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MORGAN COUNTY — Monica Russell of Morgan, Utah, said her children have been participating in 4-H activities for almost eight years.

Russell said it's been a fun way for her kids to earn money for college — but this summer, the money from the animals is going some place different.

Russell was diagnosed with breast cancer on April 23 and her son, Cade, entered his pig in the fair to help with medical costs. His pig got second place at the Morgan County Fair on Saturday and Cade had hoped the pig would take in a couple of thousand dollars. But when the pig entered the stage, she noticed it was wearing a pink ribbon that's used to symbolize breast cancer support.

"And all of a sudden the price of the pig just started shooting up," Russell said. "And when it got to about $7,000, my eyes were getting big, thinking, 'Oh, my word. I can't believe they're doing this.' And it just kept going up, by the thousands."

The pig sold for a whopping $31,000.

"It was just a very emotional thing because we have a community that have supports our kids through that livestock show but they were also showing their support for our family," she said.

Several members of the community, including Russell's brother-in-law, planned a high bid to help the family. Ron and Becky Hales of Center Point Construction, Mike and Tina Gleason of Mountain Valley Mechanical and Jonathan Cannon are splitting the cost of the pig.

Courtesy Monica Russell

Russell's husband, Ben, was just as shocked.

"My husband didn't realize what was going on either until it started," she said. "He said it almost took him to his knees because it was just so generous."

Russell credits the generous community of Morgan for all the support they've received and says it's not just about the money, but the friendships that mean so much.

"This community in Morgan is unreal. I could rattle off a hundred things that have been done for our family since I was diagnosed," Russell said. "I wouldn't want to live anywhere else."

Russell said she is halfway through her first round of chemotherapy and still has to go through many surgeries plus radiation.

Contributing: Brianna Bodily

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