Emily’s FFA Project

As an agriculture teacher you hope that you never lose one of your students FFA projects.  This is Emily’s first year showing an animal so it was her first SAE project. You always want your your students to work hard, learn, bond with and complete their project.  Today Emily lost her first pig Wilbur.  Emily has worked so hard feeding, cleaning, working, and bonding with her pig.  Wilbur was a great first hog and he went to his first and only show with Emily in November.  We noticed that he was uncomfortable waking a lot.  As he gained weight we noticed that he had a hernia and it was getting bigger and more uncomfortable for him to move and walk.  Emily made the tough decision to have his hernia repaired so that he would be more comfortable and feel better.  He had his surgery last Thursday before Christmas and did great.  Emily took him for his first post surgery walk this past Friday and he did great.  However over the weekend he stopped eating and we lost him today.  Of course when entering these projects we all know it’s a gamble and you just pray it all goes well.  Emily did everything she should have done and I am hoping this does not discourage her from trying again.  I am hoping to help her recoup some of her expenses as she has lost everything she has invested and as we all know right now things are tough for most everyone. Anything received will go back to Emily to help her replace some of the money she has lost during this project.
Hog-$250
Surgery$150
Feed and Bedding$150