Bacon Buddies
Get ready to smile about one of Iowa's best new fair traditions
A few years ago I had the opportunity to share the story of a new event happening at a few fairs around Iowa—Bacon Buddies—and encourage more people to offer this at their county fair. I’m pleased to report that this amazing event, which is all about agriculture, inclusion and helping kids of all abilities show livestock, is stronger than ever. We’ve been blessed to have Bacon Buddies events at the Calhoun County Expo for a few years now. I thought you might enjoy learning the back story (which I wrote about a year ago) about this cool event, which is a bright spot in the world today.
As a long-time Special Olympics competitor, Abbie Kliegl knows a thing or two about the importance of practice, staying positive and doing your best. There were some things, however, that she could only experience from a distance.
“When Abbie’s brother and sister were in 4-H in Madison County, Abbie stood outside the show ring and watched while they exhibited livestock at the fair,” said John Kliegl, Abbie’s father, who is also president and CEO of Special Olympics Iowa. “Abbie didn’t get to experience the camaraderie and socialization that occurs when kids get their livestock ready for the show ring.”
That’s why Kliegl is a strong supporter of Bacon Buddies®. These unique livestock shows are designed to give people with disabilities the opportunity to work with a pig in the showring.
After holding three successful Bacon Buddies® swine shows at the Iowa State Fair in 2019, 2021 and 2022, the Iowa Pork Producers Association (IPPA) is encouraging Iowans across the state to organize their own local Bacon Buddies shows at county fairs and other local livestock shows. Bacon Buddies participants experience acceptance by working with 4-H and FFA mentors. They also get the opportunity to talk with a livestock judge in a public setting and experience the thrill of earning a blue ribbon for their efforts.
“Bacon Buddies gives all the athletes the same feeling of confidence and accomplishment that the FFA and 4-H livestock exhibitors feel,” said Joyce Hoppes, consumer information director for the Iowa Pork Producers Association (IPPA), which is supporting Bacon Buddies statewide. “It’s a great experience for everyone involved.”
The Calhoun County Expo hosted its first Bacon Buddies show in 2023 and brought back this unique event for the 2024 fair. Sophia Wuebker, a 4-Her and South Central Calhoun (SCC) High School FFA member, has been a champion of the Bacon Buddies program since she first encountered it during the Iowa State Fair a few years ago.
Her younger brother Rylan participated in the Bacon Buddies livestock show. “It’s a great opportunity for kids with any type of physical or mental disability,” said Wuebker, who served as a Bacon Buddies mentor at the 2024 Calhoun County Expo. “I’m so glad we could bring this opportunity back to Calhoun County.”
Earlham teenager brought idea to Iowa
The idea for Bacon Buddies took root about five years ago after Kylee Brown, a 4-H and FFA member from Earlham, attended the Wisconsin State Fair. Brown was inspired by the All For One show, where people with disabilities gain real-life experience showing livestock.
“After seeing the smiles on the participants’ faces and the tears of joy in the audience, I knew immediately I wanted to bring something like this to Iowa,” said Brown, who has enjoyed showing livestock, especially pigs.
She pitched the concept to Iowa’s pork industry leaders, who embraced the idea and helped make it a reality at the 2019 Iowa State Fair. Bacon Buddies participants met with their mentors (4-H and FFA livestock exhibitors) about an hour before the show to familiarize themselves with “their” pig and learn some pointers about how to show the pig. Then they headed into the showring to interact with the judge.
“We had so many 4-H and FFA students who wanted to serve as Bacon Buddies mentors in 2019 that we couldn’t use them all,” said Dr. Jodi Sterle, an Iowa State University animal science professor who serves as the swine show superintendent at the Iowa State Fair.
The Bacon Buddies show remains a highlight of the Iowa State Fair, plus counties across Iowa are coordinating their own Bacon Buddies shows. The Madison County Fair hosted its first Bacon Buddies show in 2022, with 12 participants ranging in age from six to 30.
“The show was excellent,” Brown said. “I can’t wait to see Bacon Buddies develop across Iowa.”
How to get involved
Jackson Sterle, an Iowa State University ag student, judged the Bacon Buddies event at the Boone County Fair in 2021.
“That was one of the most fun things I’ve ever done. It was so gratifying to serve others, and I was happy to introduce more people to the industry I care so much about. My Bacon Buddies have inspired me with their determination to try something new and work to get a job done, no matter your personal obstacles.”
A group of Boone County 4-H swine exhibitors turned Bacon Buddies into their service project and added a fundraising component. “That took it to a whole new level,” Jodi Sterle said. “I believe they raised more than $2,000 to donate to Special Olympics. Talk about a win-win!”
What happens in the showring isn’t the main event, added past IPPA President Trish Cook. “Rather, it’s the connections, friendships and memories built as participants prepare for the show. Bacon Buddies honors the pork industry’s We Care principles of caring for people and for our communities.”
The Calhoun County Expo hosted its first Bacon Buddies show in 2023, with five youth participants who were each paired with two mentors. In 2023 and 2024, Bacon Buddies participants met with their mentors (local 4-H and FFA livestock exhibitors) before the show to familiarize themselves with “their” pig. They also learned some pointers about how to show the pig. Then they headed into the show ring to interact with the judge.
Dr. Paul Armbrecht, a long-time swine veterinarian from Calhoun County, has served as the judge for the Bacon Buddies events at the Calhoun County Expo. He asked the Bacon Buddies questions, such as how many different colors of pigs are there, and how long does it take to get a pig to market weight?
“One little girl was fearful of the interview portion of the Bacon Buddies event, but we helped prepare the participants for all this before they enter the show ring with a pig,” said Armbrecht, who noted that several of the Bacon Buddies had never touched a real pig before the show. “After she gave it a try, she was so excited.”
As fun as each Bacon Buddies show can be, what happens in the show ring isn’t the main event. “It’s the connections, friendships and memories built as participants prepare for the show,” said past IPPA President Matt Gent, who raises hogs near Wellman in Washington County, Iowa. “Those of us in the pork industry know that when you work pigs together, you develop relationships. Our effort here is to honor the pork industry’s We Care principles of caring for people and for our communities.”
Brown is excited that more counties across Iowa are offering Bacon Buddies. “The more people we can include, the better.”
To learn more about the Bacon Buddies program, visit iowapork.org/baconbuddies.
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