UW-River Falls to Host 8th Annual Show Pig Sale

Feb. 15, 2013 – The University of Wisconsin-River Falls will hold its 8th Annual Show Pig Auction on March 30 at the pavilion on the UWRF Mann Valley Farm. Viewing begins at 10 a.m., with the auction starting at noon. The farm is located two miles west of River Falls on County Highway MM and ¼ mile north on Glover Road (129 S. Glover Road). 

Kathryn Williams of Slinger and Emily Warren of Burlington co-manage the swine enterprise on the farm and are in charge of this year's auction.  Williams and Warren have put together an outstanding group of approximately 150 show pigs for the sale. The continual improvement in genetics will make this year's show pigs more competitive and successful this coming show season. Many of the pigs purchased at the 2012 auction proved to be top competitors at last year's fairs.  2012 champions include: 

• Grand Champion Market Hog – Pierce County 
• Reserve Champion Market Barrow – Pierce County 
• Reserve Champion Market Carcass – Pierce County 
• Grand Champion – Buffalo County 
• Grand Champion Barrow – Sibley County, Minn. 
• 3rd Overall Market Gilt – Sibley County, Minn. 
• 1st in Class and Reserve Champion Carcass – Portage   

All of the show pigs are raised at the Mann Valley Farm under the management and care of students.  Top quality boars have been selected for breeding from Shaffer's Goldrush of Albany, Ind. Auction services for the sale will again be provided by Bob Johnson of Milton. 

For nearly 50 years the UWRF Mann Valley Farm has been an integral part of the classroom education at UWRF, providing students with hands-on experiences in many areas of agriculture including the daily care and management of the livestock enterprises, including swine, sheep, beef and dairy.  The Farm is the site of the St. Croix Valley Bull Test Station, it benefits from an agreement with Case IH to use the latest in farm equipment and technology, and it hosts numerous events, clinics, and auctions including the following: 

• UWRF Show Pig Sale – March 30 
• Agricultural Technology Contest – April 6 
• Indianhead Sheep Sale – April 7 
• Indianhead Hereford Sale – April 13 
• Alpha Zeta Farm Day – April 19 
• St. Croix Valley Bull Test Sale – April 20 
• UWRF Colt Sale – May 4 (at the UWRF Campus Farm)
  

For more information, contact Williams or Warren at 715-821-7094.