SWINE PROJECTS

There are two swine projects: Market Hog Project and Record Book, Swine Breeding Project and Record Book. (However, Hamilton County does not currently have a swine breeding program). For all Swine projects, complete the appropriate Project and Record Book each year. The Swine Resource Handbook is also needed for these projects but only needs to be purchased once and can be used by multiple family members.

 

SWINE GENERAL REGULATIONS 

• Possession Dates – All project animals must be in the possession and care of the Junior Fair participant by the following dates

  • April 1st of the current year for Market Hog projects

• Registrations - All swine projects must meet the following registration deadlines. Late or missing paperwork will make the participant ineligible to compete in the current year at the Hamilton County Community Fair.

  • 4-H Enrollment Form deadline – March 1st

  • Project Commitment Form deadline – May 7th

  • Market Animal Registration Form deadline for Market Hogs only – Within 7 days of the above possession date

  • Market Animal Registration Forms must also include four (4) photos of the animal, and current tags or scrapie number.

  • All forms will be submitted online. 

• Quality assurance - Junior Fair participants who wish to exhibit a market or dairy animal are required to attend the Livestock Quality Assurance training, along with a parent or guardian. 

• No market hog exhibited at the Hamilton County Community Fair may be fed the feed additive Paylean/RActopamine HCL. 

• Health papers must be given to the Species Superintendent by weigh-in time if the animal is transported across a state line for exhibition. Health papers must be dated within 30 days of the show.

• Swine exhibitors may not slick clip or body shave market hogs except on the ears, tail, and underline.

• If questions arise regarding the length of body hair on a swine project, the Species Superintendent will measure the body hair. 

• The body hair length needs to be at least one-half inch in length or the market hog in question will be disqualified from showing and selling at the Hamilton County Community Fair. 

• If an exhibitor or parent questions whether a market hog has been slick clipped or body shaved, the Grievance Procedure must be followed.   

• In the event of the death of a swine project animal, the Junior Fair participant must notify the Species Superintendent immediately and the death must be verified by the Species Superintendent or a Hamilton County Community Fair Board Member. If a market hog project animal dies before May 15th, the Junior Fair participant has 14 days to purchase a replacement animal. If a project animal dies on or after May 15th, the animal may not be replaced.

 

MARKET SWINE

• Market hogs must be born on or after December 1 of the previous year.

• Market hogs must weigh between 220 pounds and 320 pounds in order to be shown in the Swine Show or sold in the Livestock Sale.

• A total of three (3) market hogs may be exhibited/sold by a Junior Fair participant at the Hamilton County

      Community Fair.

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Breeding SWINE

• Hamilton County 4-H does not currently have a breeding swine program. ​​

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​SWINE SHOW

JR. FAIR PARTICIPANT ATTIRE

• A clean, appropriately buttoned, tucked-in, collared shirt with short or long sleeves.

• Long blue or black slacks/jeans or a skirt falling at or below the knee.

• Footwear must consist of work boots or heavy shoes. Athletic-type shoes are NOT permitted.

 

SWINE SHOWMANSHIP 

• For all species, the 4-H youth must participate in his/her respective showmanship class in order to participate in other classes in the species show.

• If there are less than 2 participants in either Senior or Junior Showmanship, these classes will be combined. The combined class will be used as the Showman of Showmen Run-Off.

• Senior Showmanship

  • Open to all swine exhibitors 14 – 18 years old (as of January 1st of the current year)

• Junior Showmanship

  • Open to all swine exhibitors 8 – 13 years old (as of January 1st of the current year)

• Novice Showmanship

  • Open to all Junior Fair participants in the Junior or Senior age group, showing a sheep project for the FIRST TIME EVER. A participant may OPT OUT of Novice Showmanship and show in their age category but must notify the Species Superintendent.

  • If there are fewer than 3 novice participants, the Species Superintendent may choose not to hold a novice class. In this case, the participants would show up in their age category.

 

SWINE SHOW CLASSES

 

Single Market Hog

 Weight Class Grading and Placing

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**The Species Superintendent is not required to hold any class with less than 3 participants. Under these circumstances, classes may be combined as the superintendent deems appropriate.

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AWARDS FOR SWINE SHOW

• 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Place ribbons will be given in each swine class.

• Grand and Reserve Champion banners will be given for Market Hog and Home-Grown Hog.

• 1st and 2nd Place winners in Showmanship will receive trophies.

• Top Exhibitor and Reserve Top Exhibitor Awards will be given to both Junior and Senior divisions. These winners will be the Junior Fair participants who have the two highest combined scores from the four project program areas: Project Judging, Skillathon, Showmanship placing, and Class placings.

• To qualify for Top Exhibitor Awards, the participant must participate in EACH of the four project program areas and receive a minimum score of 80% on Project Judging and Skillathon.

• Top Exhibitors will receive a monetary award. Top Exhibitor Awards are given at the Awards Ceremony. 

• Exhibitors showing in Novice Showmanship are not eligible for Top Exhibitor Awards.