Sweet friends sweep swine and sheep show

MT. PLEASANT – Best friends Aurey Meeker and Afton Wilkerson were each awarded senior showmanship with their livestock at the Henry County Fair.

Aurey and Afton come from Winfield and have been best friends since sixth grade.

The two do almost everything together, from attending school functions, to youth group, to showing sheep and swine at the fair.

Afton’s dad Mark Wilkerson makes sure to scope out the animal barns early so the girls can have pens for their livestock next to each other.

Both girls show swine and sheep, but Aurey is convinced her sheep, Douglas and Dolores, do not actually like her.

“I enjoy doing it because I get to do it with my friends, and I like my pig,” Aurey said.

Her pigs, Daisy and Duke, however, make up for the sheep’s disdain with copious amounts of friendly grunts and their assistance in helping Aurey take home Senior Showmanship for the swine category.

Afton is also partial to her pigs, Lillie, Alfie, and Ollie, because “They have good personalities,” she said.

Surprisingly, however, Afton found herself the recipient of the Senior Showmanship award for her skills with her sheep Meep and Bo-peep.

Both girls enjoyed their week at the fair and summed it up saying, “It was fun!”

Comments: AnnaMarie.Ward@southeastiowaunion.com