FARMINGTON — An early release from school, sunny skies and discounts on rides at Farmington Fair brought children of all ages to the fairgrounds Wednesday afternoon.

There were frequent squeals from youngsters spun around on fast, twirling rides. However, it was all business for youngsters in the 4-H swine and market swine show.

A black and white pig named Paul Pig won grand champion in the market pig showing. The pig was raised by Caleb Hall of East Dixfield.

Another pig from the same litter, Chub, was raised by Michael Lane of New Vineyard and earned reserve grand champion.

The pigs were born March 6 and Chub has already reached 191 pounds, Lane said.

The pigs will be sold during the 4-H auction at the fairgrounds Friday.

This was the second year Lane raised a piglet. The chores include giving the pig six quarts of feed a day, cleaning and training, he said. A board and a cane are used to control the animal for the judging.

“They start out dumb but get smarter,” he said.

In the market class, judges look for muscle through the hind quarter and a long body with width through the chest area.

“The longer pig has one extra rib, one more pork chop,” said judge Martin Lane, 56, of Shady Lane Farm in New Vineyard. Lane started showing animals at age 9. His grandchildren are the fourth generation to show hogs, beef and poultry raised on the farm.

Along with looking for well-fed, clean animals, Lane said the most important part is providing fresh water for the animal. He looked at the pigs and said he could tell they were well hydrated, the eyes looked good and the hair had a glow.

“It’s the best thing they can have,” he said of the animals fed twice a day, seven days a week.

Knowing that the animals will be auctioned Friday for food is part of the raising, he said.

“All things in life are raised for something, not to just die of old age as a pet,” he said.

The auction provides a chance for people to buy local and fill their freezers, he said. With no processing plants left in Maine, animals grown locally are transported to Massachusetts or Pennsylvania for slaughter and processing and brought back to be sold in local grocery stores, he said.

During the auction, Lane expects the pigs will go for about $3 a pound.

It’s an amount that means the youngster may earn a little after expenses, Judy Smith, Franklin County Extension 4-H educator, said. Sometimes the amounts aren’t enough to pay for the high price of feed.

Some youngsters lease animals, an agreement where sometimes the animal is kept and fed by the farmer and the youngster trains and shows the animal, she said.

Lane’s mother, Laura, intends to start a 4-H swine club this year similar to the earlier Souie, Souie swine club. Members are welcome, Laura said.

For more information, contact Smith at 778-4650.

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