News Releases

Ames, Iowa -- For the second year, Iowa State University has made pigs available for young people involved in 4-H and FFA projects in southwest Iowa.

More than 200 feeder pigs recently were purchased by 39 4-H and FFA members from 10 counties at ISU's Lauren Christian Swine Research and Demonstration Farm near Atlantic. The pigs are part of a long-term sow study on the farm. Last year, young people from five counties bought 150 pigs.

"In today's rapidly changing swine industry, access to small numbers of high-quality feeder pigs can be difficult," said Mark Honeyman, coordinator of ISU's Research and Demonstration Farms and associate professor of animal science. "The youth buy the pigs from the farm at market price. For most of them, this is the first time they've raised pigs, so our extension specialists provide them with education on caring for the animals. Many of the pigs will be shown at county fairs."

The Christian Swine Farm is owned by the Wallace Foundation for Rural Research and Development and operated by ISU with input from the Iowa Pork Industry Center.