On January 10-12, the 2019 Tennessee State Junior Swine Show was hosted in Murfreesboro, TN. The show was held in conjunction with the Tennessee Pork Producers Association annual meeting. Union County was represented well at the state show. In addition to individual hog show classes, youth competed in showmanship, skillathon, and the ultrasound carcass class.

For the third consecutive year, Kennedy Hill has been awarded Premier Exhibitor. This award is prestigious because it combines three different levels of competition, showmanship, market hog classes, and skillathon scores. Skillathon tests a 4-H member’s knowledge and comprehension of the swine industry, breeds, nutrition, quality assurance, retail meat cuts, and health. Extension Agent Shannon DeWitt states, “Winning a skillathon contest sets an exhibitor apart because it requires a true knowledge of a project, like the Hog Project. The 4-H member must study and truly understand the information they learn. When a 4-H member can do well in their show classes and skillathon, you know they are a determined and fierce competitor.”

Students competing at the State Hog Show included Savannah Jones, Trent Jones, Chloe Bowman, and Kaleb Hanna. Coming from Union County, where there is no commercial hog production, the youth as a whole are very competitive. Savannah Jones placed 6th high overall in skillathon and several 3rd place weight class awards. Receiving 3rd in their weight and breeding gilt classes were Trent Jones and Chloe Bowman. Kaleb Hanna’s gilt, Maple, placed 7th in her class. Other youth in the Union County Hog Project who were active at the county and region shows include Clay Foust, Abigail Foust, RL Lloyd, Chloe Lloyd, Gracie Lloyd, Jonathan Tindell, Jeremiah Tindell, Gracie Tindell, Summer Beeler, and Keena Witt. Congratulations to these hard working individuals, 4-Hers, volunteers and parents, as they deserve the recognition for their hard work and devotion.