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It's amazing what a few adjustments on a scale can do.

Tom Bechman 1, Editor, Indiana Prairie Farm

June 18, 2012

3 Min Read

I couldn't fit into our livestock scales designed for pigs and sheep, or I would have. The first three animals we weighed the other day all weighed 170 pounds, and they all looked bigger than that. "Weigh yourself, dad," my daughter said,. "You weigh more than 170 pounds. We'll know if it's working or not."

Thanks a lot Kayla. If I could have fit inside it, I would have, because by then I figured out likely something was wrong, and it would be nice to say I weighed 170 pounds again on a scale, even if it wasn't accurate. Per Kayla's nagging, I did put both feet on the front of the scale and let it hold me up. When it said 170 pounds again, I had my answer. Something was amiss.

Indeed, someone had messed with the adjustments and the bar on the beam scales couldn't go any lower to exert more pressure and get the dial on the scales past 170 pounds. A quick adjustment took care of that. And no, I didn't get back on the scale again!

A tame pig around our place is a rarity, because we mostly raise Spots and Berks, and the first is cantankerous, and the second is downright pigheaded stubborn- but they taste good once they're on the plate. Evan famous chefs on TV recommend Berkshire pork. Of course those chefs never had to try to get one into a scale I'm sure.

Anyway, we have a tame crossbred. He was the first weighed and I was shocked he didn't weigh more than 170. So we let him outside to wander around while we weighed more. When I finally realized the error and fixed it, I told my wife outside we would need that pig back.

All I heard was laughter. He heard me say that, and here he was at the door. Whether you believe in coincidence, or if you can believe that animals can talk is up to you. I'll call it coincidence. But he walked back on the scale like a model citizen. This time he weighed 215- more like it. He even volunteered to get weighed a third time, but we figured two times was enough for one day.

This is just the first funny moment in what is sure to be a laugh--packed season of 4-H showing. Aren't they all? If this fair in mid-July in Johnson County is as hot as last summer, I'll spend time at home or in my friends trailer with air at the fairgrounds, and hear about the results later. It touched 100 degrees F twice last year during the fair.

That pig may wish he only weighed 170 pounds if it's that hot! Yes, I would probably feel better at any temperature at 170 pounds too. Right now, I'd settle for 250- for me and the pig!

About the Author(s)

Tom Bechman 1

Editor, Indiana Prairie Farm

Tom Bechman is an important cog in the Farm Progress machinery. In addition to serving as editor of Indiana Prairie Farmer, Tom is nationally known for his coverage of Midwest agronomy, conservation, no-till farming, farm management, farm safety, high-tech farming and personal property tax relief. His byline appears monthly in many of the 18 state and regional farm magazines published by Farm Progress.

"I consider it my responsibility and opportunity as a farm magazine editor to supply useful information that will help today's farm families survive and thrive," the veteran editor says.

Tom graduated from Whiteland (Ind.) High School, earned his B.S. in animal science and agricultural education from Purdue University in 1975 and an M.S. in dairy nutrition two years later. He first joined the magazine as a field editor in 1981 after four years as a vocational agriculture teacher.

Tom enjoys interacting with farm families, university specialists and industry leaders, gathering and sifting through loads of information available in agriculture today. "Whenever I find a new idea or a new thought that could either improve someone's life or their income, I consider it a personal challenge to discover how to present it in the most useful form, " he says.

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