After any event, it's good to say that things went well. After last week's World Pork Expo, it's even greater to say that--especially after everything the pork industry is going through, regarding the H1N1 virus, low pork prices, and a suffering export market.
The week began with the World Pork Expo Junior National show. Youth ages 2-21 participated in the event, showing their crossbred and purebred market barrows and breeding gilts and competing in showmanship and livestock judging. They represented all the major breeds including Berkshires, Chester White, Duroc, Hampshires, Landrace, Poland China, Spotted, and Yorkshires. Junior entries and the number of pigs were both up, having 500 youth exhibit 1404 pigs. The results show just how amazing youth in the swine industry are!
While the open show didn't have quite the record numbers, the show still went well and the sale went even better. The sale grossed $31,000 more than last year and the top selling boar (the grand champion Duroc) sold for $60,000--twice as much as the highest selling animal last year!
The number of foreign visitors did appear to be down (most likely due to a variety of country bans on U.S. pork), but there were those who visited to cover the event. Jane Wells and the crew from CNBC made the journey and did some great pieces on America's pork producers and our youth showmen.
So now, we're back to the office, getting ready for the National Junior Summer Spectacular in three weeks. Hope to see you there!
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