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Just Some Thoughts
by Ralph Doak
Every time I sit down to write down some of my thoughts, my mind starts darting in several directions at once. I have a hard time focusing in on one topic, because many are very important.
As breeders, you meet challenges like this everyday. So, I am not the only one who must focus on what priorities take top consideration.
Since I jotted down my thoughts a year ago, a lot has taken place.
We experienced the National Junior Swine Association blooming at the 2002 Summer Spectacular. Who would have thought this organization could grow so fast in such a short time? Congratulations to Jennifer Shike and her great board members who have served since its infancy.
What about the 2002 Summer Type Conference? An all-time record-selling Duroc boar came from a young man who was showing at his first national conference.
The Grand Champion Yorkshire was shown by a NJSA member that only has three sows and a dad that provides her a great deal of support.
The state fairs just keep on growing.
Huge numbers of Yorkshires and Hampshires again landed in Indianapolis for the Indiana State Fair.
The Indiana State Fair Duroc sale showcased the best sale and the best quality of hogs I’d been involved with there.
Last year, the Landrace sale also started to build some steam. I think all of these sales will continue to grow and get better.
The National Barrow Show took on a little different look, and this year will have another jolt, with new facilities built around the Crane Pavilion. I can hardly wait! It should be a really exciting time in Austin, Minn.
The Keystone and Eastern Regional NJSA shows are growing again. A few more of you from the eastern Cornbelt should think about these shows.
Harry Bachman and his crew always make you feel welcome, and good hogs sell good. Don’t even think about taking second-rate hogs to this show.
The North American International Livestock Exposition is one fine stock show, and it’s an excellent market-hog show in the best facility in the world. Make plans to attend, and add this to your list of things to do.
Then, ready or not, here comes the Fall Classic in Duncan, Okla. It’s like no other? – a monster in every way. Nowhere else in the world can you find this many people, this many hogs, this many shows, this many sales or this amount of dollars exchanging hands at one location.
Remember, the first million-dollar hog sale ever held was at the 2001 Fall Classic. Get your entries in early for 2003.
In Arkansas City, Kan., the Winter Type Conference has gone from a show that we talked about cancelling to a show that has nearly outgrown the facilities. The Winter Type Conference is a good, fast-growing hog show that will just keep getting better and better.
The Hampshire Southwest Type Conference, run by the Texas Hampshire Breeders, is a unique event. I can remember when only Larry Bellamy and I went, and we got everything done with ease. Now four of us can hardly stay on top of everything that needs to be handled.
The Duroc , Landrace and Yorkshire Southwest Conference in Lubbock, Texas, is another event that has nearly outgrown a barn. This facility is full to the brim with good hogs and plenty of west-Texas hospitality.
Then the Southwest majors with everything that needs to be done. Along with Dr. T.D. Tanksley and one other, I’ve helped classify the Texas shows for the past several years. All of you who have been our critics, just step right up. I’ll see if I can get you a job doing this for a while.
We’ve just returned from the 2003 World Pork Expo. This event probably gets the most press of any hog event throughout the year. It’s the breeders’ chance to step into the spotlight and showcase their accomplishments to the world.
In mid-March, the pig sales start, and they run solid through the first of May. This year at the sales I attended, 5,408 head were sold for $1,468.785 to average $271.59.
Wow! What a year. The quality of these pigs must be really good. You can’t fool the public with an average pig.
All of these things are positive. The shows were good. The sales were great, and I’ve had the opportunity to work with lots of good folks.
Somewhere though, I must talk about the small percentage that have trouble telling the difference between being competitive and being deceitful. I don’t think there is a thing wrong with giving an animal the very best of care so that it can gain an edge on the competition.
The fellow that tells you that he shows all of his hogs out of a group of 30 or 50 doesn’t win many hog shows.
But lately, it seems that a few people stretch the truth to give themselves the edge.
“Farrowing date” means the day of birth. The “sire” means the father of the litter. And the “dam” means the mother of the litter.
These three things are not up for discussion. If you don’t know one or all the above, then the litter is not eligible for registration.
All pigs should be earnotched the day they are born. This way, if you transfer pigs, there is not a mistake. There IS a right way and a wrong way to do things.
I have sincerely enjoyed the past year of serving you, the breeders of the National Swine Registry.
I hope that next year I will be able to jot down “just some thoughts” about how good the year has been since I last visited with you.
Take good care of yourselves, and I’ll see you at the hog shows or on the tailgate of the pickup.
