Staff photo by Fritz Busch Molly Scheid of New Ulm guides and watches her Yellow Labrador “Zoey” compete in the Let’s Try DockDog event at the Brown County Fair Saturday.

NEW ULM — In the cool of the morning Saturday, Brown County Fair attendees watched DockDogs at the south end of the midway and indoor 4-H and FFA swine competition.

Molly Scheid of New Ulm said she and her four-year-old, female Yellow Labrador “Zoey” tried the “Let’s Try Dockdogs” event at the Brown County Fair last year after she decided it would be nice to try it for the first time.

“At first, she didn’t want to jump in (the water tank) and stopped running at the end of the runway. Then after a few tries, she started to get used to it, so we decided to try it again this year. She jumped right in this year,” said Scheid.

Zoey has been on lots of pheasant hunts and some duck hunts near New Ulm, Scheid said.

“We want to eventually go hunting with a local group of local hunters in South Dakota with her. “We have another older lab, but she’s too old for this,” said Scheid.

A fun fact about Zoey is that as a puppy, she suffered a broken femur (thigh bone). Zoey has a plate and six screws in a leg,” she said.

Watching Zoey run down the DockDogs runway, you can’t tell she’s had surgery.

“I’ve had dogs all my life. We always had female yellow labs. It’s my favorite type of dog. They’re just such loving dogs. She’s huge, but thinks she can sit on my lap. Yellow labs are great family dogs and great hunting dogs, which we enjoy,” said Scheid.

For DockDogs results, visit https://dockdogs.com and click on event results.

Meanwhile, a good-sized crowd watched 4-H and FFA swine shows.

Aubree Schmidt, 16, of New Ulm and the Milford 4-H Club won a number of titles with Duroc Barrow “Biggie.”

The pig was named the Overall Best in FFA Swine Show, Champion Market Barrow and 4-H Champion Barrow.

She won the FFA show for the second time and advances to the state fair again, where she was received purple ribbons.

Schmidt said she enjoys a number of things about showing swine at the county fair.

“I really like to see how much my (4-H and FFA) projects have progressed over the summer and showing with friends. There’s lots of good connections showing at the fair here. It’s a highlight of the year for me because it’s a step closer to the state fair and a great way to end my summer,” Schmidt said.

She said some people may not realize how smart pigs really are.

“I think a lot of people think pigs are dumb, but they’re really smart and pretty fast too. They’re always fun to work with. We walk them daily and suntan them. I feel really good about this barrow. He’s been really good throughout the summer,” she said.

Schmidt also shows cattle and sheep at the fair.

She thanked her sisters Kate and Britta and her dad Kelly and mom Sarah for help working with her pigs.

Other 4-H swine winners were Olivia Hammer champion market gilt and champion pen of 3; Kiera Lafferty reserve champion. Kate Schmidt reserve champion barrow. Addison Lang champion and reserve champion breeding gilt. Gabby Schenk reserve champion pen of 3.

Aubree Schmidt was champion senior show person, Kate Schmidt reserve champion. Violet Hammer was champion intermediate show person, Schenk reserve champion.

Stella Schieffert was champion junior show person, Britta Schmidt reserve champion.

The Milford 4-H Club was champion club truck load. Burnstown/Brookville reserve champion.

FFA swine show awards went to Kate Schmidt, reserve best in show. Addison Lang was January Gilt Champion and reserve champion and market barrow reserve champion in split class purebred. Kate Schmidt was crossbred champion and reserve champion. Kaden Olson had the champion market gilt.