Carly Dreher always sets lofty goals for herself when competing at the Allen County Fair. She wants to do well, both locally and at the state fair in September.
But, mostly, she just wants to soak it all in.
“I’m a little sentimental because the county fair is where it all started,” she said.
This is her last year in 4-H and her last year competing in the fair. She is a member of City Slickers 4-H Club.
She recently graduated from Iola High School and plans to attend Butler Community College in the fall, joining the program’s renowned livestock judging team.
She’s already secured an internship for next summer, working for the Indiana breeder who has provided her hogs and given her guidance and support for years. She’s not sure exactly what kind of career she wants to have but she knows it’s going to include swine in some way.
“My time in 4-H has been great and I’ve been super successful and achieved a lot of goals, but now it’s time for me to give back to the younger generation,” she said.
“I’ve learned so many lessons in 4-H and it is one of the best organizations. It gets you started at a young age.”
She wouldn’t be where she is now if not for the support of a network of family, friends and others in the swine industry.
She credits her parents, Jerry and Cathy Dreher, and older sister, Caitlyn, for giving her a great start. Her sister, who is seven years her elder, was already showing pigs when Carly joined 4-H.
“I’ve really been showing pigs ever since I could walk,” Carly said. “I was kind of thrown into it, but there’s nothing else I would rather do.”
Sure, she’s shown other animals before. In fact, she’s shown all four livestock species: swine, cattle, sheep and goats.
“I had a lamb one year. He weighed more than I did. He was huge,” she recalled.
Swine is still her favorite.
“Pig personalities are awesome. Every one of them is different. You have to get to know them,” she said.
