We Caught up with Miss, Scarlett Belknap exhibitor of the 3rd Overall NJSA Purebred Gilt at The 2023 Team Purebred National Jr Show. Learn more about Scarlett below…
Age: 10
Grade: 5th
Hometown: Mediapolis, Iowa
Tell us a little about your champion:
Our Yorkshire gilt’s name is Jessie. Jessie was bred by Gavin Branderhorst of Diamond B Showpigs in Iowa. She’s sired by Hot Take 47-3. She has one of the best attitudes in the barn and even my 6 year old brother, Archer, can drive her. The only thing is she hates going onto the scales to get weighed. I’m not sure why but that’s just the way she is.
We jackpot a lot in the spring and early summer, so our daily routine does not change a whole lot because we’ve always got a show coming up soon. My sister, Stella, and I exercise our pigs daily by walking laps around the house while our Dad studies the pigs to make feed adjustments. We rinse before and after walking and condition skin and hair as well.
I was super happy and proud when I was selected as Reserve Champion Yorkshire and 3rd Overall NJSA gilt in Springfield. I’ve always wanted one of those big cloth banners, ever since I saw them at Expo 4 or 5 years ago. Although we’ve came close in the past, and have won jackpot shows over the last few years, this was actually the first time I had even won Champion or Reserve in a breed at a national show. Riding in the trailer with the music blaring along with the other breed champions from the barn to where the Grand Drive was held was really cool too.
Do you prefer summer or winter shows? Why?
I prefer summer shows because living in Iowa, it’s easier to work the pigs outside with the nicer weather. There are also more shows for us to go to then and it’s less busy with no school.
Who’s been your biggest influence?
My biggest influence is my dad because he is the one that drives us and the pigs to shows and knows a lot about pigs.
Do you and your family raise pigs?
Our family does not raise pigs. We like to work with a select group of breeders that we’ve built relationships with such as Gavin Branderhorst (who raised Jessie), our neighbor Wyatt Nelson (Nelson-Rushing Genetics), and Jonathon Triggs (Triggs Genetics), to name a few.
What’s your favorite thing to do in the barn?
My favorite thing to do in the barn is listen to music on our Alexa at full volume while conditioning my pigs. I like to play girl power music, but my Dad will walk in and tries to change it to Childers or Whiskey Myers while I’m belting out “This Girl is on Fire!”
What’s your favorite thing to do in the summer?
I don’t have a single favorite thing to do in the summer time, but will also spend time showing my horse, Harley, working with my show goats, playing ball, dance and spending time with friends and family.