The reserve champion hog was owned by 14-year-old Taylor Walker of Spring Branch and sold for $10,000. Photo by Danny Bolin and Linda Doane. Courtesy photo

Taylor Walker of Spring Branch, posed with family and purchasers of her reserve champion market hog at the 2007 North American Inter-national Livestock Expo (NAILE) in Louisville, Ky.

When asked about the moment that she knew her spot gilt was about to be named reserve champion, Walker said, “I had a good feeling. I started to shake and got really excited.”

This 14-year-old has shown hogs for seven years, with 2007 marking her first appearance at the NAILE. Taylor purchased the gilt from Mike McCoy of Bloomingburg, Ohio.

The reserve grand cham-pion market hog brought $10,000. Purchasers include Bluegrass Coca Cola, Mussel-man Hotels, Proof on Main, Jefferson County Farm Bureau, and O’Bryan, Brown & Toner, Attorneys.

Walker, the daughter of Jerry and Carolyn Walker, plans on using her share of the proceeds for future college expenses and to buy more show pig prospects for next year. She eagerly anticipates coming back to show at the 2008 NAILE.

Walker is an accomplished young agriculturist who is active in Spring Branch Middle School’s Junior High FFA program and Comal County 4-H.

Youth who sell their market animals in the Sale of Champions receive 80 percent of the sale price. Kentucky Harvest receives 10 percent of sale proceeds to fund a school program known as “Blessings in a Backpack,” as well as meat from champion animals, which is used to feed area homeless people. Ten percent is reserved by the Sale of Champions Committee to promote buyers of champion animals.