16 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY AUGUST 29-SEPTEMBER 4, 2024 www.montereycountynow.com The Monterey County Fair has arrived. Students who spent countless hours raising animals over the summer are ready for their moment. By Erik Chalhoub MADE WITH CARE It’s 7am on a sunny mid-June morning in Chualar. Madison Stagner, fresh off the school year and preparing to enter her final year at Salinas High School, wakes up and walks to the barn on her family’s property, where she is greeted noisily by seven pigs vying for her attention. She consults a whiteboard in the center of the barn and a grid that is drawn on it. Each pig’s name is written across the top, and underneath them is every day of the week, with certain tasks organized in the grid. Today is Thursday, which means Bandit, Cal and Poppy are due for a bath. Lenard, Maple, Dean and Rory, meanwhile, just need a brush, after being bathed the previous day. All are fed—it’s important that they not only maintain their weight, but increase it. If this wasn’t summer break, Stagner would have to head off to school after completing these tasks, and after a long day of studying, go straight back to the barn to clean the pens, and of course, feed the pigs. But these are the early days of summer, so Stagner is able to spend more time with the pigs, perhaps take them for a walk and further bond with them. While other students her age may be off on vacation or hanging out with friends, Stagner has work to do in perhaps the busiest time of her year. She’s only a month removed from showing a pig at the Salinas Valley Fair in King City, and was only a few weeks away from making the trek to Sacramento for the California State Fair. After that, it’s non-stop through early fall: the Monterey County Fair runs Aug. 29-Sept. 2, the Santa Cruz County Fair from Sept. 11-15 and the San Benito County Fair from Oct. 4-6. It’s a labor of love. Stagner, 17, is now the president of Salinas FFA (Future Farmers of America), and has lived the lifestyle since joining a 4-H group when she was 9. She estimates she’s raised more than 60 pigs in her lifetime. As the Monterey County Fair kicks off for its 89th year, it marks the culmination of countless hours and immeasurable dedication from numerous students who have prepared for these days, hoping to not only earn money for college and other future dreams, but to share how important it is for Top: Bandit the pig gets some exercise at Madison Stagner’s Chualar home. Middle: Lily Tenorio brushes Hank Jr. at the Salinas FFA barn on the outskirts of Salinas. Above: The barn is bustling with activity during the summer, as Lily Tenorio (left) blow-drys her goat and Regina Lopez feeds hers, named Speedy Gonzales. Photos by Daniel Dreifuss except where noted
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