Swine

Species-Chair: 
Mary Lynn Robertson * [email protected] * 231-645-5887
Registration
February 2, 2026
Minimum Weight @ Fair
225 lbs.
Birth Date
After January 1, 2026
Maximum Weight @ Fair
315 lbs.
Possession
May 1, 2026
Record Book Due
September 14, 2026
Tagging
Virtual Online Form Due    by May 15, 2026
Thank You Note Due
October 5, 2026

2026 Swine Registration Now Closed

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There are TWO required registrations each year:
One for 4Honline and one for your swine project with the Northwest Michigan 4-H Livestock Council. 
  • Click the Black Buttons above to complete both registrations. 
  • 2025 NWMI 4-H Livestock Council Swine Registration is DUE the First Monday of February each year -                                 Swine Project registration is currently CLOSED.

Newsletters

Social Media

Tagging
2025 Virtual Tagging
Due Thursday May 15, 2025 by 11:59pm.
Link for 2025 Virtual Tagging  - Click below!
*If your breeder does not tag with a USDA 840 tag prior to your project pig leaving their farm, you will need to secure your own premise ID tag from MDARD.  ​
​Read this article for more information. ​

Education
2 Education Credits Due by June 30th, 2025

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​Click the Pig to be taken to a page with Educational Opportunities
 

Policies/Procedures/Forms

2025 Swine Policies & Procedures
File Size: 243 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
2025 Cloverbud Record Book
File Size: 182 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
2025 Swine Ages 8-12 Record Book
File Size: 1809 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
2025 Swine Ages 13-19 Record Book
File Size: 692 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
2025 Swine Health Form
File Size: 132 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
2025 Animal Health Plan Agreement NWMI Fair
File Size: 177 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

FAIR WEEK ​Volunteers Needed!!!
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It's time to sign up to help out in the Swine Barn during Fair Week!!
Parents/Guardians/Adult Mentors of the 4Hers in the swine barn are expected to sign up for 3 hours (2 slots) during the week of fair -
Click the
SignUpGenius 
Button Below and
Secure your
​best spot today!!

Sign Up!

2025 Fair Week Expectations

Fair Week Requirements
  • Weigh-in takes place while unloading at the fair.
    • The Swine Health Record must be filled out, signed, and presented in order to unload at the fair.
    • Clean pig, clean ear tags, and 4Her must be present.
    • If you have two swine registered, the pig that weighs is the pig that stays
  • Youth are responsible for providing enough feed to care for their hog throughout the entire week. No feed, feed bags, or supplies are to be left in the barn (everything must be stored at the campsite).
  • Youth are responsible for feeding, watering, and caring for their animal the entire week.
  • Youth are responsible for keeping their pens clean all week.
    • Sawdust needs to be conserved. Morning cleanings will be a complete change of sawdust and must be completed before 9:00 a.m. Afternoon cleaning will be spot cleans and will be performed before 5:00 p.m. each afternoon. If a complete change of sawdust must be completed after the morning change (water pipe leakage, sick pig, etc.) this must be approved by barn volunteer.
  • Show Requirements:
    • Youth are required to show in the appropriate showmanship and market classes in order to auction their pig
    • The body of your hog may be clipped to ½ inch or longer. DO NOT shave your pig.
  • Barn Duty
    • Barn Duty will be assigned by species chair for 2-3, one-hour sessions each during fair week. Check list will be provided at species meeting to be completed during the one-hour duty. Leader or designated adult must be present to oversee 4-Hers the entire time. Checklist must be turned into barn communication box in the back of the barn after each barn duty and will be signed by leader or designee for each group assigned.
  • Showmanship and Market Set Up and take down
    • After barns close, 4-Hers 15 and older will be expected to help with set up of rings/chutes/holding pens for the swine show the following day. 
    • After show ends, 4-Hers 15 and older will be expected to help with tear down of rings/chutes/holding pens.
    • Sign in and Sign out will be required.
  • Parents
    • Parents of 4-Hers in swine barn will be expected to sign up for three volunteer positions during shows and/or fair week. These positions are the following, but not limited to:
      • Running swine boards for unloading, show days, picture day, and auction, along with trucking morning.
      • Announcing over the PA system in the barn for shows and auction day
      • Releasing pens as numbers are called
      • Arena workers to help guide 4-Hers and swine in and out of the arena and help with boards in arena if needed.
      • Gate attendant for front and back gate during shows and auction
      • Escorting 4-Hers back to pens and securing gates
      • Parent Volunteer Signup will be released via SignUp Genius by the last week of July.
  • Fair End Responsibilities:
    • ​Completely clean and scrape down pens
    • Bars on the pens need to be scrubbed and wiped down
    • After pens completely clean, youth must be checked out by a barn volunteer prior to leaving the barn/grounds.

Swine Resources
"Preparing for the Final Drive" by Hannah Bollinger
File Size: 2759 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Swine Breeders

4-H Swine Breeders Listing:    https://www.mipork.org/show-pigs/
Additional Listing of Swine Breeders:

2025 Swine Shows in Michigan

The Michigan Swine Youth Challenge was developed to recognize those youth that participate in all aspects of swine exhibition and knowledge. In 2023 the program was renamed MI PIGS.
​Please contact [email protected] with questions. 

QUESTIONS??
Email or Text Jen or Jodi with any questions!

​Species-Chair:
Jen Davis
[email protected]
231-649-2443

Assistant Species-Chair:
Jodi Ortega
[email protected]
​231-357-2274