After showing her pig in the Kendall County Junior Livestock Show, junior Madeline Barber decided to donate all the money she would earn in the livestock auction to St. Jude Children’s Hospital where they treated her when she was diagnosed with cancer 5 years ago. Kendall County buyers, inspired by her mission, paid $30,500.00 for her pig.
Barber has been raising and showing pigs for 4 years now. In these shows contestants bring their livestock that have been raised and fed to be judged based on their breed and traits. These shows provide healthy competition and a chance for contestants to earn money. Barber’s involvement in Future Farmers of America, FFA, helped her realize her love of showing pigs.
“FFA is about not only agriculture,” said Barber. “It’s leadership ability and career development, plus the agriculture side where you’re learning about animals and how they function and what they eat.”
At Barber’s most recent showing she showed two Yorks, a Duroc, and a Cross which are different types of pigs. She was awarded $30,500 by private investors for her showing.
“It was awesome. I literally dropped my jaw,” said Barber. “Everyone was crying.”
Barber donated all of the money to St. Jude’s who had helped save her life when she was diagnosed with cancer.
”I kinda owe them my life,” said Barber. “Plus everyone there was like a second family. They didn’t just treat the cancer, they saw the kid.”
Maddie was diagnosed in 2017 with medulloblastoma, a cancerous brain tumor of the cerebellum. The cerebellum controls balance and coordinated movements. Medulloblastoma can cause neurological deterioration and even death; however, with the help of St. Jude’s, Maddie was able to overcome the disease.
“I want to help other kids be able to live their life and do what they love to do,” said Barber.
After the community’s passionate reaction to her diagnosis in 2017 and the care of her family and doctors at St. Jude, Barber learned that “no one fights alone.”