4-H Project preps livestock show queen for college

Despite the closing of the remainder of the school year by Gov. Abbott due to COVID-19 concerns, it is important to remember that the season still marks a beginning for high school seniors. One such area senior is Mia A. Cariaga who was very visible at the DS Ranch Park Hays County Youth Livestock Shows for the past two years.

Mia raised and cared for 2 pigs during the 2019-2020 season and from 2018-2020 served as Queen and Queen Emeritus at the Hays County Youth Livestock Show, which was held at DS Ranch Park. With her 4-H activities, she was working on achieving scholarships, as she desired to pursue her education at Texas A&M University.

And while COVID-19 has cut short her livestock shows and cancelled a formal cap and gown high school graduation, Mia is grateful for the learning opportunities that 4-H afforded her. “I will treasure these experiences for the rest of my life,” Mia said. “If I could go back in time and do things differently, I would have done this before my junior and senior high school years. Raising pigs has been quite rewarding and has taught me more than the science of responsible farming. It has helped me learn and develop responsibility, resilience, and most of all the amazing opportunity to form life-long friendships with my ‘show’ family, FFA, and 4-H members from across the state.

The two pigs she raised were a Market Cross Barrow “Waddles” (pictured) and a Breeding Poland-China Gilt “Pumpkin.” At the Hays County Youth Livestock show, she placed 5^th in class with her Barrow, and 6^th in class with her Gilt.

Mia said raising swine took a lot of learning and support from family-- from knowing about barn management, swine nutrition and diet, logistics and transportation, to also learning about how to care for them when they were sick. Mia said she had the support of many during this six-plus month journey.  She raised these pigs at the Buda VoAg Barns from the time they were about a month old and about 40lbs up to the present and their present weight of  250+ lbs. 

Mia is a member of the Lehman High School class of 2020, Lehman FFA, Buda 4H 2nd VP, Hay County Council 1st VP, President Hays 4H Shooting Sports, Texas 4H Junior Master Photographer, Texas 4H Photography Ambassador and Texas 4H Shooting Sports Ambassador and Certified Shotgun Assistant Coach.

Her father Michael Cariaga is understandably very proud of is daughter’s achievements. “I think part of the value of her experiences with the Hays County Livestock show was the opportunity to help others, especially her 13 year old brother Mikey who is also and up and coming pig farmer in 4-H,” Michael said. “I know she wants to be nearby to be able to come back next season as a volunteer for all the community and the organizations who have supported her through the years.”

For more information on the Hays County Youth Livestock Show, visit: http://www.hayscountylivestockshow.org.

Twitter: @John_E_Pacheco