Nation’s top hogs to compete in Austin; 71st National Barrow Show begins Saturday at Mower County Fairgrounds

Published 7:50 am Tuesday, September 5, 2017

About 1,000 animals will take part in  the 71st  annual National Barrow Show Sept. 9-13 in Austin, organizers say.

Many of the nation’s top breeding boars and foundation females, as well as hogs from the eight major purebred breeds, will be entered in the show at the Mower County Fairgrounds.

In addition, the World Series of Swine Shows will attract many of the top college judging teams. About 300 college, 4-H and FFA students from throughout the United States will compete for top honors in the judging contests. Many participants are also expected for the inaugural NBS junior showmanship contest.

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The five-day show begins Saturday, Sept. 9, with the third consecutive NBS Collegiate Meats Judging Contest hosted by Hormel Foods Corporation. At 4 p.m., the Junior Showmanship Contest gets underway.

On Sunday, Sept. 10, events start at 8:30 a.m. at the fairgrounds with the NBS Junior Classic barrow market hog show, followed by the NBS Junior Classic breeding gilt event.

Also on Sunday, the community Windsor pork chop dinner starts at 11:30 a.m. in the Plager Building.

On Monday, Sept. 11, the college judging contest gets underway at 8 a.m. Also on Monday, the individual market hog event, the truckload show and Hog College Home Run Drive are conducted.

The NBS breeding stock shows for the eight purebred breeds begin at 9 a.m., Tuesday, Sept. 12. Breeds represented are Berkshire, Chester White, Duroc, Hampshire, Landrace, Poland China, Spotted and Yorkshire. The sale of the eight purebred breeds and crossbred boars and gilts start at 9 a.m., Wednesday, Sept. 13.

The public is invited to attend any of the National Barrow Show activities.

The National Barrow Show is organized annually by the National Association of Swine Records, and is assisted locally by the Austin Area NBS Committee. The local group is comprised of representatives from several organizations, including the Mower County Fair Board, Austin Area Chamber of Commerce, and Austin Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Show sponsors include Austin Hy-Vee Food Store, the Minnesota and National Pork Board/Pork Check-off, Holiday Inn and Austin Conference Center, Days Inn, Y-Waste Removal, Freeborn-Mower Cooperative Services, Riverland Community College-Ag and Food Sciences, Mower County Fair Board, Austin Chamber of Commerce, and Austin Convention and Visitors Bureau.