My Breeder and Friend, Kathleen
by Ponderosa Lucy
When Kathleen told me we were going to be on the Internet, I couldn't believe it. On the Internet, what a thrill! I begged and pleaded with Kathleen to let me be the first pig to tell you about my life on our farm. After thinking it over for some time, I decided the best place to start is with Kathleen, herself. You see, I have known her almost since the beginning. My own Mom was one of her first pigs. What I don't know firsthand, Mom told me about. Kathleen and I have a very special relationship. Over they last 10 years, we have shared good and bad times together. I hope I don't sound too boastful, when I tell you I probably know her better than anyone.
When I was just a little piglet, Mom told me the story of how it all started. It was at the first Pig Baron's Show and Ball. Kathleen had recently left city life and "retired" to the country. She once confessed to Mom that it didn't take her long to start looking for something else to do. She always loved animals and had just seen a newspaper article on potbellied pigs. She heard that people were coming from all over the country to show and sell their pigs. Well, to make a long story short, she went. (She did stop by the bank, just in case.)
Kathleen knew nothing, as a matter of fact, she didn't even know what we looked like. Can you imagine that? She got very lucky and was advised by two of the top "pig" people in the industry at the time. They told her what to look for in a pig and how much each pig should sell for. After the show the auction began. By that time, Kathleen had figured out she should try and get bred gilts if she were planning on becoming a breeder herself. Also, there were those two sows with their litters to consider. As the day progressed she bought five gilts, one sow with her litter, and a boar. One of the gilts and the boar were NAP line pigs. She had been advised to get this boar because of his genetic strength. And, as I told you earlier, my mother was one of the bred gilts
Kathleen took them home, knowing nothing. She was so ill prepared that she had to call Terry to carry the boar in his truck so she could carried all the girls in the station wagon. The next day she went to a local breeder's house to learn all she could about the pigs. Kathleen called around the country and talked to as many people as possible. And, she also learned from her mistakes.
As the weeks turned into months, babies arrived. The pet market in the Dallas area was booming. 
As months turned into years, Kathleen adopted out hundreds of pet pigs. She began to be known as the "Pig Lady". Terry built her a beautiful "Piggy Inn" so that she could board her adopted pigs, if it were necessary. We had many, many pigs take advantage of the Inn. It was always fun to see the babies come home. Their human parents would write and call back to find out how their pigs were doing. As a matter of fact, Kathleen spent hours and hours on the phone each day talking to pig parents and potential pig parents about how to care for their pigs.
She also opened the farm to tours. Classes of school children would come out to visit and picnic. Usually they would come in the spring when they were reading Charlotte's Web. Also, Kathleen and I visited many nursing homes. Because I have been around so many different people all of my life, I love to walk the halls and let the humans pet me. Whenever Kathleen gave a talk, I would perform my great tricks so that all could see just how smart we pigs truly are. She and I have been interviewed by newspapers and TV. We have had a very busy life together.
Then. in 1995, we all moved to Riesel, Texas. Because of the shows and all the colored ribbons we pigs have won, Kathleen's pigs now find homes all over the world. She doesn't spend as much time on the phone with new pig parents as she used to. Now most people contact her through their computers. She doesn't have the same number of babies; but, occasionally one of us will have a new litter of beautiful piglets.
After seven years, she retired as President of North American Potbellied Pig Association. That gave her time to gather all her knowledge and write a book about how to care for us. She gives one of her books to each new pig parent so that they will know exactly how to care for our baby piglets. Kathleen is enjoying her own pigs, here on the new Ponderosa Mini Farm.
She still gets email, calls and letters from her "old" pig parents. They tell her the latest news about their own pigs. Kathleen also counsels people if they should call or email her about how to rear their own pig. She also writes articles for several monthly Newsletters. And, occasionally, she goes and speaks at a meeting. You know how Kathleen loves to talk! Life is quieter here. But, Kathleen and I are still happy!!
Note: Lucy died a few years ago and she is missed terribly.
References from Ponderosa Parents
As months turned into years, Kathleen adopted out hundreds of pet pigs. She began to be known as the "Pig Lady". Terry built her a beautiful "Piggy Inn" so that she could board her adopted pigs, if it were necessary. We had many, many pigs take advantage of the Inn. It was always fun to see the babies come home. Their human parents would write and call back to find out how their pigs were doing. As a matter of fact, Kathleen spent hours and hours on the phone each day talking to pig parents and potential pig parents about how to care for their pigs.She also opened the farm to tours. Classes of school children would come out to visit and picnic. Usually they would come in the spring when they were reading Charlotte's Web. Also, Kathleen and I visited many nursing homes. Because I have been around so many different people all of my life, I love to walk the halls and let the humans pet me. Whenever Kathleen gave a talk, I would perform my great tricks so that all could see just how smart we pigs truly are. She and I have been interviewed by newspapers and TV. We have had a very busy life together.Then. in 1995, we all moved to Riesel, Texas. Because of the shows and all the colored ribbons we pigs have won, Kathleen's pigs now find homes all over the world. She doesn't spend as much time on the phone with new pig parents as she used to. Now most people contact her through their computers. She doesn't have the same number of babies; but, occasionally one of us will have a new litter of beautiful piglets. 