BUSY! BUSY! BUSY! - Another busy year for the Junior club. This kicked off with Edible Gardens at Stoneleigh on 11 13 March, an event that we were involved with a few years ago until it moved to London. Back at Stoneleigh under different organisers we were asked if we could put on a display. With the help of Viki Mills who acted as our liaison officer we went ahead with this popular event to kick start our season! We arranged for the pigs to be on site on the Friday and Harthill School did the demonstrations that day as the other juniors didn t arrive till Friday night. This worked really well as it also coincided with the handover of the four British Landrace gilts for our conservation programme that the school are involved in, with the other two gilts going to Eve Ashcroft for her to start her own herd. You can follow the progress of these pigs and this project through an online Piggy blog on the NFU Countryside website http://www.countrysideonline.co.uk/kids-zone/piggy-blog/piggy-blog/ It was a busy show, with the help of Barrie Turner and Bill Howes our commentators, Friday ran very smoothly with a talk on keeping pigs for the first time, the different breeds, health and welfare and what to look for. The Rare Breeds Survival Trust (RBST) then used the ring for a demonstration of sheep and goats. That afternoon the school handled the pigs round the agility course, a display which is becoming very popular with the general public. The rest of the juniors arrived on Friday night after school in time for fish and chips and a rundown of the weekend s events. Saturday morning the juniors mucked out and fed the pigs before breakfast then we repeated the talks and displays of Friday. The RBST held a BBQ for lunch on Saturday and very kindly invited us all along. After the last demonstration on Saturday Barrie held a public speaking workshop for the juniors, which tied in nicely with the showstars competition the following week. The day was rounded off with another BBQ and a few games of rounder s. After a good night s sleep we repeated the programme again on Sunday.
The weekend was a great success; with 20 juniors taking part ranging in age from 6 to 16. They all worked as a team and as always were a pleasure to be around. Thanks to all that helped make the weekend and display a great success and a special thank you to the RBST for the use of their building as a base throughout the weekend. CountryTastic This year for the first time we took part in the CountryTastic event at Three Counties over the Easter Holiday. The event was very well attended with huge crowds. Not surprising as the weather was great and it was the Easter Holidays. Junior Pig Club put on a display and met up with Adam Henson of CountryFile and Cotswold Farm Park and we will be joining him for the CountryFile Live event at Blenheim Palace in August. William, Alex and the two Daniels with Adam Henson
Our Landrace project is going well two gilts have farrowed and one is due within the next week. If you would like to take part in our project gilts will be available in the coming months. Great way to help protect a breed, learn more about conservation and starteing your own herd with this wonderful breed. We will have a display on at Yorkshire show so come and have a chat if you would like to take part. Also at Yorkshire Mr & Mrs Whitley have knidly invited us to their farm for a visit on the Tuesday evening for lots of fun and games we will have a notice up in our display marquee for times etc. Eve Ashcroft with Dennett Dorina one of the Landrace gilts that came over from Ireland for our Conservation programme. Eve has done really well with both gilts Dennett Bessie was breed Champion at Newark whilst Dennett Dorina breed champion at Lincoln. The other two gilts went to Harthill School
The National Young Show Stars event took place for the 2nd year at the Three Counties Showground in Malvern just before the Easter holidays, although this was just inside term time it was well supported and a great success. A special thanks to Tulip for sponsoring wash pants for the kids which they are modelling in the photo and putting to good use under the eye of our judge Hayley Loveless Next year the date for the show is August so we are hoping to have more teams forward. The format for this event is very different to other shows, as it is designed to showcase and encourage young handlers across the disciplines of dairy, beef, pig and sheep production, as well as butchery and auctioneering
All sections were well supported and competitors enjoyed the chance to see how other farming sectors were judged. There were numerous trade stands including several further and higher education institutions, so hopefully you also had chance to look into future career plans. The pig competition had ten teams entered. Each team which consisted of three members had to find their own sponsor within the industry. Gloucestershire Old Spots Breeders Club, Berkshire Breeders Club, Large Black Breeders Club, Massey Feeds, GWL Feeds, Harthill School. The winners were The Three Oinkers team and this was their display.
Piglet News World Pork Expo This year we took a team of six over to compete at the NJSA junior championships held at the World Pork Expo in Des Moines Iowa. Alfie Dallaway, Oliver Lightfoot, William Oliver, Charlotte Oliver Aimee Jeeves and Joanne Cart all travel to Manchester so we could meet up and fly over to Iowa. After a very long journey over we arrived safely and we were met by Chris Jackson the BPA s export manager. First thing on Tuesday morning after breakfast we headed down to the show ground to register and find out what pigs everyone would be showing. It was a great experience for the team to compete in the showing section and was a lot harder than it looked. The Americans do not show with a board and stick but either a whip or a pipe, they do not go round clock wise like we do and they change direction constantly to keep the pig in the judges view at all times. Wednesday and Thursday apart from the skill-a-thon quiz the team had a good chance to have a look around the showground and chat with the American competitors. There was over 700 juniors competing from over 26 states with over 2100 pigs entered for the junior championships. Friday was stock judging and totally different from ours this takes practically all day. There are 4 pens of pigs to be judged with each section and age groups having to do different questions or reasons. This can be quite daunting when you re in a strange place and don t know anybody but all gave 100% and we were very proud of them. Alfie with a York pig
Piglet News Aimee showing a Duroc Saturday we went back to the showground to watch some of the sale, this is always fascinating to watch and the prices always a lot more than we get. Sunday was a relax day and off to the Adventureland and water park, all had a great time although some looked as green as the new monster ride when they came off it. We hope to be able to take a team over next year dates will be 5th June till 13th June, so if you would like to join the team please get in touch either by email juniorpigclub@yahoo.co.uk or mobile 07884071924 It s a great opportunity to see how the pork industry works in America, meet new friends and work as a team.
Harper Adams Once again we will be having an AI workshop at Harper Adams on 26 th July a great opportunity to get hand on experience and have a tour of the campus and find out what they have to offer. This is open to any juniors but please let us know if you intend to come as we have to let the office know. Countryside Live at Bleinheim Palace We have been invited to put on a display at Bleinheim Palace for country file live. We will be doing one man and his pig plus some breed talks 4 th August to 7 th August if you would like to take part and join in please email juniorpigclub@yahoo.co.uk You don t have to bring pigs just come along and join in. Our pig camp this year is at Mr and Mrs Bemand farm in Leaminster Herefordshire. We will arrive on Friday evening set up camp, Saturday is a packed day of workshops with Bob Stevenson doing a post morton on a pig. Sunday after breakfast is our fun day It s a Knock Out come along and join in the fun. For more details contact Tracey 07884071924 or Sarah 07979013891. Dates for your diary After a great start to the year with Edible gardens, Show Stars and Countrytastics here are the dates for your diary. 6 13 June a team of juniors are off to the World Pork Expo in Des Moines to compete 12 14 July Conservation Landrace display in the Education Centre Yorkshire show 26 July AI course at Harper Adams 4 7 August Junior display for Country File live at Blenheim Palace 12 14 August Pig Camp 24-25 September Junior display alongside Young Pig of the Year Final held at Three Counties 8 9 October Junior Championships sponsored by Sacrewell held at Peterborough 22 23 October Countryside Live Yorkshire showground 19 20 November English Winter Fair Stafford Follow the Junior Pig Club on Twitter @juniorpigclub