VIDEO: NJSA Southwest Regional will be Sept. 3-5 in Chickasha, Okla.

NJSA Southwest Regional
Check out what is in store for this year's NJSA Southwest Regional, held Sept. 3-5, 2010, in Chickasha, Okla., with NJSA directors Rebecca Bailey of California and McKenzie Langemeier of Texas!

Temple Grandin -- and animal agriculture -- win at Emmys

Watch Temple Grandin's speech at the Emmy's last night
Credit: CNN on YouTube

Temple Grandin won big last night -- and that can be considered a win for everyone in animal agriculture. Grandin, who is autistic, is widely recognized in the livestock production industry for her work in analyzing and improving animal handling systems. The movie that portrayed her life story sheds a light on the positive nature of animal production, as opposed to the overblown stories captured by the media in a rare instance of negative handling.

Below is a release from the American Meat Institute, featured on http://www.porkmag.com/:

HBO’s “Temple Grandin” swept the Emmys award competition Sunday, capturing some of the top awards including Best Picture, Best Actress for Clare Danes who portrayed Grandin, Best Supporting Actress for Julia Ormond who portrayed Grandin’s mother, Best Supporting Actor for David Strathairn who portrayed Grandin’s favorite teacher and Best Director for Mick Jackson.

Danes held the award up and spoke to Grandin directly saying “This is in service of your work.”

When the movie’s crew accepted the award for Best Picture, they brought Grandin to the stage. When the movie’s producer said Temple was their hero, she threw her arms around her in a spontaneous embrace and then she asked her mother to rise to her feet and be acknowledged with applause.

While the film was predicted to capture many awards, it fared better than many critics predicted.

AMI President J. Patrick Boyle offered hearty congratulations to Grandin, who is an AMI member, the lead instructor at AMI’s Animal Care & Handling Conference and a past recipient of AMI’s Industry Advancement Award.

“Temple Grandin has done remarkable things for our industry and for people with autism,” Boyle said. “She has transformed the way we handle livestock and measure welfare. She has been a gift to so many people including those in our industry. And, of course, she has helped to enhance animal welfare dramatically.”

“HBO did a marvelous job in bringing her life’s work to life on the screen. She is incredibly deserving of the accolades she is now receiving. On behalf of the members of AMI, I say congratulations Temple Grandin and thank you.”

Entries for NJSA Eastern Regional due today!

Entries for the 2010 NJSA Eastern Regional show must be postmarked today!

Download schedule and entry form here.

The show is Oct. 1-2, 2010, in Harrisburg, Pa. NJSA members may enter up to two gilts in each of the four breed categories: Duroc, Hampshire, Landrace and Yorkshire. There are also showmanship and skillathon contests. Gilt entries are $30/head. Late entries are $50/head after today.


Friday, Oct. 1
8 a.m.: Gilts may begin arriving at Farm Show Complex
Noon-4 p.m.: Gilt check-in, showmanship and skillathon registration, Eastern Regional Silent Auction items may be dropped off
4 p.m.: All gilts must be in place in the barn, Eastern Regional Silent Auction begins
5 p.m.: Exhibitor meeting by show ring
5:30 p.m.: Showmanship preliminaries (Novice, Junior, Intermediate, Senior)

Saturday, Oct. 2
8 a.m.: Breakfast sponsored by ADM Alliance Nutrition Inc.
8-11 a.m.: Skillathon (All participants must be checked in and in line before 10 a.m.)
Noon: Showmanship finals (Skillathon award presentation follows showmanship finals)
2 p.m.: Purebred Gilt Show (Duroc, Hampshire, Landrace, Yorkshire)

*Sweepstakes Awards Ceremony to follow gilt show
**All hogs released at end of sweepstakes ceremony

Hotel Accommodations:
Comfort Inn Riverfront
525 S. Front Street, Harrisburg, PA 17104
Phone: 717.233.1611
Cut-off date: Sept. 17
Rate: $69.99

Sly x Sweet Tea Foundation Female will sell for NJSA

Here is your chance to own a Foundation Hampshire Female from the herd of Franklin Feeser of Taneytown, Md. This fancy Sly 114-5 x Sweet Tea 15-7 gilt has been donated to the NJSA program. Bids for this outstanding female will be taken online through http://www.buyerschoiceauction.com/ on Sept. 29-30, and the auction will be finalized live on Oct. 1 at the NJSA Eastern Regional in Harrisburg, Pa. All proceeds will benefit the NJSA. For more information, contact NSR Director of Junior Activities Alan Duttlinger at 765.463.3594 or sale day representative Ralph Doak at 765.427.9910.

Shaffer's open gilts

This is just a fast sample of the offering that the Shaffer Family will sell this Saturday at the farm. The York gilt is out of Gateway and is very good from any angle. The Duroc gilt is out of the 63 litter.This gilt is out of one of the heaviest boned litters that I've seen. She is out of Got More Of It and is a true foundation female. The Landrace gilt is as solid as they come. She is level, sound, and thick made. She is out of Big Splash and sells on Saturday. Thanks to the Shaffer's for the time and hope to
see everyone at the sale.

NJSA members named Superior Young Swine Producers at Illinois State Fair

Two members of the National Junior Swine Association were recognized as 2010 Superior Young Swine Producers at the Illinois State Fair last week.

Ashley Kauffman of Danvers, Ill., and Amy Loschen of Kempton, Ill., were recognized among the top five winners in the statewide competition that included a swine management test, skillathon, and swine judging contest.

Kauffman and Loschen, along with other top five competitors Lucas Helton of Strasburg, Wade Springer of Hopedale, and Luke Rincker of Strasburg, received $1,000 scholarships from Archer Daniels Midland in Decatur and a plaque from the Land of Lincoln Purebred Livestock Breeders Association and the Illinois State Fair.

Dan Jennings, University of Illinois Extension Animal Systems Educator, said, “This contest provides youth with an opportunity to showcase their knowledge of the industry while competing for valuable scholarships to help them pursue their career goals.”

Photo above (l to r): Wade Springer, Amy Loschen, Ashley Kauffman, Lucas Helton, Luke Rincker.

champion york boar from missouri state fair

This is the champion boar from Zachary Craven, we worked to get this guy to stand still long enough for the photo.

He is out of Daddy Mack on a par five sow
He sells Sunday at 1pm

littermate to the champion

This is a littermate to the champion boar at the Missouri State Fair. We couldn't get this boar to stand still to photo so this is the best we could do.

Kendall Smith wins 'Triple Crown' of showmanship

In the competitive world of swine showmanship, winning a major show is a big thing. Winning three major shows in a row -- that is a really big thing.

Kendall Smith, 19, of Indianapolis recently won what could be considered the "Triple Crown" of swine showmanship, claiming grand champion showman in the competitive senior division at the 2010 World Pork Expo Junior National, the 2010 National Junior Summer Spectacular, and the 2010 Indiana State Fair.

Smith graduated from Decatur Central High School and will be a freshman at Purdue University this fall, majoring in chemistry. His parents are Rex & Lori Smith and he has an older brother, Cody.

Congratulations Kendall!

Homegrown pigs take top prizes at the county fair - Nebraska City, Neb.

Check out the following feature article on the Arkfeld family of Dunbar, Neb. The Arkfelds are regular attendees at NJSA and NSR shows!

Homegrown pigs take top prizes at the county fair - Nebraska City, NE - Nebraska City News-Press

NJSA junior board retreats, plans upcoming year

Another year is lined out and ready to go for the NJSA! The new board of directors recently held their annual retreat at the offices of the National Pork Board, a diamond-level NJSA sponsor, in Des Moines, Iowa.

The purpose of the weekend session was to plan details for NJSA shows through the upcoming year, assign committees, and for the team to get to know each other and have a chance to work together.

"The team had a chance to increase their knowledge of the commercial pork industry by working with the NPB board, and there was also a lot of team bonding and camaraderie established, which is really the greatest benefit of this retreat," says Alan Duttlinger, NSR director of junior activities.

The agenda also included training sessions with staff from the NPB, including a communications and social media workshop and Pork 101 session, as well as team-building excercises, and of course, some recreational time at the bowling alley.

The 2010-2011 NJSA Junior Board is comprised of: President Rebecca Bailey, Calif., Vice President Alicia Keller, N.Y., Secretary Bailey Albright, Mich., Director-At-Large Miles Toeynes, Ill., Eastern Director Hallie Frobose, Ohio, Central Director Rae Jean White, Ind., Central Director Kaylee Miller, Ind., Central Director Kayla Meyer, Ill., and Southwest Director Mackenzie Langemeier, Texas.

VIDEO: Al Christian Lifetime Achievement Award

Al Christian Lifetime Achievement Award

The National Association of Swine Records presented its first-ever Lifetime Achievement Award to Al Christian of Ames, Iowa, at the 2010 World Pork Expo, in recognition of his contributions to the swine industry worldwide.
Darrell Anderson and Mike Paul of the NSR, Jack Wall, CEO of Certified Pedigreed Swine, and Amy Smith, secretary of the American Berkshire Association presented Christian, who retired from the Iowa State University Swine Teaching Farm after 50 years there, with a plaque. Watch this video of NSR's Mike Paul announcing the award, as well as tributes to Christian from ISU's Tom Baas and Michgan State University's Al Snedegar.

2010 Hog College representatives announced

The National Swine Registry has completed the search for the 2010 Hog College® representatives, and has announced the following breeders will display ideal type boars and gilts at the National Barrow Show®, to be held Sept. 12-15 in Austin, Minn. The National Barrow Show is sponsored by the National Association of Swine Records.

Hog College Boars:
Duroc: Huinker Durocs, Decorah, Iowa
Hampshire: Jim & Mike McCoy, Bloomingburg, Ohio
Landrace: Mills Girls, Clinton, Ill.
Yorkshire: Hilman Schroeder, Sauk City, Wis.

Hog College Gilts:
Duroc: JJ Genetics (Guy Jackson & Mike Johnson), Warren, Ind.
Hampshire: Kilmer Swine Farm, Monticello, Ind.
Landrace: McGrew Showpigs, Good Hope, Ill.
Yorkshire: Scott Garlisch, Forest City, Ill.

The Hog College is a long-standing tradition of the National Barrow Show, now in its 64th year. A boar and gilt are selected to represent the ideal type for each of the four NSR breeds, as well as Berkshires and each of the Certified Pedigreed Swine breeds – Chester White, Spot, and Poland China. Originally, the ideals were selected from boar test stations across the U.S., as determined to be the best in their breed, and representing the traits most desired for selection in that breed at the time.

“Having one of your breeding stock selected for the Hog College has long been a very prestigious honor,” said Darrell Anderson, NSR CEO. “Everyone who comes to the National Barrow Show goes to the Hog College row first to see these selected ideal types.”

The representative hogs are penned in a special area, and are paraded before the start of their respective breed shows, but do not compete. They sell at the front of their breed sale along with the other animals.

The 2010 Hog College animals will soon be pictured and available for pre-sale bidding for several weeks prior to the National Barrow Show on BuyersChoiceAuction.com, the online auction partnership of the NSR. For more information, visit www.nationalswine.com, or call the NSR at 765.463.3594.

Cally Hass wins 2010 Claude Robinson scholarship

Cally Hass of Cassopolis, Mich., was recently announced as the winner of the 2010 Claude Robinson Memorial Scholarship. This $1,000 scholarship is given by the Robinson family of Wellsville, Mo., in honor of their father and grandfather, a noted stockman and breeder of Yorkshire hogs, Angus cattle and Quarter horses.
The scholarship is awarded each year to one college sophomore, junior or senior enrolled in a junior or senior college judging program. Selection criteria include demonstrated leadership activities, livestock judging experience, livestock industry interest and community service.

Hass will be a senior this fall at Michigan State University, and will graduate next spring with a degree in animal science with an agribusiness option. She competed on the 2009 MSU livestock judging team – the only all-girl team in the nation, also coached by a woman – and has accumulated a list of awards from contests around the country.

In her application, Hass says she has gained much from competing in livestock judging. “It is remarkable how much it can benefit an individual, and is without question the most valuable activity I have participated in throughout my college career,” she says, noting she learned to rationalize decisions and think quickly, as well as developed improved public speaking and time-management skills, sportsmanship, perseverance and discipline.

Hass is the current vice president and swine representative on the Michigan Junior Livestock Society junior board of directors as well as a 14-year member, and is an active member of Michigan Farm Bureau, MSU Collegiate Farm Bureau, MSU Block & Bridle, Leaders in Environmental and Agricultural Fields, Sigma Alpha, MSU College of Agriculture and Natural Resources Student Senate, and the National Agri-Marketing Association, as well as is a member of Pleasant View Church of Christ and His House Christian Fellowship.

Hass was an active member of the NJSA for nine years, former Michigan Pork Ambassador, 14-year member of 4-H, and an eight-year member and past Michigan state officer in the National FFA Organization. She also reigned as Miss Cass-St. Joseph County in 2009, with a platform of agriculture and natural resources education and awareness.

Hass's career goals include pursuing a career in the swine industry, particularly at an industry organization such as the National Swine Registry, National Pork Producers Council, or National Pork Board. Additionally, she hopes to judge livestock shows, pursue her own swine and cattle operation, and serve as a volunteer 4-H and FFA leader.

Hass served this past summer as the NJSA intern, helping organize the World Pork Expo Junior National and the National Junior Summer Spectacular.

Goehring Herd Visit

Dan, thanks for the visit! Good luck at Indiana State Fair.

This is a Full Dimension son out of a Lumberjack 136-13 x Suit Up 91-6 sow (Clear Cut's littermate sister)

National Pork Board scholarships due Oct.1

College junior or senior NJSA members -- don't forget to apply for the National Pork Board scholarships. More than $42,500 will be awarded to swine-industry focused students. The deadline is Oct. 1, 2010, and the online application is available at http://www.pork.org/Resources/1035/ScholarshipEntryForm.aspx.

Any specific questions should be directed to Lana Modlin at LModlin@pork.org or 515-223-2609. Don't wait to get started!

2010 National Pork Board Scholarship Guidelines
1. Applicants must be a junior or senior college student majoring in animal science or a related field and is planning to:
a) Pursue a career in swine production management or a related field, or
b) Attend graduate school and major in one of the following disciplines, with an emphasis on swine:
• Agriculture
• Agricultural Business
• Agriculture Engineering
• Agronomy
• Animal Breeding/Genetics/Genomics
• Animal Physiology
• Bioinformatics
• Environmental Science
• Environmental Physiology/Behavior
• Meat Science
• Nutrition
• Pork Safety / Food Technology
• Reproductive Physiology
• Veterinary Medicine (only if interest is swine production medicine)
• Related Fields

2. Scholarship applicants must be interested in pursuing a career in the pork industry. Preference will be given to applicants affiliated with the pork industry as:
• Members of a family currently in or associated with pork production,
• Members of a family associated with allied industry or the marketing segments of the pork industry.
• Active or past members of industry youth leadership development programs with emphasis on swine.
• Having had previous swine-specific internships.

3. A minimum of 19 scholarships will be awarded. The top applicant will be awarded a scholarship of $5,000 and a scholarship of $3,500 will be awarded to the first runner-up. All other scholarships awarded are $2,000.

4. Applications only will be considered if the online application form and all support materials are received by the deadline. The application deadline is October 1, 2010. Review these guidelines and the Application and Checklist page for the complete list of requirements.

An online application form is available at pork.org. Only individuals that complete the online application form and provide all support materials will be considered.

Support materials required for a complete application include:
• Two letters of support
• Academic transcripts

Letters of support must come from non-family members. Counselors, employers, mentors or industry professionals or other letter of support senders should mail letters of support directly to the National Pork Board at: Pork Industry Scholarships c/o Lana Modlin P.O. Box 9114 Des Moines, IA 50306. The envelope should clearly state whose application this letter supports. Please have the sender clearly write on the envelope:

For: Applicant Name

Transcripts require hard-copy, U.S. Postal Service submission. Applications will only be considered if the online application form is completed and all support materials are received by the deadline.

5. Successful applicants will be awarded one scholarship only. Family members of National Pork Board employees are not eligible. Application deadline is October 1, 2010.

Evaluation Criteria
Applicants will be evaluated by a selection committee including members of the Pork Checkoff’s science and technology committees, National Pork Board members, academia and allied industry representatives. Selection committee members will review and score each application independently and rank applicants based on the following criteria:
• Scholastic record, 1 to 10 points
• Youth and industry leadership activities, 1 to 10 points
• Interest/involvement in the swine industry, 1 to 15 points
• Graduate degree selected and/or prospective career path, 1 to 15 points

Applicant scores will be gathered by the National Pork Board and recipients will be announced in December 2010.

Wanted: College Students to Promote Agriculture

Wanted: College Students to Promote Agriculture Pork - Industry News

Wanted: College Students to Promote Agriculture
By Pork news source Wednesday, August 04, 2010

College students are needed to share the facts about modern food production with the public. College Aggies Online, a program to help today's college students become advocates for the agriculture industry, are encouraged to sign up.

College Aggies Online is a joint venture of the Animal Agriculture Alliance and American National CattleWomen.

Participating students will utilize social media tools such as YouTube, Facebook and Twitter to share agriculture's story with the public. Beginning Sept. 1, members of College Aggies Online will compete to win prizes for the school organization that they represent. Participants will earn points for each agriculture-related blog, photo and video that they post.

Students who participate in the program help ensure the future of American agriculture. "Last year, 350 students representing 50 universities shared their stories on the College Aggies Online network," said Kay Johnson Smith, Animal Agriculture Alliance executive vice president.

Students with a passion for agriculture are asked to register for the program. After creating a personal profile on the network, members will gain access to a private forum where they can discuss current and emerging issues facing farmers and ranchers. Competitors also receive points for authoring agriculture-focused articles for their local newspapers.

After final point counts are tallied in April 2011, the winning club will receive a $750 scholarship, national recognition and a trip for one representative to Washington, D.C. for the Alliance's annual Stakeholders Summit. Additional recognition and scholarships will be awarded to the runner-up in the club competition and to the two top-placing individual competitors.

For more information, contact Krissa Thom at KThom@animalagalliance.org or (703) 562-1410 or visit the group’s Web site.

Source: Animal Agriculture Alliance
Linked from: www.pork.org

Zimmerman Herd Visit

Thanks Brian and Austin for a great visit! The hog's looked good.

Below are several pictures of a Full Shift son out of a PI R Squared sow (same mother as Grand Champion Duroc Boar at the Summer Type Conference). She is a truly impressive sow.

VIDEO: 2010 NJSA Distinguished Service Award

2010 NJSA Distinguished Service Award


The recipient of the 2010 National Junior Swine Association Distinguished Service Award was former NSR Director of Junior Activities, Jennifer Shike. Watch this video clip of her receiving the award, as well as a photo tribute from her almost 10 years of service to the NJSA.

VIDEO: NJSS Review

http://nationalswine.blogspot.com/
Had a great time at the 2010 NJSS? Relive the event with this video review! Thanks to NSR Communications Intern Kirby Carpenter for creating this clip!