Two pigs. Eighty dollars. A whole lot of excitement. And a lesson we won’t soon forget.
If there’s one thing we’ve learned since starting Aragon Acres, it’s that farming has a way of teaching you lessons you didn’t even know you needed.
Sometimes those lessons come from building fences.
Sometimes they come from figuring out what animals need to stay healthy and happy.
And sometimes they come in the form of two adorable Kunekune pigs that cost you a grand total of $80.
Meet Bacon and Wilber.
It All Started at a Farmers Market
Like many new homesteaders, we were excited to start adding animals to our little piece of East Texas.
We had been researching Kunekune pigs and loved the idea of raising this unique breed as part of our growing farm.
Then one day, while visiting a local farmers market, we came across two Kunekune boys looking for a new home.
And the price?
$80. For BOTH pigs!
Now, if you’ve ever been shopping for livestock, you can probably imagine our excitement.
Two Kunekune pigs for $80?
What a deal!
We were practically congratulating ourselves on our incredible farm-buying skills.
Looking back, that was our second mistake.
Our first mistake?
Buying livestock before knowing exactly what questions we needed to ask.
But we’ll get to that.
Two Pigs and a Whole Lot of Questions
We brought Bacon and Wilber home, got them settled in, and immediately fell in love with their personalities.
They were curious, entertaining, and already showing us that pigs have a way of making even ordinary farm chores interesting.
As we started planning the future of our Kunekune program, we began researching how to get the boys registered.
That’s when things got interesting.
We discovered that registering Kunekune pigs requires information about their breeding and lineage.
Information like their parents, breeder, and pedigree records.
Information we hadn’t thought to ask about before purchasing them.
And unfortunately, much of that information wasn’t available to us.
Suddenly, our amazing $80 deal wasn’t looking quite so amazing.
We had two pigs we loved, but we couldn’t establish the documented bloodlines needed for the registered breeding program we wanted to build.
Farm lesson number one: A bargain isn’t always a bargain if you don’t know what you’re buying.
A Decision About the Boys’ Future
Once we understood the registration problem, we had some decisions to make.
Our long-term plan for Aragon Acres includes raising registered Kunekune pigs, developing responsible breeding practices, and building a healthy herd.
Without the necessary pedigree information, Bacon and Wilber weren’t going to be part of that registered breeding program.
We also didn’t want to keep intact males without a clear breeding purpose.
After researching our options, we decided to have the boys castrated.
That decision left us considering two possible futures for Bacon and Wilber.
They could eventually become part of our family’s food supply.
Or they could stay right here at Aragon Acres as companion pigs, helping welcome the next generation of Kunekunes to our farm.
Now, we understand that raising livestock sometimes involves difficult decisions. That’s part of farm life, and we respect the people who raise animals to feed their families.
But for Bacon and Wilber?
We chose the second option.
These two boys had already worked their way into our hearts.
And as far as we’re concerned, they earned themselves a permanent place in the Aragon Acres family.
They may not be the foundation boars we originally imagined, but they’ll still have an important role here.
They’ll be our companion pigs, our pasture buddies, and probably our most enthusiastic dinner guests.
Not bad for two little pigs who started out as an $80 impulse purchase!
Dinner Time: Their Favorite Part of the Day
If Bacon and Wilber have any regrets about how things turned out, they certainly haven’t shared them with us.
Especially when dinner arrives.
There’s something hilarious about watching these boys eat.
The moment they realize food is on the way, everything else seems to become considerably less important.
Farm chores? Not their concern.
Fence construction? Somebody else’s problem.
The future of Aragon Acres?
They’ll leave that to the humans.
But dinner? Now that’s serious business.
Watching Bacon and Wilber enjoy their meals has quickly become one of our favorite parts of the day.
They remind us that sometimes the best moments on the farm aren’t the big accomplishments.
Sometimes they’re the little moments that make us laugh.
What Bacon and Wilber Taught Us
If you’re thinking about starting a homestead or purchasing your first livestock, here’s one piece of advice we’d love to pass along:
Know what you want to do with your animals before you buy them.
Are you raising them for breeding? Meat? Milk? Eggs? Companionship?
Your answer matters.
If you plan to raise registered livestock, learn the registration requirements before handing over your money.
Ask about pedigrees, breeder information, registration papers, health history, and anything else relevant to your plans.
And don’t be afraid to ask questions.
There’s a wealth of information available online, but if you’re unsure what to trust, reach out to people who are already raising the animals you’re interested in.
One of the most encouraging things we’ve discovered is how willing the farming and homesteading community is to help newcomers.
Experienced farmers and breeders often have valuable lessons to share, and many are happy to help someone avoid mistakes they’ve already made.
We wish we’d asked a few more questions before bringing Bacon and Wilber home.
But then again, we wouldn’t trade these two boys for anything.
Every Farm Has a Beginning
Aragon Acres is still growing.
We’re two Army veterans learning how to turn a shared dream into a working East Texas homestead.
We’re building fences, planning pastures, raising chickens, caring for pigs, and preparing for the next chapter of our farm.
Some things will go exactly as planned.
Others?
Well, let’s just say Bacon and Wilber have already taught us that the best farm stories don’t always begin with the best decisions.
But that’s part of the adventure.
We love our boys, and we’re excited to watch them grow alongside the rest of our Kunekune family.
They might not be registered breeding boars.
But they’ll always be two of the pigs who helped start Aragon Acres.
And if you ask Bacon and Wilber, we’re pretty sure they’d tell you everything worked out just fine.
Especially if dinner is on time.
Join Us on the Journey
Have you ever brought home a farm animal before realizing how much you still had to learn?
We’d love to hear your story in the comments!
Whether you’re an experienced farmer, a fellow homesteader, or someone who just enjoys a good pig story, we’re glad you’re here.
There will be plenty more adventures with Bacon, Wilber, and the rest of the Aragon Acres crew.
Until next time, from our farm to your family!
Two Veterans. One Dream. A Whole Lot of Animals.
Aragon Acres | Big Sandy, Texas
Veteran Owned and Operated
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