Union County 4-H would like to celebrate National Pig Day with recognition for the 4-H Swine Project. Union County 4-H Swine Project wraps up the 2023-24 season with seven participants. The Swine Project consists of 4-H members who raise weaned feeder pigs to an ideal weight of 250 pounds. Swine projects provide youth with opportunities to expand their knowledge of swine production and, more importantly, develop the life skills that are needed to be positive contributors to society. Through swine projects youth will learn about selection and evaluation, nutrition and feeding, health and daily care, reproduction, marketing and much more.
Youth learn to accept responsibility, to value hard work, think critically, make decisions, and communicate.
Union County 4-H Swine Show was held at the University of Tennessee Herbert College of Agriculture Campus in December at 12:30 pm. Grand Champion Market Hog was awarded to Reed Reno. Reserve Grand Champion Market Hog was awarded to Edward Beeler. Grand Champion Gilt was awarded to Jasmine Emert. The gilt was bred here in Union County by Landon Jessee.
The 2023 Show was judged by Union County native Kennedy Hill. Hill is a graduate of Union County County High School. Her 4-H Project was always the Swine Project. She had many accomplishments in her career, but one she should be very proud of being Premier Exhibitor at the TN State Swine Show for 4 consecutive years. She is now on the University of Tennessee Livestock Judging Team and will be the assistant coach in 2024.
Hill said, “The Union County Swine Project group was the start of a journey that has gotten me to where I am today and being able to go back and work with current showman was an indescribable experience. Many people say that showing livestock is not about raising the animals, but raising the kids and being able to be part of that raising from behind the microphone is an incredible opportunity.”
Showmanship is judged by how well the youth handles their hog. The work they put in is easily seen in the show ring in how the animal responds to the youth’s guidance.
The showmanship placings were:
Senior High Grand Champion Ben Woods
Senior High Reserve Grand Champion Jasmine Emert
Junior High Grand Champion William Beeler
Junior High Reserve Grand Champion Ariona Payne
Junior Grand Champion Landon Jessee
Junior Reserve Grand Champion Edward Beeler
Explorer Grand Champion Reed Reno
The Union County show occurs is in conjunction with the Eastern Region 4-H Swine Show. Our youth received high placings with Reed Reno taking home 1st place Premier Exhibitor for the Explorer Division and Edward Beeler taking home 7th place. Ben Woods rounded out the Top Ten in the Senior Level I Division Premier Exhibitor.
Reed Reno, Ben Woods, and Landon Jesse participated in the State 4-H Swine Show. Keeping with the tradition of winning the State Premier Exhibitor, Reed Reno was awarded Second place overall. The Premier Exhibitor is awarded to exhibitors using a combined score of Market Swine Class Placing, Showmanship placing, and Skillathon Score.
Swine Skillathon Contests provide a valuable educational experience for youth. The content of these contests provide a framework for youth to learn a variety of topics related to the production and management of beef cattle, meat goats, sheep, and swine. Participants in these events will learn about different breeds of livestock, external parts of livestock, skeletal anatomy of livestock, feedstuffs used in livestock diets, equipment using in raising and showing livestock and in processing meat, wholesale and retail cuts of meat derived from livestock and quality assurance in health care.