maxm63•1mo ago

Hit 500 whole hog breakdowns this month without really noticing

I've been breaking down whole hogs for about 3 years now at a shop just outside Raleigh. Last week I was going through my logbook and realized I passed 500 carcasses. Never thought I'd get that comfortable with a saw. Has anyone else just looked up one day and realized you've done something way more than you thought?

2 comments

2 Comments

emma5221mo ago

That "without really noticing" part hit me hard. I was helping my buddy move last weekend and we finished loading his U-Haul in like 45 minutes when we both thought it'd take 3 hours. It's weird how muscle memory just takes over when you've done something a bunch, even if it's not as cool as hog breakdowns.

juliaa251mo ago

The 500 mark snuck up on me too but with knife sharpening instead of hog work. Last month I counted my sharpening log for the year and I'd done over 800 knives without even realizing how many Saturdays I'd spent at the stone. What helped me was setting up a simple tally system on my bench with a clicker counter and a sticky note. Now I track every fifth hog with a hash mark on the wall, lets me see the numbers add up in real time. Also started keeping a small notebook in my apron pocket for quick notes after each breakdown, helps spot patterns in yield or blade wear that I'd miss otherwise.