|
 |
|
| Name: |
Willow
|
Age: |
Three and a half years old
|
| Gender: |
Female
|
Kind: |
Yorkshire Pig
|
| Home: |
Central Illinois, USA
|
I've always heard your pet picks you, you don't pick your pet. It happened on a hot summer day in August at the 2012 Illinois State Fair. Not only was my daughter showing her 4-H projects but she was also working at the fair in the Junior Livestock barn. That is where I met purebred Yorkshire No. 1-13. She had a lovely face and such a gentleness about her. I was drawn to her and couldn't resist giving her a daily scratch and feeding her animal crackers. My husband knew the owner and asked if he was going to breed her in the fall. Of course, we were very excited when 1-13's litter of six piglets were born on Feb 1, 2013. My daughter had a choice of only two gilts (a gilt is a young female pig who has not yet been bred).
Willow, Will for short, came home with us to the farm. My little Yorkshire Beastie grew so quickly and became one of my daughter's 4-H projects for 2013. As Willow stole my heart, she remained on the farm and was bred, having a litter of 11 piglets of her own on January 19, 2014. The last photo, which I love, is of Will and the first piglet venturing out of the farrowing crate. My daughter showed her piglets in three 4-H county fairs, and they all placed very well Willow mirrored her mother's gentle soul, she became a very kind and caring mother herself. She is a smart animal, knowing the sound of the truck and awaits my arrival at the gate, that alone makes me smile. She knows her name, loves to be brushed, and has no problem getting a bath and hair cut. It is funny to see her open and close the gate herself to her own individual pen. She always gives sloppy wet kisses when you feed her favorite food - bananas! Her other favorite snacks are bread, watermelon, and tomatoes.
Will spends her time during the day rolling in the mud, sleeping in her hut, playing with her jolly ball or pushing a bowling ball around. When you clean her water tank and feed trough, Will gives you a slight head bump, as to say "thank you." She awaits patiently like a shadow when you are in the garden, as she knows she will receive something good to eat. As winter approaches, she will stay warmer living in the barn with her other friends. Even though my daughter claims Will as her own, she is forever my Beastie and will live the rest of her days on the farm.
Talk about Willow in Pet Talk!
|
|
|
|
