“We are not raising livestock, we are raising kids to be great adults, we just use livestock to do it,” is the unwritten motto that echoes through show barns all across Kentucky based on a quote from Mr. Warren Beeler, Kentucky’s Mr. Agriculture. This is also very true for the Logan County Youth Terminal Hog Show and Sale hosted by the Logan County Hog Show Committee, advised by Logan County Agriculture and Natural Resources’ Agent, Leann Martin. The committee strives to create opportunities for educational growth as well as character growth throughout the hog project including livestock education hours, industry tours, leadership development, and civic engagement.

The hog show and sale project is a 6 month program that encourages personal growth of responsibility, commitment, record keeping, animal science, marketing and leadership while teaching the full cycle of livestock production. From understanding the responsibility of caring for and managing animals, to animal nutrition and showmanship, to carcass quality, the exhibitors and their families invest countless hours of hard work in order to be successful.

This was a record breaking year for the 8^th Annual Logan County Youth Terminal Hog Show and Sale with 42 youth exhibitors, showing 42 hogs, at an average of 267 pounds. Following the show, all the hogs are then sold through an auction to an audience filled with community members and business leaders with the average sell price of $9.75 per pound going directly to the kids, for a total contribution of $120,434.50 from 121 sponsors. The hogs are then transported to our partnering processor for processing and distribution to the pork buyers.

It is through the community sponsors and pork buyers that the impacts of the show and sale continue to go beyond the financial aspects of the ring, reaching deep into the community. 10 exhibitors from four different families, were given the great opportunity to see exactly how their hog project will now go to feed over 75 families through the holiday season as a result of a local buyer donating 505 pounds of sausage to one of the local food banks. The exhibitors were able to meet the volunteers that run the food bank and learn more about the services they provide while working as a team to fill two freezers with protein that they would normally had to have gone without. One of the younger exhibitors lifted the hearts of those volunteers saying, “I was sad to hear about the people who had no food but I am happy my pig is going to feed people.”

The impacts of the Logan County Youth Hog Show and Sale are seen by community members. “[A]s a community member, the biggest impact I see from youth participating in livestock shows is social interaction. Seeing our youth communicate with judges, volunteers, and fellow participants is very encouraging. These students are developing skills that will last a lifetime. These are skills that in the last few years haven't been prioritized in society as a whole. When our youth have positive (in person) social interactions it leads to stronger relationships, networking opportunities, and life-long friendships.” The positive impacts this program has on the exhibitors, their families, and the community is very encouraging and contagious.