Farrowed & Owned Swine Cohort

The Nebraska 4-H Farrowed & Owned Swine Cohort is an opportunity for youth interested in learning more about the swine industry. The program is designed to cultivate the next generation of leaders in the Nebraska swine industry. The goal is to enhance the educational value of the traditional 4-H swine projects by focusing on swine production, accurate and complete record-keeping, industry knowledge, and engagement by the 4-H member.

Youth participating in the Farrowed & Owned Swine Cohort will:

1. Network with 4-H members across the state who are also participating in the cohort experience.
2. Participate in learning opportunities hosted by Extension Swine Specialist Benny Mote about nutrition, feeding, genetics, and more.
3. Gain knowledge related to their project and the swine industry as a whole.
4. Maintain records related to swine management and basic care.
5. Exhibit their Farrowed and Owned project animals at the Nebraska State Fair with the opportunity for special recognition as a result of participating in the cohort.

Program Components

1. Youth must be 4-H age 10 – 18 as of January 1 of the current year, and enrolled in the 4-H swine project in a Nebraska county.
2. 4-H youth must complete the Youth for the Quality Care of Animals (YQCA) requirements annually and have a current Pork Quality Assurance (PQA) number.
3. 4-H youth must meet all the State Fair livestock identification, nomination, and entry requirements by the deadline and are responsible for the fees associated with the process.
4. 4-H member and/or their immediate family must have farrowed the animals entered in the farrowed and owned cohort.
5. 4-H youth must actively participate in real-time in three of the five virtual educational programs focused on swine nutrition, feeding, and genetics hosted by Nebraska Extension Swine Specialist. Each session will be recorded. If a cohort member misses the live meeting, they are required to watch the recording and answer some questions regarding the session. The recording is available until the day of the following meeting to watch the recording in order to meet the participation requirements.
6. All virtual sessions begin at 7:00 pm CST via zoom. Details are sent after registering.
7. Maintain accurate production records related to raising the animal(s), including farrowing records of the sow. Record books should include information on the farrowed and owned litter pigs from birth until June 15. From June 15 until the Nebraska State Fair, the record book should focus only on the pigs to be exhibited in the Farrowed and Owned program. Complete and submit the record book at the Nebraska State Fair to be used during the interview component of the program.
8. Exhibit farrowed and owned project animal(s) at the Nebraska State Fair. All 4-H swine fairbook rules apply to the farrowed and owned animal(s). Farrowed and Owned swine entries count toward the overall quota of swine allotted per exhibitor.
9. Complete survey at the conclusion of the program.

Awards

1. Farrowed and Owned cohort animals will exhibit in the show within the 4-H breeding swine or 4-H market swine shows. There will not be a separate farrowed and owned show. The highest placing farrowed and owned animals in their respective class will move forward to champion and reserve champion selection.
2. A Grand Champion and Reserve Champion Farrowed and Owned Market Swine and a Grand Champion and Reserve Champion Farrowed and Owned Breeding Gilt will be named.
3. Interview based on 4-H youth’s experience and knowledge gained through the cohort learning opportunities. Intermediate and senior age divisions for the interview portion of the program will be based on entries.