Superintendent: Harry Muhlbach; Assistant Superintendent: Muhlbach Family
Check-in & Weigh-in & Scanning: Thursday, July 31, 8–10 a.m. (Currency Pavilion – West End)
All swine must be in stalls by: Thursday, July 31, 10 a.m. (Currency Pavilion)
Show: Friday, Aug. 1, 8 a.m. (Currency Pavilion – Arena, West Side)
Open to 4-H & FFA members. An exhibitor may show no more than 6 swine.
All animals are checked for identification Thursday morning at check-in. Swine exhibited at the fair are IDENTIFIED BY OFFICIAL 4-H & FFA ear tag.
Swine must be shown without oil, powder and grooming compounds. Water is permitted. Swine found in violation of this rule will be lowered a ribbon group in the live show and will be disqualified from the carcass contest.
All swine need to be washed and dry when they reach the check-in scale.
Swine may be clipped/shaved; however, the Ag Society strongly suggests clip/shave at home. If clipping at the fair, no snaring or tying up is allowed. Please remember we are setting an example of livestock production for the general public.
Do not feed in wash rack area to eliminate clogging the drain.
WEIGHT LIMITS — There is no minimum or maximum weight for market swine. However, a minimum of 225 pounds is considered ideal for market swine classes. Swine that do not weigh 225 pounds will not be eligible for the carcass contest. No swine will be reweighed. The swine show is non-terminal. Marketing swine is up to the exhibitor — 4-H staff are not involved in this process.
Swine exhibitors are reminded to adhere to drug residual waiting periods.
NOTE: Swine do not require a health certificate. However, under no circumstances may swine under quarantine be exhibited.
HERDSMANSHIP guidelines are on page 56.
- Special Awards to Top Market, Breeding and Showmanship
- Premiums (except where designated otherwise): Purple $5; Blue $4; Red $3; White $0
SHOWMANSHIP
All exhibitors must participate in their respective age division. Exhibitors must prepare and show their own animals.
Showmen are divided into classes by age by Jan. 1 of the current year. An exhibitor may win Senior Showmanship as many times as they are eligible, regardless of past winnings.
- Premiums: Purple $4; Blue $3; Red $2; White $0
G035001 Junior Swine Showmanship — 8–10 years of age
G035002 Intermediate Swine Showmanship — 11–13 years of age
G035003 Senior Swine Showmanship — 14–18 years of age
MARKET CLASSES
Market classes are divided by weight across all breeds. Grand Champion and Reserve Grand Champion market swine are selected from the top 2 animals in each weight division.
MARKET GILTS ARE NOT ELIGIBLE TO COMPETE IN BREEDING CLASSES.
G035021 Pick A Pig Club Market Swine
G035022 Market Swine
PEN OF THREE
PEN OF THREE MUST BE IDENTIFIED DAY OF SHOW. Each exhibitor may enter 1 Pen of Three from market swine entered under the exhibitor’s name. Animals in this class may also show as an individual in a market class. Pen of Three swine will be judged at assigned stalling areas at the end of the 4-H Swine Show. Scoring is based 60% on market-ready quality and 40% on uniformity.
G035031 Pen of Three
BREEDING GILT
Breeding classes will be broke into divisions by size. Class Champions from each division will compete for Overall Champion.
BREEDING GILTS ARE NOT ELIGIBLE TO COMPETE IN MARKET CLASSES.
G035011 Breeding Gilt
CLUB OR CHAPTER GROUP
Group of 3 animals with ownership by more than 1 exhibitor. All exhibitors must be current 4-H or FFA members. Clubs or chapters may enter more than 1 group. Club or Chapter Group Pen of Three swine will be judged at assigned stalling areas at the end of the 4-H Swine Show, separately from individual Pen of Three classes.
G035041 Club or Chapter Group
CARCASS CONTEST
Each 4-H & FFA exhibitor enters 1 market swine at no expense, plus their performance class entry at no expense.
Contest placings are announced in the show ring immediately following the market swine show. Ribbons and top award are presented at that time. Carcass evaluation data on performance animals is not disclosed until after live evaluations have been completed.
All pigs entered in the market classes will be scanned with the best swine entered in the carcass contest. Performance class swine will automatically be scheduled for evaluation.
Evaluations of swine for the Carcass contest will be made by ultrasound scanning of live animals. This service is provided by the Nebraska SPF Swine Accrediting Agency. Carcasses are ranked on percent lean, which is determined by tenth-rib fat thickness, loineye area and the estimated carcass weight. That image is then interpreted to determine the depth of fat and the size of the loin. The fat depth (FD) and loin muscle area (LMA) are then used in an equation developed by the National Pork Producers Council to determine the percent of acceptable quality lean (containing 5% fat) on a carcass weight basis.
Placings will be awarded on the basis of the computed percent lean values.
Minimum carcass weight — all carcasses weighing less than 165 lbs or more than 225 lbs will be disqualified. All carcasses not having a loin-eye of at least 4.5 square inches will be disqualified. Swine not weighing 225 lbs will be disqualified.
Carcass Swine