2009 Wisconsin State Fair Market Swine Identification Sites Announced

Wisconsin State Fair officials have announced the locations and dates for the 2009 swine identification sites. All junior and open show market hog exhibitors wishing to exhibit barrows during the 2009 Wisconsin State Fair, August 6th – August 16th are required to attend one of the regionally located identification sites. DNA identification will be conducted at these
sites and will cost $10.00 per animal. The current identification system allows officials
to maintain consistent procedures thereby strengthening the integrity of the show, the
animals that go to market, and the champions that sell in the Governor’s Blue Ribbon
Livestock Auction.

Swine identification Guidelines:
o All junior and open Exhibitors interested in exhibiting market swine
during the Wisconsin State Fair MUST identify their barrows at one of the
identification sites listed below. Exhibitors may identify as many barrows
as they chose.
o There are no minimum or maximum weight requirements for
identification.
o Exhibitors entering in the performance barrow class must weigh their
barrows at one of these sites. Barrows must weigh 60 pounds or less. The
performance barrow class will be evaluated on a combination of lean gain
and live placing.
o All swine must be castrated. No boars will be identified.
o All swine identified will receive an official WSF ear tag, must have
readable ear notches, provide a DNA hair sample and complete a preregistration
form at one of the locations.
o Barrows need to be identified in the exhibitor’s name or immediate family
member’s name only.
o Each exhibitor showing in the junior show will only be allowed to bring
two of the identified market barrows to the junior Market Barrow Show at
the Wisconsin State Fair.
o The exhibitor and or their parent/legal guardian must be in attendance to
sign and verify the DNA sample.

2009 Swine identification Sites:
Saturday, April 18th 9:00 am until 12:00 pm

Stoughton Fairgrounds - Stoughton, WI
Contact person: Richard Bussian – 920.623.2348

Grant County Fairgrounds - Lancaster, WI
Contact person: Alicia Prill-Adams – 608.348.6982

Sheboygan County Fairgrounds - Plymouth, WI
Contact person: Don Mier – 920.893.6911 Ext. 1552

Rock County Fairgrounds - Janesville, WI
Contact person: Tom Knauer – 608.883.2838

Dodge County Fairgrounds - Beaver Dam, WI
Contact person: Dave Graff – 920.696.3851

Racine County Fairgrounds - Union Grove, WI
Contact person: Eric Benhart – 262.903.6202

Kuehne Livestock Sales Barn - Seymour, WI
Contact person: Tom Henn – 715.758.8372

LaCrosse County Fairgrounds - West Salem, WI
Contact person: Steve Nuttleman – 608.386.8803

Polk County Fairgrounds – St. Croix Falls, WI
Contact person: Ryan Sterry – 715.485.8600
10:00 am until 12:00 pm

Saturday, April 25th 9:00 am until 12:00 pm
Arlington Agriculture Research Station – Arlington, WI
Contact person: Dan Goehring – 920.927.3432

Junior exhibitors interested in participating in the Wisconsin State Fair must
contact their local UW Extension office for entry deadlines and information. Rules,
regulations and entry information will be available online in March at
www.wistatefair.com. For further information contact Wisconsin State Fair Park at
414.266.7050.
The Wisconsin State Fair, August 6th – August 16th, celebrating more than 150
years of Wisconsin tradition, continues its’ strong commitment to promoting the many
accomplishments of youth exhibitors, as well as showcasing the State’s rich agricultural
heritage.

2009 Wisconsin Pork Assocation Scholarship

If you haven't done so already, please check out the annual Wisconsin Pork Association Youth Pig Project Application Form. Each year, the association awards (5) $50 scholarships for assisting youth in developing pork production projects for 4H and FFA members.

You can find the form right on our website at the following link: http://riemershowpigs.com/scholarships.htm

2009 Show Pig Clinics in Wisconsin

Be sure to visit our showpig clinic page in the coming days to find out which clinics Adam will be speaking at this year.

If you are interested in having a clinic and need help, please contact Adam directly at riemershowpigs@hotmail.com or 920-418-3820.

2009 Litters Update

Our litters are looking excellent and each pig on the farm has a lot of promise and potential to be a future champion this summer!

Ear Notching Article

For those of you that may want to know a little more about ear-notching or need a little practice, please visit this link below:

http://www.thejudgingconnection.com/pdfs/Reading_Ear_Notches.pdf

And as always, if you have any questions about ear-notching or something else, please feel free to contact me.

Another great educational page--check it out!

Be sure to check out this site, as it includes interactive games to test users ability to identify swine breeds, cuts of meats, and parts of the pig.

Link to the site is: http://www.ca.uky.edu/agripedia/AGMANIA/Interactive/

Swine Breeds Page

Here is an interesting webpage dedicated to the various swine breeds. Check it out at the link below:

http://www.wiu.edu/users/mfjpc/hogs.htm