FFA & 4-H project animals at the fairgounds

Over the weekend, a concerned citizen asked The Times for help locating owners of a distressed hog at the fairgrounds. The resident was out walking their dog in the early morning, could not readily see the emergency numbers at the barns. After reaching out to various people, the responsible parties for that animal were located and took appropriate action that morning.

There are two hog barns located at the Waitsburg Fairgrounds. The Waitsburg FFA uses the yellow barn at the northwest corner of the property, below the city cemetery. The 4-H members use a former horse barn across the access road just east of the FFA building. Emergency contact information is posted at both barns housing animals. At the yellow barn, contact information can be found in the small storage area at the south end of the pens. In the larger barn, the information is posted just inside the gate on the north end.

The city allows FFA and 4-H clubs to house project animals at the fairgrounds for kids who live within city limits and cannot keep thier animals at home. A perk of living in Waitsburg. While each kid is responsible for the care and wellbeing of their animal, it is not uncommon for other 4-H or FFA members to check on every animal while at the barns.

As both a former member of FFA and someone raised in a rural setting, a common misconception that I have observed is that pigs are hardy animals who will eat anything. The truth is pigs can be hard keepers. They are prone to various infections, including fine-dust pneumonia, caused by inhaling dust particles while rooting (pigs use their snout to dig into the dirt for many reasons). They are very sensitive to heat, making it particularly difficult to raise market animals in this area.

Heat can be especially deadly for pigs because, like dogs, pigs do not sweat. According to the University of Minnesota Extension, heat stress costs the American swine industry roughly $900 million each year. An estimated $450 million in losses comes during the grow-finish stage, where many 4-H and FFA hogs currently are. Loss of animals occurs, even at state-of-the-art facilities.

Hogs thrive in 70-degree weather (don't we all?) Their health can quickly decline if they are exposed to temperatures above 80 degrees for more than just a couple of days. The best way to protect hogs is to ensure they have plenty of cool water to drink. Mud is another excellent way to provide cooling relief and has multiple benefits for pigs. A nice mud bath can offer more relief than a dip in cool water. The animals stay cooler for more extended periods as the mud on their skin dries. Once dried, it becomes a muddy sunblock that can protect the animals from sunburn. Many researchers believe that wild hogs use mud to remove external parasites, such as ticks.

Other cooling mechanisms include misters and sprinklers, which can be used in specific temperatures and humidity levels. Adequate water supply is the most critical tool when combating heat exhaustion.

Heat stress can take a terrible toll on older finished hogs (defined as 110 pounds or greater). I experienced this first hand while I was in high school. A trusted family friend checked on our family's animals while we were on a family camping trip in the Blues. A heatwave swept through the area, and between morning and afternoon checks, my market pigs had knocked the nipple off their pen water tank, emptied it, and fell very ill, very quickly. Two of the hogs passed while we were narrowly able to save the third. It was a horrifying experience and a risk that comes with raising livestock. Even though I lived out of city limits with space at home for my animals, critical events can happen in a short time wherever animals are kept.

One advantage of 4-H and FFA hogs being housed in a community setting, like at the fairgrounds, is that they may be checked on multiple times a day by numerous sets of eyes. However, in general, raising hogs away from home can be difficult as emergency situations may not be noticed as quickly. Pen mates may also become aggressive towards sick or otherwise weaker animals if they are left together unsupervised.

After a visit to the hog pens, the hogs were well watered, fed and a misting system has been put into use. There was plenty of mud which is essential as the hogs will cover themselves in what becomes nature's sunblock.

Most of the animals raised by Waitsburg FFA and 4-H kids will be sold at the Walla Walla Fair and Frontier Days over Labor Day Weekend or at the Columbia County Fair, the weekend after Labor Day. Many of these young showmen lost the chance to sell their animals last year due to the pandemic-related shutdown and need all the support we can give this year! Check with local fairs to see how you can register to bid at the upcoming livestock sales.

Extra eyes are always appreciated out at the pens. If you hear or observe something that seems out of place, be sure to call the listed emergency numbers at the barns. Swine projects at the barns are supervised by Waitsburg FFA Advisor Nicole Abel, and 4-H leader Lisa Morrow.