BERRIEN SPRINGS — As far as fair starts go, Buchanan’s Adam Mitchell is off to a good one.

Two days after finishing runner-up in the King contest, Mitchell showed the reserve champion market barrow at the Berrien County Youth Fair Tuesday.

It is the 17-year-old’s best swine show finish in 13 years at the fair.

“It’s been busy, but it’s been a lot of fun,” said Mitchell, who will be a senior at Buchanan High School in the fall. He also attends the Berrien Math and Science Center.

Mitchell said the key is picking out a good animal.

“I guess I started out by buying a very good hog and worked on finishing off throughout the year,” he said. “Everyday you have to feed and water it and in the summer you have to walk it around to get it used to showing.”

Mitchell said he’s the third generation of his family to show animals at the fair.

He will be showing steer, sheep, turkeys and rabbits as the fair continues through Saturday.

Mitchell showed a grand champion Simmental steer last year.