Crook ready for freestone County Fair

• Obie Crook, pictured with his market swine Lefty, is ready for the 2024 Freestone County Fair which starts next week at the W.L. Moody Reunion Fairgrounds in Fairfield. Photo by Mitchell Pate/ Fairfield Recorder

The 2024 Freestone County Fair is next week, June 10-15, at the W.L. Moody Reunion Fairgrounds in Fairfield. Obie Crook, who will be a junior at Fairfield High School this fall, is ready to show both his market and breeding swine.

Crook, who shows with the Fairfield FFA, will be showing both a market swine and breeding swine this year. Their names are Lefty and Loosey respectively. He started showing when he was in the fourth grade so this will be his seventh county show to compete in with his swine.

Crook got both swine in February so it is about a four and a half project. He has to feed them twice a day as well as brush and walk them daily. Every other day, he has to give them a bath.

“Showing swine has given me a strong work ethic,” Crook said. “It has taught me about dedication and is very humbling as well.”

After not making the sale his first two years of showing, Crook has made the sale the last four years. Last year, Crook finished in the Top 3 in his class. His goal this year is to be in the Top 2 in his class.

Crook also competes in Chapter Conducting and Livestock Judging for Fairfield FFA. This past school year Crook served as the Fairfield FFA Secretary. This upcoming school year, he will serve as the Fairfield FFA Advisor.

This is Crook’s first year to show a breeding swine. He caught a calf at the calf scramble last year, which allowed him to purchase the breeding swine. Crook is competing in the calf scramble again this year as well.

At Fairfield High School, Crook is also involved in golf, Beta Club, Interact Club, and UIL Number Sense. The Number Sense team placed third at Regionals this year.

Obie is the son of James and Joyce Crook.

When asked about his favorite part of the Freestone County Fair, Crook said, “Making all the memories. Last year, we had a water fight with Mr. Phillips, our FFA Advisor. It was just a big ordeal. The memories are what makes it so special.”