BERRIEN SPRINGS — Thirteen-year-old Travis Young couldn’t believe it.

After eight years of showing animals at the Berrien County Youth Fair, the Niles boy finally stepped into the winners’ circle, finishing in the top two.

“I was surprised because I wasn’t expecting to win,” said Young, who will be an eighth-grader at Ring Lardner this fall.

Young’s pig was crowned the reserve grand market hog at the fair, which means his animal was the second best of all market hogs in the fair.

Young said he spent every night the past two weeks walking the hog to build its muscle and get it ready for the show ring.

“It’s a lot of work,” said Young, who also showed goats on Monday, finishing fourth in his market class.

He is in his eighth year showing goats and fifth year showing pigs.