Junior Barrow Show a feature of this year's Pork Congress

Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Organizers are hoping that improvements made to this year's show and general optimism in the industry will give attendance a boost

by SUSAN MANN

The Junior Barrow Show is returning this year to the Ontario Pork Congress, being held June 19 and 20 at the Rotary Complex in Stratford.

In the past, the show was always held two weeks ahead of the congress due to biosecurity concerns, says pork congress president Adam Rae. This time, the show is being held on the second day of the congress, Canada's largest pork-specific trade show, so anyone concerned about biosecurity can come on the first day, June 19.

Rae says he hasn't seen final numbers for the competitors this year, but in previous shows there were approximately 70 to 72 kids signed up. Each competitor brings two pigs, so there will be about 140 pigs at the show. For biosecurity reasons, the pigs will be housed in a tented facility across the parking lot from the main event.

Previously, having the barrow show weeks before the actual pork congress resulted in a disconnection between the congress and youth plus the congress and pigs, it says in the press release announcing the return of live pigs to the congress. Even though it was necessary to have the show before the congress due to disease concerns, it meant many of the youth weren't coming to the congress.

Rae says the idea is to get the youth and also people who only attended the barrow show coming to the actual congress. "It's part of our mandate to get the kids and pigs back to the show as they're our future and our livelihood," the press release says.

Last year, the beer tent returned with great success to the congress. "I think in past years we've underestimated the networking and social aspects of the show," Rae says. "This year, we're really trying to take that to the next level" with an outdoor courtyard featuring possibly a rib-fest-style caterer. It will have an outdoor summer barbecue feel to it to go along with the beer tent. There will also be a small band playing in the background to enhance the networking opportunities and the social aspects of the congress.

Each year, about 2,000 producers and industry professionals attend the congress to learn more about profitability, animal health and current issues, and see the newest products, services and technologies.

Rae says that this year it's hoped attendance will be up a bit, ideally up to 2,500 people, mainly because of the improvements being made and because there's a lot more excitement in the industry because of better pig prices. Producers have had a much better year this year than in the previous four years.

Rae says his main goal for this congress is to get more people attending. "Our goal is always to get as many producers there as we can."

About 125 commercial exhibitors will be at the trade show. "I'm pretty sure we're very close to being sold out right now," he says, noting that the trade show is the mainstay of the congress. BP