Breeder Central Showmanship
When things are going badly in the show ring, it’s normal to want to run.
For one junior swine showman this is exactly what she does. But it’s not because of a low placing or because she didn’t have a good gate. Rather it’s because the clapping and noise of the crowd bothers her. Or because someone didn’t recognize how well the pig acted – versus her – in the show ring.
The Dickerson sisters are a show ring duo from Bryan, Texas. Sixteen-year-old Cierra has shown horses and hogs since she was nine but loves showing pigs the most. Her 12-year-old sister, Maci, has shown pigs for two years and though she has a unique way of bonding with her show pigs, Maci needs her sister’s help to keep her calm and focused in the show ring.
When Maci was born, she was diagnosed with a genetic disorder called Smith-Lemli Opitz Syndrome (SLOS). Her life expectancy was short, but she proved doctors wrong and has grown into a small but mighty pre-teen. As her parents, Brian and Tashia, watched Maci react to and work around Cierra’s show hogs they knew there was something else special about their youngest daughter. They chose to let her show pigs too, and Cierra says Maci is part of the Dickerson show team.
“Maci’s a big part of training our pigs at home,” Cierra says. “She bonds with them and they mentally connect with each other. It’s like they’re on the same the page. We’ve had some pigs that act totally different when Maci’s around them.”
The Dickerson family made a choice to allow Maci to show hogs, but not without overcoming great moments as well as concern in the show ring. Even as a special needs child, Maci is able to fully show a hog but becomes nervous with large crowds and loud noises. At home Maci drives her hogs alone and confidently, but in the show ring it is much more challenging. This is where Cierra steps in.
Cierra and Maci drive Maci’s hogs into the ring together. This sweet partnership is necessary because Cierra works to keep Maci going the right direction and talks to keep her calm. Maci is much more concerned about the well being of her animal and wants it to be noticed so she is focused on it…
“There are some real physical limitations that Maci can’t adjust to in the show ring,” Tashia says. “Our county agent has seen her work at home and can attest that she can do it without a crowd. But the issue is that she can’t focus when there’s that many in the ring. She gets lost and she can’t process that quickly. Our brains constantly take in what we’re seeing and what is happening so in the show ring Cierra is the one to tell Maci that a pig is coming and can pull Maci a certain direction. She tells Maci to move her feet faster. She just has to have some help.”
Though the Dickerson sisters have shown together for the past two years it’s not been without difficulty or criticism. Tashia says sometimes people are concerned about allowing both girls in the ring. Though it may appear a show ring duo is an advantage, Tashia says Cierra and Maci are much more worried about the noise of the crowd and the appearance of the pig than show ring politics.
Tashia says she is the proudest mom around the ring. When she considers the lessons Maci has taught each of her family members she recognizes they are a true team. Tashia and Brian like that Maci can be part of something her older sister does, and they appreciate the job that Cierra does to support her sister.
The Dickersons want to win just like any other show family but they have a special goal for Maci. The girls showed at San Antonio Stock Show last winter, and it was Maci’s first Texas major. This winter they are showing at Fort Worth Stock Show and Houston. Typically Maci exhibits the minor breeds, and their goal for Maci is for her to win breed champion at a major show.
Tashia says every family with a special needs child encounters difficulty. Her youngest daughter shows love and affection to animals and that is why they put Maci in the show ring with other kids. Maci’s first show, however, was not successful. After a break down both physically and mentally, Maci left the ring angry and confused. Cierra says several people outside the ring laughed at their situation.
Because others didn’t understand Maci’s challenges Tashia told herself she would not subject their family to this kind of ignorance about their situation again. Brian however, told his family they would not quit, and Maci has entered the ring numerous times since with Cierra by her side.
“Most special needs parents do not put their child into something like this,” Tashia says. “Maci can’t read or write but by golly she can feed pigs. She knows how to measure the feed and can clean a stall. She is great at brushing and conditioning them. And she’s the one we use to tame them down when we first get a new pig home. She has her own jobs in our show barn.”
Tashia says when Maci shows pigs it has to be about that pig. Maci does not like attention focused on her, and if she wins and hears congratulations from other people she becomes upset. In Maci’s mind it is the pig that did a good job, and the animal should be told congratulations. When Maci becomes stressed about her pigs, Tashia says she reminds her daughter to talk to her pig directly and tell it what is happening.
“That’s how she relates,” Tashia says. “It’s the avenue to get her to do things. I like being able to share Maci with others. In fact I don’t think we were chosen as her parents because she’s so special. She’s been such a gift to us. If anyone can take away from experience we have to understand that all children have opportunity to do things.”
And though the Dickersons are placing their daughters in a very public show ring stage, it has also highlighted Maci’s special needs and team work to many leaders and families. Cierra says she enjoys showing her own pigs and being by herself in the show ring but working alongside her sister to help Maci show is a great feeling.
“I want to show people no matter what is mentally or physically wrong with them they can be just like normal kids with normal activities,” Cierra says. “My hope for Maci is that she does whatever makes her happy. If she were able to tell me I think she’d have the same attitude back to me, to be happy and successful.”