**Photo courtesy of Rachel Kunkle**
All summer long, showmen across the state work hard at home and the county fairs as they prepare for the State Fair. This year, Ada and Jaden Kunkle participated in the swine show at the Illinois State Fair. Ada shares her experience showing at the state level, saying the bigger show can be more nerve-wracking.
“It’s a lot bigger, but it’s really fun,” explains Ada. “There’s more people, it’s longer than the Warren County Fair because there’s a lot more and it takes more time.”
But for Ada’s brother Jaden, the nerves set in more when he is showing locally.
“I’m the opposite of her. I feel like I’m more nervous at the Warren County Fair because I know everybody there than when I am at the state fair,” says Jaden, “because I don’t know anybody, and I just enjoy more opponents.”
On top of showing at the state fair, Ada and Jaden both showed pigs at the Warren and Knox County Fairs.