The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

DAYTON - A porcine virus, never before seen in the U.S., has added to the challenge of raising fair pigs. But Dayton community members have come together to help ease the burden for local 4-H and FFA members.

The Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea virus (PEDv), which affects only swine, was first diagnosed in the U.S. in March 2013. According to npr.org, the virus is responsible for killing more than seven million piglets in the past year and has been found in 30 states. Scientists are still unsure of its origin and how the virus is spread.

In response to the threat, local fairs have been forced to institute strict safeguards to ensure that the disease is not transmitted during showing and selling. In both Dayton and Walla Walla, the traditional piglet "weigh-in" was adapted. Instead of bringing pigs in for weighing, members filled out paperwork and submitted photos of their pigs. Only slaughter-bound pigs are allowed at the fair, and they must go directly to processing following sale.

Traditionally, Dayton 4-H and FFA members have used the fairground scales to track their pigs' weight to ensure they fall within the required 230 - 295 lb. range. With those scales closed, monitoring weight became a guessing game.

Dayton resident Bill Warren's kids have been raising pigs for years, but even he was concerned about guessing at weight. "I realized that if we had a problem, so did everyone else - especially parents who are new to 4-H with no experience in raising pigs," said Warren.

Warren purchased a $730 portable, digital scale in July, with the intent of donating $150 toward the cost. 4-H dad Roger Becker chipped in an additional $150 and the Fair Sale Committee held fundraisers during the fair to cover the rest.

Sale Committee member Heidi James solicited donations from local businesses to create three gift baskets, two of which were auctioned during the livestock sale, raising $835. Wally Robertson purchased the first basket for $360, and then donated it back to be re-sold to Les Schwab for $200. Jay & Jay Livestock purchased the second basket for $275. A third basket was placed in the fair pavilion where visitors could purchase a ticket to guess the weight of two animals, with the closest guess winning. That basket went to Fred Mensik whose guess came within 14 pounds of the combined 4813 pound weight.

Warren is extremely pleased with the scale, which also includes a cage for the pigs. "It's clean, portable and easy to use. Every club should have one," said Bill. "The kids can learn so much more about their animals. By weighing regularly they can see how the weather - hot as opposed to very hot - affects the pigs, they can compare self-feeding vs. pan feeding and they can determine how much of a difference food additives make. It takes out the guess work and provides them with certainty. They have the control to get their pigs to where they look the very best."

James is pleased to have covered the cost of the scale and said the Sale Committee will vote on how to use the extra funds. "As a resident of Dayton and head of the fundraiser I have been completely overwhelmed and in awe of our community's generosity and support," she said.