DELPHOS — For 15-year-old Troy Elwer, winning at the Ohio State Fair for his grand champion market hog was redemption.
In 2011, Troy was named the reserve champion in the same category. After being told his hog was only second best, Troy said being crowned grand champion felt like a weight had been lifted off his shoulders.
“It was a big relief,” said Troy, who will be entering his sophomore year at Delphos St. John’s High School. “Winning this was the only goal we had left in my mind, and thankfully we came out on top this year.”
To become grand champion of the market hog show, Troy had to beat out more than 800 other competitors. He said the number of hogs shown at this year’s junior fair show was the most ever.
Troy said the realization he beat a record number of competitors didn’t sink in right away.
“Right after I won, I was kind of in shock, and I had that adrenaline rush,” Troy said. “The next day, I was talking to my dad, and he told me it was pretty amazing what I had done.”
He and his father, Scott, have been raising pigs together for nearly all of Troy’s life. On their 250-acre farm just outside of Delphos, the Elwers raise 10 to 12 sows and sell show pigs for $500 to $2,000 each. The business, Route 66 Showpigs, is something Troy hopes to take over when he reaches adulthood.
“It’s a huge part of my dad and grandpa’s life, and a huge part of my life, so I hope in the future to continue those traditions on,” he said.
Troy said raising pigs with his father has taught him life lessons he hopes to pass along to his children someday.
“I’ll be able to teach my kids that if you have responsibility and work ethic, you can do great things, like winning at the Ohio State Fair,” he said. “It all pays off in the end.”
For Troy, his hard work literally paid off. His 269-pound crossbred hog sold for $42,000 at last weekend’s fair. Though Troy will only receive $10,000 — the rest of the money goes to the fair fund for scholarships and awards for future winners — he said the amount he will receive will help pay for college.
Troy said he plans to attend The Ohio State University’s Lima campus for two years and will finish out his degree at the main campus in Columbus.
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