Showmaster to host swine show camps Feb. 5, April 2

Become a “Master of the ShowRing” at the Showmaster® show camp series!

Come learn with showring experts as they cover daily care and management, selection, showmanship, feeding, clipping and fitting of show swine and cattle at two “Master of the Showring,” show camps, sponsored by Showmaster Feeds.

The first camp will be Feb. 5 in Kewanee, Ill., at the Blackhawk Community College Animal Science Pavilion. Industry leaders Dan Hoge, Mark Hoge, Brian Arnold, A.J. Lewis, Tyler Winegardner, Jason Hirschfeld and Kim Lewis will be presenting. Registration for swine camp begins at 8 a.m., and cattle camp registration begins at noon, with lunch provided.

The second camp will be April 2 at Real McCoy Genetics in Bloomingburg, Ohio. Industry experts Mike McCoy, Jim McCoy, Ben Bobell and Jason Hirschfeld will be presenting. This camp will include a tour of Real McCoy Genetics’ boar stud and show pig operation, as well as a special breakout session highlighting AI techniques. Registration begins at 1:30 p.m., then stay afterward to attend McCoy’s Customer Appreciation Sale. Dinner will be provided.

Early registration is $12/participant, and late registration is $15/participant. Parents attend for free. Participants attending both Blackhawk camps only pay once for the full day, and all payments will be collected at the camp.

Each attendee of the show camps will receive a free t-shirt, “Guide to Success” booklet and $10 feed coupon, and will be entered to win an iPad, Nook subscriptions to Seedstock EDGE and DRIVE magazines.

For more information call Kim Lewis at 319.665.8912 or register at www.showmasterfeedinfo.com/SMBC11.

NSR efforts help swine premises identification top 90 percent

The National Swine Registry congratulates U.S. swine producers upon the announcement that 92 percent of all U.S. swine premises now have a nationally standardized premises identification number, as revealed yesterday by the National Pork Board. This milestone figure, calculated by the Pork Checkoff using USDA data, represents 65,907 premises. Nearly half of these farms were registered over the last three years in conjunction with a cooperative agreement between the pork industry and USDA.

Premise identification is a crucial component of all NSR activities. Participation in any NSR show or National Junior Swine Association show requires proof of a premise ID number, and Mike Paul, NSR vice president of operations, serves on the Swine ID Implementation Task Force, which consists of producers from all size of farms and representatives of packers, the American Association of Swine Veterinarians, the National Swine Registry and state premises ID coordinators.

"Participation from NSR members demonstrates that our swine breeders and show competitors care about not only their own animals and farm herd health, but the overall health of the U.S. swine industry," said Paul. "The NSR is committed to doing our part to collect information that will, if ever needed, contribute to improved animal traceability and disease control."

Swine owners can find out more information to obtain their premise ID by going to the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service site at State Animal Disease Traceability Administrator Directory, also linked through the NSR website home page.

To read the full press release on the announcement from the National Pork Board, click here.

Winter Type Conference, Southeast Regional entries due Friday, Dec. 17

Entries are due this Friday, Dec. 17, for the NSR Winter Type Conference and the NJSA Southeast Regional. New this year -- enter online for both shows (payment by credit card only) at:

For mailed entries, entry forms can be downloaded and printed off via the following links above, and are also available in the October issue of Seedstock EDGE for the Winter Type Conference, and in the Fall issue of "The Pinnacle" for the Southeast Regional.

Remember, the NSR has a new mailing address:

National Swine Registry
2639 Yeager Road
West Lafayette, IN 47906

NSR announces opening for assistant editor

NSR JOB POSTING:

National Swine Registry Assistant Editor

Job Summary
The primary duties of the assistant editor are to write articles and compile magazine content, facilitate advertising and billing, and coordinate printing for Seedstock EDGE and other print projects. Seedstock EDGE is the official publication of the National Swine Registry, located in West Lafayette, Ind. Published nine times a year, Seedstock EDGE is the leading magazine of the purebred swine industry, and features news on swine shows and sales, member profiles and production news. The assistant editor also serves as editor of “The Pinnacle,” the official newsletter of the National Junior Swine Association, and works on other communications projects as needed.

Duties and Responsibilities

Seedstock EDGE

Write feature articles, member profiles and news stories
Compile information, edit and complete layouts for various sections of the magazine
Work with Creative Director and NSR Field Representatives to facilitate advertisement creation for clients
Facilitate mailing lists, contract advertisers
Help Director of Marketing & Communications edit ads/editorial as needed

Production Coordination

Facilitate print bids on all NSR and custom print projects
Coordinate scheduling and production with printers
Oversee billing of all NSR and custom print projects

“The Pinnacle” (NJSA newsletter)

Work with NJSA Director to determine editorial on a yearly basis
Work with NSR Creative Director to create layout and design
Edit and proofread all stories and articles
Submit final product to printer

Other responsibilities

Attend various NSR shows to collect photography and video content
Assist with website and blog updates when needed

Requirements

Self-motivated, hardworking, organized and deadline driven
Able to establish priorities, work independently and proceed with objectives
Strong interview and feature writing skills
Proficient in proper editing marks and AP Style
Open to traveling for writing assignments or to attend shows
Willing to work overtime and weekends when on deadline for magazine or at shows
Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel and Outlook
Working knowledge of Adobe InDesign and Adobe Photoshop
Position is based strictly out of the NSR office in West Lafayette, Ind.

Credentials and Experience

Bachelor’s degree in agricultural communications, communications or closely-related major
Two years related experience or equivalent combination of education and experience
Background and/or interest in livestock and agriculture preferred

Please email résumé, cover letter, references, transcript showing coursework, and three writing samples by Feb. 1, 2011, to:

Tamara Choat

NSR Director of Marketing & Communications

National Swine Registry

765.463.3594 x113 (office)

tamara@nationalswine.com

Iowa Pork Congress set for Jan. 26, 27

Iowa Pork Congress set for Jan. 26, 27 Pork - Industry News

The 2011 Iowa Pork Congress will be held Jan. 26 and 27, in Des Moines’ Hy-Vee Hall at the Iowa Events Center, as well as the Polk County Convention Complex. Pork Congress hours will be 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Jan. 26 and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Jan. 27.

The Iowa Pork Foundation’s annual Kickoff Reception and Auction will be held at Hy-Vee Hall Jan. 25 and the IPPA Youth Swine Judging contest will be held at the county convention complex Jan. 27.

Read more on Porkmag.com

NSR's Schwab to lead National Swine Improvement Federation

Dr. Clint Schwab, director of genetic and technical services for the National Swine Registry, is the newly-elected president of the National Swine Improvement Federation. Schwab was voted in by the NSIF board of directors at the organization’s annual meeting, held Dec. 2-3 in Kansas City.

The National Swine Improvement Federation exists to develop and implement more uniform, effective, and coordinated swine improvement programs. Its members include seedstock producers, corporate genetic companies, swine testing organizations, A.I. studs, universities, and other seedstock production and marketing groups.

Schwab will serve a two-year term as the head of this organization.

NJSA Youth Spotlight

Congratulations to our December NJSA Youth Spotlights:

Kayla Baker ~ Camby, IN
Ethan Wendt ~ Irwin, OH
John Ebersole ~ Duncannon, PA
Yimmi Fontenot ~ Iowa, LA

Go check out their photos and bios by clicking http://bit.ly/gQgev4.

Online NSR Picture Judging Contest opens today

The first-ever online version of the annual National Swine Registry Picture Judging Contest went live today!

Available via the NSR home page, or at NSR Picture Judging Contest, the contest includes ten classes of swine: Hampshire boars, Duroc boars, Yorkshire boars, Landrace boars, Hampshire gilts, Duroc gilts, Yorkshire gilts, Landrace gilts, Landrace barrows, and crossbred barrows. The contest opened today, Dec. 1, and closes at 11:59 p.m. on Feb. 1, 2011. The print version of the contest is included in the recently-mailed Nov/Dec issue of Seedstock EDGE, and copies of the printed version are also available to download online.

The picture judging contest is a long-held tradition of the National Swine Registry. It has been conducted every year since the NSR officially formed in 1994, and before that, the four breed associations that now compose the NSR held their own individual contests. Mike Paul, NSR vice president of operations, said, "The United Duroc Swine Registry held a contest as far back as the 1950s," with notable industry leaders like Al Christian of Iowa listed as winners.

Today's contest allows individual and team entries. Each individual may enter only one time, either as an individual or on one team (ie, can not enter on both a 4-H and an FFA team). All team entries will automatically be entered as individuals as well. Individual divisions include Junior, Collegiate and Senior. Team divisions include 4-H, FFA, and College.

Teams must consist of the following number of members: 4-H and FFA – four total members (no more, no less); College – five total members (no more, no less). There is no maximum number of teams per school or club, but each team must have a different name.

Classes were selected and will be given official placings and reasons by NSR staff with previous collegiate livestock judging and coaching experience. Official placings, reasons and contest winners will appear online at www.nationalswine.com after April 15, 2011, and in the 2011 April/May issue of Seedstock EDGE. All ties will be broken by the highest score in chronological class order. First- through fifth-place will be named in each division, and plaques will be awarded to the first-place winner of each division.

If you have any questions, call the NSR at 765.463.3594.

NJSA Oustanding Member Scholarship deadline

Just a reminder that all NJSA Outstanding Member scholarship applications are due tomorrow. Your completed application, including the necessary signatures, must be postmarked no later than Dec. 1, 2010, and mailed to:
National Swine Registry, Attn: Director of Junior Activities, P.O. Box 2417, West Lafayette, IN 47996-2417.
Good Luck!!

NJSA Southeast Regional volunteers needed

The NJSA Southeast Regional show is quickly approaching and we are looking for volunteers and sponsors. We are in need of people willing to help with the skillathon contest, showmanship contest, and working in the NJSA booth. We are also looking for people or businesses who are willing to become an NJSA sponsor. Sponsoships are what make the NJSA such a successful organization and they are available at all levels. If you are interested in helping support the NJSA and its members by volunteering or sponsoring please contact Sarah Schwab at 765-463-3594 or at sarah@nationalswine.com.

NSR Fall Classic Weanling Pig Sale Results

2011 NSR Fall Classic Weanling Pig Results
Male Weanling Pigs

Grand Champion and Champion Dark Crossbred Male Prospect
Bred by Doug Porter
Sold for $11,500

Reserve Grand Champion and Champion Light Crossbred Male Prospect
Bred by Larry Moore
Sold for $6,500

Champion Duroc Male Prospect
Bred by Trey Porter
Sold for $1,200

Reserve Champion Duroc Male Prospect
Bred by Sierra & Sage Stephens
Sold for $2,500

Champion Hampshire Male Prospect
Bred by WinTex Farms
Sold for $1,000

Reserve Champion Hampshire Male Prospect
Bred by Cook Family Livestock
Sold for $400

Champion Landrace Male Prospect
Bred by Matt Buckland
Sold for $250

Reserve Champion Landrace Male Prospect
Bred by Jeff Odell

Champion Yorkshire Male Prospect
Bred by Glenn Craft
Sold for $1,200

Reserve Champion Yorkshire Male Prospect
Bred by Larry Moore
Sold for $1,050

Reserve Champion Dark Crossbred Male Prospect
Bred by S&K Showpigs
Sold for $5,500

Reserve Champion Light Crossbred Male Prospect
Bred by Carl Kent & Sons
Sold for $3,000

Champion Berkshire Male Prospect
Bred by Larry Moore
Sold for $1,400

Reserve Champion Berkshire Male Prospect
Bred by Logan & Lauren Thomas
Sold for $850

Champion Chester Male Prospect
Bred by Croskey Farms
Sold for $850

Reserve Champion Chester Male Prospect
Bred by Wade Miller
Sold for $400

Champion Poland Male Prospect
Bred by RTS Genetics
Sold for $550

Reserve Champion Poland Male Prospect
Bred by RTS Genetics
Sold for $450

Champion Spot Male Prospect
Bred by Mark S. Cox
Sold for $950

Reserve Champion Spot Male Prospect
Bred by Trey Porter
Sold for $1,300

Female Weanling Pigs

Grand Champion and Champion Hampshire Female Prospect
Bred by George & Mike Watson
Sold for $16,000

Reserve Grand Champion and Champion Chester Female Prospect
Bred by WinTex Farms
Sold for $2,500

Champion Duroc Female Prospect
Bred by Jessica Corya
Sold for $5,500

Reserve Champion Duroc Female Prospect
Bred by Sam Scher
Sold for $750

Reserve Champion Hampshire Female Prospect
Bred by Sam Scher
Sold for $1,250

Champion Landrace Female Prospect
Bred by Jackson Allen
Sold for $400

Reserve Champion Landrace Female Prospect
Bred by Matt Buckland
Sold for $450

Champion Yorkshire Female Prospect
Bred by Platt & Cobb Farms
Sold for $2,750

Reserve Champion Yorkshire Female Prospect
Bred by Bill Ernst
Sold for $8,000

Champion Dark Crossbred Female Prospect
Bred by S&K Showpigs
Sold for $13,500

Reserve Champion Dark Crossbred Female Prospect
Bred by Mund Showpigs
Sold for $1,900

Champion Light Crossbred Female Prospect
Bred by Doug Porter
Sold for $7,000

Reserve Champion Light Crossbred Female Prospect
Bred by Corey Johnke
Sold for $1,500

Champion Berkshire Female Prospect
Bred by Ryan Lee Pullan
Sold for $800

Reserve Champion Berkshire Female Prospect
Bred by Larry Moore
Sold for $600

Reserve Champion Chester Female Prospect
Bred by Rodney Humphrey
Sold for $600

Champion Poland Female Prospect
Bred by Daniel Ferrari
Sold for $850

Reserve Champion Poland Female Prospect
Bred by Tony Thomas
Sold for $400

Champion Spot Female Prospect
Bred by Greg & Joni Hartman
Sold for $1,150

Reserve Champion Spot Female Prospect
Bred by Jonnie Bellettini
Sold for $350

2011 WTC and NJSA SE Regional online entry forms are now LIVE!

The online entry forms for these shows are now live. Just go to the Winter Type Conference and NJSA Southeast Regional pages and click on the respective show's entry form.

FINALLY!

NJSA Boot Camp

The 2011 NJSA Boot Camp is scheduled for March 19th 2011 in Blacksburg, Virginia on Virginia Tech's campus. You can find your entry form at

http://bit.ly/e6OiQd . Please return your entry to the National Swine Registry by February 18th. Entry Fee is $30 per person with a $5 per chaperon fee. Chaperons are encouraged to attend and learn! Boot Camp is open to NJSA members 8-12 years of age. More information and schedules will be located on the website in the near future. Please direct any questions to Sarah Schwab at 765-463-3594 or sarah@nationalswine.com

2010 NSR Fall Classic Crossbred Boar Sale results

2010 Fall ClassicCROSSBRED BOAR SALE

Judge: Dave Kilmer, Ind.
Auctioneer: Ron Kreis, Ohio

Champion Crossbred Boar
1st Class 4
Goff Select Swine Genetics, Ind.
PAPARAZZI x SUPER FREAK
Sold to Earl L Cain & Family, Iowa, for $14,000

Reserve Champion Crossbred Boar
1st Class 6
W D Swine Farm, Calif.
DROP SHOT x BIG SCREEN
Sold to Lean Value Sires, Ohio, for $37,000

2010 NSR Fall Classic Duroc Sale results

2010 Fall Classic
DUROC SALE
Judge: Kelton Mason, Texas
Auctioneer: Ron Kreis, Ohio
Champion Duroc Gilt
1st Class 2
Kilmer Swine Farms Inc, Ind.
DANM9 GRIZZLY BEAR SSP 22-1 x SDF5 TC PI R SQUARED 109-1
Sold to Walser Farms, Texas, for $4,750

Reserve Champion Duroc Gilt
1st Class 3
Mickey Bellamy, Okla.
RWG9 TURN IT UP 154-1 x JAKI8 PSSS CANT TOUCH THIS 10-1
Sold to Newcastle Genetics, Okla., for $1,400

Champion Duroc Boar
1st Class 1
Malcolm Family Farms, Ind.
RWG9 TURN IT UP 154-1 x OAB8 PSSS BUCK CHERRY 1
Sold to Dub Stepp, Texas, $1,300

Reserve Champion Duroc Boar
1st Class 3
L & S Showpigs, Okla.
JAKI8 PSSS CANT TOUCH THIS x JRPF7 FREAK SHOW 7-1
Sold to Michael Braden, Texas, for $1,000

PHOTOS: NSR Fall Classic, Saturday

2010 NSR Fall Classic Hampshire Sale results

2010 Fall Classic

HAMPSHIRE SALE

Judge: Eric Polich, Iowa

Auctioneer: Kevin Wendt, Ohio

Champion Hampshire Gilt

1st Class 3

Darren, Laura, Austin Lynd, Wis.

JAAM9 BIG TRAIN 2-2 x GBJG4 GET SERIOUS 36-3

Sold to Pickens Sisters, Calif., for $12,000

Reserve Champion Hampshire Gilt

1st Class 2

George & Mike Watson, Ind.

JLM8 FOREFRONT 2-2 x CRAF6 SNAKE EYES 12-8

Sold to Mark & Sandy Ottenwalter, Calif., for $4,000

Champion Hampshire Boar

1st Class 2

Earl L Cain & Family, Iowa

EC8 IRONMAN 150-1 x EC7 HOLY COW 85-4

Sold to Gold Rush Shaffer Superior, Ind., for $3,000

Reserve Champion Hampshire Boar

2nd Class 2

George & Mike Watson, Ind.

JLM8 FOREFRONT 2-2 x JM6 THE JUDGE 20-4

Sold to Shipley Swine Genetics, Ohio, for $14,000

2010 NSR Fall Classic Yorkshire Sale results

2010 Fall Classic

YORKSHIRE SALE

Judge: Brian Hines, Mich.

Auctioneer: Dan Baker, Ind.

Champion Yorkshire Gilt

1st Class 2

Hirschfeld & Sons, Neb.

OSU9 JUMP START 44-5 x ARK6 TCG LAKE CITY 4-2

Sold to Travis Platt, Ind., for $13,000

Reserve Champion Yorkshire Gilt

2nd Class 2

Jack Rodibaugh & Sons, Ind.

JGR9 DADDY MACK 36-4 x JRS7 BIG PAPPY 31-2

Sold to Greg Hartman, Okla., for $9,000

Champion Yorkshire Boar

1st Class 3

Lorenzen Farms, Ill.

LFC8 GRUS GATEWAY 1-3 x CDO8 PSSS HUSKY 18-1

Sold to Lean Value Sires, Ohio, for $36,000

Reserve Champion Yorkshire Boar

1st Class 1

Thompson Bros Genetics, Ohio

TBRO8 SUMO 7-1 x JGR6 TANK 9-5

Sold to Kilmer Swine Farms Inc, Ind., for $8,000

Weekend interns help at NSR Fall Classic

Krista Anderson, Escalon, Calif.

Anderson is a 22-year-old college senior at majoring in agricultural communications at Oklahoma State University. She raised Duroc and Yorkshire hogs for 11 years, was an active member of NJSA, and won the National FFA Organization Swine Proficiency Award in both Entrepreneurship and Placement. Anderson will graduate in December, and plans to attend graduate school at OSU, pursuing a master's degree in agricultural communications. She is helping the NSR Marketing & Communications Department at the Fall Classic in Duncan, Okla., taking photos and posting blog updates. Thanks for your help, Krista!

Jen Martin, Lubbock, Texas
Martin is also a familiar face around NSR and NJSA events. A former NJSA member, she was the NJSA intern in 2007, and has volunteered at the Fall Classic and NJSA Southwest Regional for the past 3-4 years. Currently a Ph.D. candidate slated to graduate in May 2011 from Texas Tech University with a doctorate in pork quality, Martin grew up raising and showing Yorkshire and Hampshire pigs in her hometown of Sidney, Texas. After graduation, Martin plans to pursue a career that maintains her ties to the NSR and NJSA, working with youth and promoting the swine industry. Thanks for all your hard work, Jen!