32 Limestone County 4-H’ers Receive Pigs for 4-H Pig Squeal Project
Published 2:22 pm Wednesday, January 29, 2025
Katie Hoener, Homeschool student.
Adaline Smith, Elkmont. Elementary School .This year This marks the fourth year that students in the Limestone County Career Tech Advanced Ag Program will raise pigs as part of their class project. Over the next four months, students will care for, feed, and water the pigs. A group of 4-6 students from the program will show their pigs at the 4-H Pig Squeal Show and Auction. Courtesy photos
Ashly Romero, LCCTC Advanced Ag student.
Cole and Leslie Shores(Blue Spring and Clements students) picking up their pigs. Courtesy photo
Corbin Hawkins, Elkmont Elementary School.
Huntley Carter, West Limestone Student.
From left, Karizmah Williams(Athens High & Advanced ag student), Chloe Wilson(Limestone County Extension Coordinator), Lauren Graham(LCCTC Advanced Ag Teacher), and Ashly Romero(West Limestone & Advanced Ag student) at the LCCTC Advanced Ag barn dropping off their pigs.
Jerry Allen Newby, Athens Renaissance School student. Submitted photo
Thirty-two Limestone County 4-H members received their pigs as part of the 4-H Pig Squeal project Jan. 21.
Extension agents and volunteers from across the state gathered at the Cullman stockyards to pick up pigs from Tosh Farms in Henry, TN, for their counties. Each student received two feeder hogs, which they will raise for approximately four months.
This marks the fourth year that students in the Limestone County Career Tech Advanced Ag Program will raise pigs as part of their class project. Over the next four months, students will care for, feed and water the pigs. A group of 4-6 students from the program will show their pigs at the 4-H Pig Squeal Show and Auction.
Throughout the project, students will ensure their hogs receive the proper nutrition to reach “market weight” by May. On May 10, 2025, the students will bring one of their hogs to the Tennessee Valley Research Station and Extension Center for the Limestone County 4-H Pig Squeal Show and Auction. Students will be judged on their showmanship, while the hogs will be evaluated based on market characteristics.
After the show, each hog will be auctioned off, with the proceeds going back to the student. The family will keep one hog at home, which they can either keep or sell.
This project provides invaluable lessons for youth, teaching them where their food comes from, the hard work required to raise animals for meat, responsibility, community involvement, and the importance of partnership.
