Swine

4-H & FFA Youth will be able to access this page for items related to the Swine Project.  There is information regarding Self Identification Photo Kits for Green County Fair Swine, YQCA Training, Livestock Identification, and many great resources.  If you have any questions, contact the Extension Green County office at 608-328-9440.

2024 Rules —

If you exhibit pigs in another state and the pigs return to Wisconsin after the show, you must notify the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) of the movement before returning to Wisconsin and before exhibiting the same pigs at the Green County Fair. The WI DATCP may issue you an import permit, and upon re-entry into Wisconsin the pigs, herd of origin, or both will be quarantined until a herd plan is developed and  See the additional details and rules from DATCP about this on the Wisconsin PRRS/SECD Rules Final and Show Pig Frequently Asked Questions  handout.

Exhibitors who sell animals in any other Fair Meat Animal Auctions are not eligible to sell at the Green County Fair Meat Animal Auctions that same year. The only exception to this rule would be if their animals are sold through the Governors Auction at the WI State Fair. Youth may also participate in other Youth Fair Auctions where their animals are not sold, without losing their eligibility to participate in the Green County Fair Meat Animal Auction.

2024 Green County Fair Swine Photo ID Kits Available March 25th!

To obtain your Swine Identification Kits, you will need to pick up information from the Extension Green County office.  There will be no cost this year for the kits and the procedures are the same as last year. All kits include your Photo ID information, RFID ear tags, and instructions for the proper procedures to use.  For more details, see the attached Requirements to Exhibit and Sell Pigs 2024 (coming soon) or contact Jackie McCarville, Extension Green County Agriculture Educator at 608-328-9440.

Don’t forget to also review the Livestock Auction Rules and Entry Information (coming soon) and review the SWINE Fairbook information on the Green County Fair websitePlease note, the Green County Fair Animal Show information is not final yet–we are all working to complete some details yet. Please fill out the 2024 Auction Entry Form. (coming soon)

2024 Green County Fair – Swine Show Updates

  • Each exhibitor will be able to bring a maximum of 3 pigs for the live market show.  In 2024, exhibitors will be limited to bring a maximum of THREE total pigs, and can be all market gilts, all market barrows, or a combination of both. Market Barrows and Gilts must weigh at least 225 pounds by the fair to show and at least 235 to sell in the Green County fair livestock auction.
  • Again this year, the maximum weight for pigs sold in the auction will be up to 290 pounds. Pigs can be sold in the auction that are heavier than 290, but exhibitors will only be paid up to 290 pounds.
  • The 2024 Green County show will continue to be a terminal show with all pigs going directly to a terminal market after the fair to eliminate the possible spread of any diseases.
  • Barrow Carcass Class will be held this year. The final placing for overall Carcass Champion and Reserve Champion Barrows will be based on 70% scanned data and 30% live placing. The Overall Champion and Reserve Champion Carcass Barrows will be sold in the auction. Only barrows can be entered in the carcass contest.
  • Again In 2024: All Market Gilts will be required to be pre-identified just like barrows and Gilts will be allowed to sell in the Meat Animal Auction.
  • For Supreme & Reserve Supreme Champion: The Champion Market Barrow, Champion Market Gilt, Champion Home Born & Raised, and Champion Purebred will show against each other to determine the Supreme and Reserve Supreme Champion Market Hog. The Supreme, Reserve Supreme Champion, Champion Carcass and Reserve Champion Carcass Hogs will be the four pigs that will be sold as champions in the auction.
  • SWINE PHOTO IDENTIFICATION  – NEW RFID Tag SYSTEM!
    All Green County Fair swine exhibitors will be required to self-identify their pigs using the Swine Photo Identification procedures.  Exhibitors will be required to tag their own pigs, using the RFID tags provided in your Swine Kit. You must take one front head shot photo clearly showing the ear tag in the pigs ear and fill out the Swine Photo ID Form for each pig. There is no cost for the kits this year and exhibitors will need to pick up the paperwork needed for each animal.  Swine Photo Identification kits will only be available from March 25th – April 12th, 2024.
  • Exhibitors will be required to tag their pigs using the RFID tags provided. If you have further questions, please contact Loran Klitzman at 608-751-9858.  Please keep track of your RFID ear tag numbers because you will need to enter them on your Online Fair Entries.  
  • Swine Photo Identification forms need to be returned to the Extension Green County Office by April 12th to exhibit the pigs at the 2024 fair.  Forms can be dropped off at the Extension Green County office.  It is your responsibility to verify the forms have been received by the Extension Green County office. Swine Photo Identification forms will be verified for the champion pigs along with several pigs at random at the fair this summer.  The Swine Photo Identification procedure ensures integrity and fairness for all swine exhibitors in the absence of having a weigh-in.
  • As a reminder: Swine Identification Forms must be returned to the Extension Green County Office by April 12th.  
  • Swine exhibitors will also be required to complete swine health verification forms, known as the Swine Mandatory form for Tyson that include any medical treatments that were administered to the project animal.  New this year, Swine cannot be fed any feed that contains Ractopamine (commonly known as Paylean). Print the Ractopamine Fact Sheet for Exhibitors 2020 flyer and the Show Pig Nutrition 2020 flyer for your records. You can also visit the Wisconsin Youth Livestock Program webpage for more information.
  • Tyson forms must be turned in to the Extension Green County office by June 23rd, 2023.  For more information about changes to the 2023 Green County Fair Swine Show and registration procedure contact Extension Green County at 608-328-9440. (2024 dates coming soon)

NEW Rules 2023- Home Born & Raised and Purebred Classes

Classes have changed this year for the Home Born & Raised and the Purebred classes this year. These classes coordinated by the Green County Pork Producers will have premiums sponsored by Klitzman Seed, LLC.  New this year, swine entered in the Purebred or Home Born & Raised classes are auction eligible (provided all auction rules are met) and Swine entered in those classes cannot be shown in the regular market classes. Champions from these two classes will compete against the champion market barrow and champion gilt to determine the overall Swine Champion.

  • Home Born and Raised– Junior exhibitors must be determined as the owner of the sow at the time of service.  The breeder (junior exhibitor) must be the owner.  Pre-Entry is necessary.  Pigs will need to be identified as bred and owned on swine identification forms and also entered on the fair entry program.  Bred and owned status will be verified by superintendents at check-in.  Home Born and Raised do not have to be pure-bred and can be crossbred.
  • Purebred class– Junior exhibitors must present purebred registration papers at the time of check-in on Monday.  Animals must be in the name of the exhibitor, or in the name of the parent/guardian and the exhibitor, or in the name of the family by May 15th of the exhibit year.

Green County Opportunities

  • May 24th, 2023  ~  Wisconsin State Fair Market Animal Identification Sampling
    Exhibitors wishing to exhibit junior market barrows at the 2023 Wisconsin State Fair will need to self-identify their animals with an official RFID identification tag and submit a DNA hair sample must be postmarked by May 24th, 2023.   Animal identification request forms are available at www.wistatefair.com .
  • April 12, 2024 ~ Green County Fair Swine Identification Forms Due to Extension Green County.  All Swine ID Forms are due to the Extension Green County Office in order to participate in this year’s Green County Fair.
  • May 20, 2024 ~ Auction Entry Forms Due to Extension Green County by 4:30pm.

Youth for the Quality Care of Animals (YQCA) Certification

In Wisconsin, Youth for the Quality Care of Animals (YQCA) Certification is required for a youth education certification program on the issues of animal welfare, food safety and character education.

When is the YQCA Certification Required?

  • Green County Fair Animal Exhibitors (Dairy, Beef, Swine, Sheep, Goats, Poultry & Rabbits) – submit the certification number as part of the Green County Fair entry process.
  • WI State Fair Junior Animal Exhibitors (Dairy, Beef, Swine, Sheep, Goats, Poultry & Rabbits) – please see the Wisconsin State Fair website for rules on this.

For more information on YQCA, please visit our YQCA page.

Livestock Identification

The Wisconsin Livestock Identification Consortium (WLIC) is registering premises as the authorized agent for the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, the Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP).  The Wisconsin Livestock Premises Registration Act required anyone who keeps, houses, or co-mingles livestock to register their premises.  Read more about the identification process or register online at the Wisconsin Livestock Identification Consortium

Swine Resources

On Farm Defense Fact Sheet Livestock

Green County Pork Producers

This organization supports and sponsors youth in various pork areas through trophy and award sponsorships as well as scholarships. Contact Brad Grossen, President, at 608-214-4816 for more information.

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