Fair season is winding down here in Florida as the mercury rises. The only complaint we Floridians should have is the lack of rain. We would like to thank all the 4H students that purchased their fair pigs from us this year. We hope you had fun with your project and that you learned valuable skills by participating.
Over the next few months the University of Florida will be conducting a Hog and Ham program. This program is designed to show 4H and FFA students the ins and outs of raising a pig and the complete butchering process, including slaughter, wholesale and retail cuts, and curing the hams and bacon. UF Hog and Ham is a great program for those students who have the fortitude to raise and process their own pig. For reason I hope are obvious, the Hog and Ham program is not for every student and UF only has room for 30 students statewide. As of this post, it is too late to register this year, but bookmark the UF site if you think you’d like to participate in coming years.
We have lots of Berkshire piglets available and several Berkshire, Duroc cross piglets. These pigs were all farrowed in January and February and will be perfect for the Hog and Ham program. If your are planning on keeping your pig for your own freezer, then you want a Berkshire pig. You can pick them up throughout April. The weigh-in for the program begins May 6. Give us a call and we’ll be glad to help you pick out a great Berkshire Pig.
