   Bacon Buddies is limited to 16 exhibitors with four in the showring at once. This then requires 32 mentors. Prior to the hour-long show, the mentors meet with their Buddies to show them how to wash and clean the pig, how to show it in the ring, and the proper equipment used, such as a show stick.

   Carey shared that she found out about Bacon Buddies through a friend who took part in the program during the 2021 State Fair.

   "She suggested I do it this year, so I signed up for it," she said.

   The pig show was the evening of Aug. 13. Carey and family headed to the State Fair that morning. In attendance was her mom, Patty Carey; her brother; her grandfather; her aunt; and a cousin.

   Once they arrived, Carey was paired with her mentors and the pig she would be showing, Leroy.

   "I met the pig. They showed me how to wash him," recalled Carey. "But they told me to just have fun."

   Once in the showring, the judge asked her what she did with her pig beforehand to prepare for the show.

   Carey was also wearing a unique pair of pants, a project she worked on with her aunt, adding rhinestones to her jeans. The judge also showed interest in her attire.

   "I stood out," Carey said of her blinged-out pants.

   Each exhibitor received a blue ribbon, a shirt, a water bottle, and a backpack that looks like a pig.

   Carey said she would definitely do it again and encourages others in Special Olympics to do it, too.

   "It teaches you how to get used to farm animals and make new friends," she said of her experience.

   She would also love to see Bacon Buddies become a part of the Great Jones County Fair.

   "It brings people with disabilities and non-disabilities together," added Carey.

   The best part of Carey's day… Getting to meet and have her picture taken with Gov. Kim Reynolds.

   "The Governor has fallen in love with the program," shared Hoppes. "She stayed in the showring for the whole show."

   Hoppes urges county fairs and other pork producer groups to introduce Bacon Buddies in their counties.

   "We're trying to get more and more counties to have similar events at their fairs."

   Already, there are 10 counties in Iowa partnering with Bacon Buddies to not only expose Special Olympic athletes to pigs, but other species as well.

   Hoppes said so many show their support of IPPA and the pork industry, Bacon Buddies is their way of giving back.

   "We're giving back to our communities and neighbors," she said. "We're supporting the athletes and 4-H and FFA youth with this wonderful opportunity.

   "It's putting these athletes in the limelight in the showring, making them the stars of the show," continued Hoppes. "They have an opportunity they might not ever have the chance to do."

   To find out more about Bacon Buddies, visit iowapork.org/bacon-buddies.