Hi all, I am new to this. I live in MI and have 2 girls that show at the local fair, I am just starting a 4-H club for hogs and poultry. Last year was our first year of showing. I have to brag and say that we were very lucky and my 5 year old won Res. Grand Champion! Anyway enough "mom bragging", I am looking for advise on when to start looking for piglets for a Mid Aug. fair and what do I look for in piglets. We just got lucky last year and sad to say that we picked it becouse it had a perfect heart on it's rear. LOL! This year we are clueless. They told us last year that she would have done better but was toLean and musclular and light boned? How do we correct that? Please help and if you know anyone selling good pigs in the lwer MI upper IN erea please let me know! Thanks so much!

i know around here (oklahoma) they are wanting them BIG boned, Wide and shorted framed. well Moderate to small framed. in breeding gilts they do like what i just said along with being sound. And here they need to have that showpig lok (pop, flare and shape ) to them But SOFT. this year there looking for a lil more muscle but still there wanting them soft made pigs. I hope this helped.

Color is another issue.

It seems like where we live if it ain't white it ain't got a chance.

So what did my 4Her do....he went with a Hereford and announced that now he had a 1/2 of a chance of placing because she's 1/2 white....LOL...what comes out of our kids mouth is some times a wake up call.

she here color really dont mean awhole lot for the judges the past couple of years any way. last year we had a red belted pig win over all. But usually yorks, hamps, duroc or crosses will win over all here. the minor breeds is what dont ever place

Thanks all! We did have a yorkshire cross last year, that literally had "heavenly Hams" They were huge and she was soooo Cut but not enough fat. What do you look for when looking at piglets for the "big boned type" Do you have to see the parents? New2 pigs. That was too cute.

Well looking at parents gives an ideal on what they might look like, but it is also your feeding and walking program.

Learn from us don't get the biggest and the smallest out of the bunch, you are setting yourself up for a fall if you compair weight gains.

Our 4Her went all natural with his Herefords...OMG!!! This has been quite educational...and needless to say he hits the hills with his two to help the back end, but they were pretty solid in the rear to start off with and they seem to take the trip from OH to LA quite well. Better then his 3/4 red wattle and 1/4 hampshire gilts from Leesville, LA to Mt. Hermon, LA

1st of all if you want a hog to compete in a Mid August Fair you have to start looking ALREADY, a hog born in Late November thru Mid December nothing later!!! You try to have a hog compete in an age not older than 9 months.

Color really is not an option..i really don't care what breed it is or what color it is as long as it is good, meaning straight legs, wide chest, thick hams, and has plenty of rib shape and ESPECIALLY sound walk no limps or off balance walk.

Then comes the good part feeding and worming must be punctual, (time and dates). Training and having the showman/woman practice on a daily basis for at least 30-45 minutes to get to know the animal and vise/versa.

Then Last but not Least have Fun with your Kids and have Faith in your work and never be afraid to ask questions about curiosities or what you need to do to stay on top of the game.

Thanks ,and LOTS of Luck to you and your Family,

JAY