Chattooga County Young Farmer Director Barry Bailey says that the realization of the the Chattooga County Pig Project has been some time in the making, but that the interest was high for the first year of the project. 

It has been quite a few years since Chattooga County 4-H and FFA students have had the opportunity to show hogs, but that changed earlier this year when the Chattooga County Young Farmers, along with the local school ag groups got the pig project underway.  In July of this year, students received their feeder pigs from the University of Georgia Swine Project.  The students have raised these pigs since the summer and will be having a pig show this Saturday at the Chattooga County Agricultural Building.   The show will be followed by an auction which will give the students an opportunity to get some money back that they have invested in their livestock.  

Bailey said that the Chattooga County Pig Project is a little different than just raising show pigs.  The students are raising these pigs as market hogs and the emphasis is more on the agricultural lessons learned than just showmanship.  The students have been responsible for feeding and caring for the hogs and have also been keeping records and learning about financial management.  

Bailey said that local veterinarian Dr. Bridgette Hopkins has done blood tests on the pigs and they are cleared for sale to be slaughtered or to be taken to a farm.  

Saturday morning the pig show will start at 9 AM at the Ag Building and will be followed by the Auction at 10 AM.  A starting price of $1 per pound will apply.  The Chattooga County Young Farmers will then carry the hogs that are purchased to one of three slaughter houses, selected by the buyers and at a later date, the buyers can pick up their pork at the Ag Building.