World Pork Expo Junior National registration due tomorrow!

WPX Junior National schedule 

WPX Junior National entry form

NJSA members, registration is due TOMORROW, Thursday, April 29, for the World Pork Expo Junior Show, happening June 8-11 in Des Moines, Iowa, at the Iowa State Fairgrounds. The ownership deadline for show entries is also April 29.

The registration form can be found via the link above, and also was printed in the Spring issue of “The Pinnacle.”

Tuesday, June 8, at noon, entries may begin arriving, with registration from 4-8 p.m. that afternoon. On Wednesday, June 9, registration will be open from 7:30-9:30 a.m., and all entries must be on the ground at 9 a.m. At 9:30 a.m., Dr. Jodi Sterle will host a Pork Quality Assurance Training seminar. A mandatory exhibitor meeting will be at 11:30 a.m. at the ringside. Crossbred barrows will start showing at noon, followed by the purebred barrow shows. Thursday, June 10, the junior and senior showmanship contests will start at 8 a.m., followed by intermediate and novice showmanship. At 1 p.m. on Thursday, the purebred gilts will start to show.

On Friday, June 11, registration for the judging contest will run from 8-9:30 a.m., with the contest starting at 10 a.m., and the novice judging contest at 12:30 p.m. At 4 p.m. the sweepstakes ceremony will be held. Following the sweepstakes announcements, all hogs will be released, but are encouraged to stay through Saturday for the WPX sale.

Exhibitors must show at least one purebred barrow in order to show one or more crossbred barrows, and must show at least one purebred gilt in order to show one or more crossbred gilts. Exhibitors must bring registration papers to check-in. Ear notches are not needed as substitutions are allowed. All crossbred barrows and gilts must be identified by a permanent numbered ear tag that is listed on its health paper.

Awards for classes include the following: Champion Purebred Barrow Overall – one-year trailer lease with option to buy; Champion Crossbred Barrow – one-year trailer lease with option to buy; Reserve Purebred Barrow Overall – popper; NJSA & Crossbred Champion Barrows – $2,000; NJSA & Crossbred Reserve Barrows – $1,000; Champion Gilts – $500; Reserve Gilts – $250.

Hotels with blocks reserved include the Holiday Inn Downtown, 515.283.0151; Red Roof Inn, 515.266.6800; and the Best Western – Starlight Village, 515.282.5251.

For more information on the World Pork Expo Junior National, visit http://www.nationalswine.com/, or contact Alan Duttlinger, NSR Director of Junior Activities, at 765.463.3594 or alan@nationalswine.com.

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Buyers Choice Auction, NSR launch partnership

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — The National Swine Registry announces a new partnership that will provide members access to the innovative online auction service, Buyers Choice Auction. This Internet-only sales ring, located at www.buyerschoiceauction.com, features a unique bidding format that provides both buyers and sellers new options in online marketing.

Kicking off the partnership with two weanling barrow and gilt sales are Stewart’s Duroc Farm of Waverly, Iowa, and Stein & Stewart SPF Genetics of Odessa, Mo., which will hold a combined auction at the new venue on Thursday, Feb. 25, and Cedar Ridge Farms of Red Bud, Ill., following with consignments on Friday, Feb. 26.

“We are excited about working with Buyers Choice Auction, and we’re happy to introduce this joint venture,” said Darrell Anderson, CEO of the NSR. “We believe the exclusive features of this auction format will be a valuable option for our members in marketing their product to a worldwide audience.”

With Buyers Choice Auction all lots sell simultaneously, eliminating the wait time of a sale order. Buyers have the choice to switch bidding to any lot if they are outbid – giving them more time to make decisions and compare options. The unique ProxyPlus feature allows bidders to prioritize a list of lots they are interested in, name how many they want to purchase, and state a maximum bid on each. The computer will automatically bid for them – choosing the best combination of lots based on selling price and priority. Buyers also have the option of watching all the bidding at one time on the “Big Board” view feature, and winning bidders do not pay a buyer’s fee, so the price they bid is the final price they pay.

Buyers Choice Auction is currently consigning sales for the spring pig season. Livestock producers interested in visiting about the advantages of selling through Buyers Choice Auction should contact Mike Paul, NSR Vice President of Operations, at 765.463.3594 or 765.427.2692. For more information, visit http://www.buyerschoiceauction.com/ or http://www.nationalswine.com/.

Go 'Walking in Memphis' at NJSA National Youth Leadership Conference

West Lafayette, Ind. – Get your blue suede boots ready to go “Walking in Memphis” with the National Junior Swine Association! The ninth-annual National Youth Leadership Conference will be held in Memphis, Tenn., on April 30-May 2, 2010. Youth ages 14-21 will be challenged to make the most of their opportunities in life while broadening their knowledge of important swine industry issues.

An exciting slate of speakers and events is ready to rock this conference. Starting Friday, Beau Williamson, the 2006-2007 National FFA President, will present a motivational leadership workshop. Dr. Wes Jamison of Palm Beach Atlantic University in Florida will discuss the animal rights movement – and teach youth what the word “anthropomorphism” means. Cindy Cunningham of the National Pork Board will help attendees polish up their interview skills through media training.

On Saturday participants will head across the Tennessee state border to nearby Cobb Farms in Lake City, Ark., to learn about cotton production, row cropping and showpigs. The day at the farm will include production tours as well as additional workshops on identifying diseases in swine, purebred genetic programs overseas, and becoming a mentor to younger NJSA members. In the evening, recreational activities will include swimming and a Wiffle Ball tournament.

Wrapping up the conference on Sunday will be an inspirational service by Ray Perryman of Texas, a panel discussion on internships, and workshops by members of the NJSA Board of Directors.

Additional presenters throughout the event include:
• Dr. Steve Copeland, DVM, Paragould, Ark.
• Steve and Aaron Cobb, Cobb Farms, Lake City, Ark.
• Tony Clayton, Clayton Agri-Marketing, Inc., Jefferson, Mo.
• Jamey Tosh, Tosh Farms, Henry, Tenn.
• Kelli Reiff, NJSA
• NJSA Board of Directors

Applications are due to the NSR office by March 20, and can be downloaded at www.nationalswine.com, and mailed to National Swine Registry, P.O. Box 2417, West Lafayette, IN 47996-2417. The conference fee is $140, and includes all rooms, meals, activities and a t-shirt. Travel scholarships are available to first-time attendees. For more information, contact Alan Duttlinger at alan@nationalswine.com or 765.463.3594.