Youth interested in Swine?

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There is great opportunity to any youth of Clinton County that would like to start a swine breeding project for their 4-H or FFA careers.

Our family has been directly involved with these two donor programs and I would encourage any youth that has a swine interest to apply. The Ohio Spot and Berkshire Associations both will be donating gilts to qualifying youth. Both associations have been sponsoring these programs for several years and they have been very successful helping out youth get their livestock production programs off and running.

Take a look at the requirements and get your applications in.

The Ohio Spot Breeder Association has announced their annual spotted gilt donor program. This program is set up to help promote the advancement of the breed and they will award up to five Spotted breeding gilts to 4-H or FFA members.

Recipients of donor gilts must show the gilt at the 2017 Ohio State Fair Jr Spot Breeding Show. Recipients must also breed the gilt to a registered Spot boar for the first breeding and farrow at least one litter of purebred spots; this litter is to be registered with the National Spotted Swine Record.

If the student does not fulfill the contract, he/she will pay the donor $150. In order to show at the Ohio State Fair Jr. swine breeding shows, all youth must carry the swine breeding 4-H project (project #140) in their county 4-H club regardless if the county has a Breeding Swine Project at their fair.

Recipients will receive a free membership to the Ohio Spot Breeders and the National Spotted Swine Record (junior membership.)

Youth can qualify for a spot gilt by first being a current 4-H or FFA member. You will need to submit an essay on the topic “Why I want to own a Spot gilt.”

The essay must describe the facility where the gilt will be raised and the area where the gilt will farrow. This essay must be signed by the student, a parent and a 4-H or FFA advisor. You will want to include pictures of your facilities, include a history of 4-H or FFA activities and accomplishments and other extra-curricular activities (school, church, social, etc.)

Essays must be received by April 1, 2017. Essays will be judged and the donor or a representative from the Ohio Spot Breeders will contact each possible winner. Final winners will be notified by May 1 and all gilts must be picked up by May 15.

Send applications to: Ron Pierce, 1210 Highland Drive, Greenville, OH 45331.

For more information call (937) 548-7909 or (740) 636-8465.

The Ohio Berkshire Association is also sponsoring a Donor Gilt Program for 2017. Current 4H and FFA need to submit an essay outlining why you would like to raise and show Berkshire hogs. The application needs to be signed by the individual, as well as your parent and a 4-H or FFA advisor.

Recipients of donor gilts must show the gilt at the 2017 Ohio State Fair Jr Berkshire Breeding Show. Recipients must also breed the gilt to a registered Berkshire boar for the first breeding and farrow at least one litter of purebred Berkshire; this litter is to be registered with the American Berkshire Association.

The Ohio Berkshire Association asks that recipients for 2017 donate one gilt back to Donor Gilt Program in 2018.

Essays must be received by April 15, 2017. Youth awarded gilts will be contacted by the Ohio Berkshire Association on how and where to pick up gilts.

Send applications to: Ohio Berkshire Association, c/o Steve Mapes, 99 W. State Street, Milford Center, OH 43045. For more information call (937) 645-9826.

Good luck to those that apply!

Tony Nye is the state coordinator for the Ohio State University Extension Small Farm Program and has been an OSU Extension Educator for agriculture and natural resources for 29 years, currently serving Clinton County and the Miami Valley EERA.

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Apply for Donor Gilt Programs in Ohio

Tony Nye

OSU Extension

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