COEUR d'ALENE — Emery Mort, from Post Falls, has been a member of the Blue Creek Wolf Lodge Harmony Hustlers 4-H group for the past eight years. The soon-to-be 16-year-old has shown pack goats and horses many times at the North Idaho State Fair.

But this year is her inaugural entry in the swine showmanship competition taking place Saturday at the Kootenai County Fairgrounds. 

"It's the first time I've ever shown a pig," Emery said. "My friends kinda talked me into it — but I wanted to try something new because I'm almost aged out of 4-H — think I only have two or three years left." 

Emery said her overall experience working with Skillet has gone pretty well. 

"That's what I named her. She's been a lot easier to work with than a goat or a horse — a lot more fun — and she's so cute," Emery said. "She was a little skittish at first because pigs are not used to people. But once I gained her trust and bonded with her, we were walking around the yard and the pen together." 

After gaining Skillet's trust, Emery said it took little effort for her to respond to a tapping stick she uses to direct her movement and posture, which are key elements judges consider in the showmanship competition. 

"I just tap her on her shoulder or neck to get her to move in a certain direction or on the back of her ear or under her chin to keep her head level," Emery said. 

Pigs in the competition are judged in two categories. 

"The first is quality. You have to give the judge a front view of the chest, then a view of their hips and rump, and a side view. I think they want to see how much meat there is," Emery said. "The second category is showmanship. They want to see how well your pig cooperates with you. How well your pig stands beside you and how much tapping you have to do." 

Emery's cousin got her interested in 4-H when she was 8. 

"She was involved in 4-H for a long time, and when she told me about it, I wanted to do it so bad," Emery said. "I'm really glad I got involved. I started showing pack goats when I was 8 and did that for a couple of years. I started showing horses, which is my real passion, when I was 9 and still am." 

Emery said she's earned recognition showing her goats and horses over the past seven-plus years and hopes to do as well with pigs. But something just as important to her, if not more, is the feeling of community at the events she attends. 

"I really like going to the fair and seeing everybody with their animals," Emery said. "When I first started going to fairs, I was kind of jealous of people who were showing their animals, and that really made me want to be a part of it all." 

Emery said given the opportunity, she wouldn't hesitate to encourage other kids to get involved with 4-H, too. 

"I would totally recommend it. When my niece turns 8, I'm going to insist that she does," Emery said. "It's something you need to do as a kid. It's a great experience. You learn how to take care of and train animals, and you learn a lot about yourself, too." 

The North Idaho State Fair continues today.