2024 Mississippi State Fair and 2025 Dixie National Junior Round-Up: Swine Division

Reminders and Important Dates

Reminders

The rules in the current year’s Mississippi State Fair or Dixie National Junior Round-Up Premium book supersede any rules published previously in a Mississippi State Fair or Dixie National Junior Round-Up Premium book or in this publication. [New rules and regulations passed by the Mississippi Livestock Council Show directors will be in brackets throughout this book.]

An official show veterinarian from the Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine will be on site during the junior livestock shows.

General Show and Animal Health Reminders:

• Health certificate from a veterinarian is required to get on fairgrounds
• 60-day health record forms are uploaded in MSU livestock show check-in app used for checking in all livestock

Important Dates

Ownership of animal – August 30, 2024 (Friday)

• Ownership for both Mississippi State Fair/Dixie National
  • Market Steers, Market Lambs, Market Goats, Market Hair Sheep
• Ownership for Mississippi State Fair
  • Beef Breeding Animals, Commercial and Dairy Breeding Females, Commercial Beef Heifers, Market Hogs, Commercial Meat Goat Does, Wether Dams, Commercial and Registered Dairy Goats, Breeding Hair Sheep, Registered Breeding Boer Does

Entries must be submitted to county Extension office by Friday, August 30, 2024 .

Classification/DNA Hair Collection Week, September 9–11, 2024

• Monday, September 9: Hattiesburg – 8 a.m–2 p.m.
• Tuesday, September 10: Raymond – 8 a.m–2 p.m.
• Wednesday, September 11: Greenwood – 8 a.m–11 a.m.
• Wednesday, September 11: Oxford – 2 p.m–6 p.m.

Mississippi State Fair, Jackson – October 2–13, 2024

Ownership of animal – Monday, December 2, 2024

• Ownership for Dixie National Junior Round-Up
  • Beef Breeding Animals, Commercial and Dairy Breeding Females, Market Hogs, Mississippi Bred Barrows, Commercial and Registered Dairy Goats, Commercial Beef Heifers, Wether Dams, Commercial Gilts, Commercial Meat Goat Does, Breeding Hair Sheep, Registered Breeding Boer Does

Entries must be submitted to county Extension office by Monday, December 2, 2024

Classification/DNA Hair Collection Week, December 9–12, 2024

• Monday, December 9: Hattiesburg – 8 a.m–2 p.m.
• Tuesday, December 10: Raymond – 8 a.m–2 p.m.
• Wednesday, December 11: Greenwood – 8 a.m–2 p.m.
• Thursday, December 12: Oxford – 8 a.m–12 p.m.

District Livestock Shows

• NW District Show, Batesville – January 16–18, 2025
• NE District Show, Verona – January 16–18, 2025
• SE District Show, Hattiesburg – January 15–18, 2025
• SW District Show, Jackson – January 14–17/27, 2025
• Delta District Show, Greenwood – January 20–22, 2025

Dixie National Junior Round-Up, January 27–February 6, 2025

Mississippi Bred Barrows, Market Hog, and Commercial Gilt Divisions

Superintendents

Bubba Vandevere, MSU Extension – Yazoo County

Alex Deason, MSU Extension – Sunflower County

Ownership/Entry Dates

• Fair Market Hogs: August 30, 2024
• District and DNJR Market Hogs, Commercial Gilts, and Mississippi Bred Barrows: December 2, 2024

2024 State Fair Show Dates

• Showmanship: Friday, October 11, 8:15 a.m.
• Market Hog: Friday, October 11, following Swine Showmanship

2024 State Fair Deadlines for Entry at Show Using Check-in App

At the time of check-in at the Fair, all jointly owned animals must be changed to a single entry in the app so that the FFA or 4-H youth in that joint ownership will be declared as the individual who will show each animal in that show. The following list summarizes when weights are to be declared for Market Hogs, along with uploading the 60-day 4-H Animal Health Record Form:

• Market Hogs: declare show weight by 4 p.m. on Thursday, October 10
• Swine Showmanship: declare intent to participate in Swine Showmanship by 4 p.m. on Thursday, October 10

2025 Dixie National Junior Round-Up Show Dates

• Swine Showmanship: Friday, January 31, 9 a.m.
• Commercial Gilt Show: Friday, January 31, following Swine Showmanship
• Mississippi Bred Barrows and Market Hogs: Saturday, February 1, 8 a.m.

2025 DNJR Deadlines for Entry at Show Using Check-in App

At the time of check-in at DNJR, all jointly owned animals must be changed to a single entry in the app so that the FFA or 4-H youth in that joint ownership will be declared as the individual who will show each animal in that show. The following list summarizes when weights are to be declared for Commercial Gilts, Mississippi Bred Barrows, and Market Hogs, along with uploading the 60-day 4-H Animal Health Record Form:

• Commercial Gilts: declare show weight by 4 p.m. on Thursday, January 30
• Swine Showmanship: declare intent to participate in Swine Showmanship by 4 p.m. on Thursday, January 30
• Mississippi Bred Barrows and Market Hogs: declare show weight by 9 a.m. on Friday, January 31

Swine Showmanship

• All showmanship rules listed in Extension Publication 3814-1 2024 Mississippi State Fair and 2025 DNJR: General Rules apply for Swine Showmanship in addition to the ones listed below.
• Exhibitors will check in for showmanship at the Fair (Swine Showmanship) and DNJR (Swine Showmanship) on the dates and times listed above.
• Exhibitor in showmanship classes must show their own animal.
  • For Swine Showmanship at the Fair, the exhibitor must have a Market Hog checked in to the Junior Market Hog Show.
  • For Swine Showmanship at DNJR, the exhibitor must have a hog checked in to the Commercial Gilt Show, Market Hog Show, or Mississippi Bred Barrow Show.
• Top 5 Swine Showmanship awards will be given at the Dixie National Junior Round-Up. All Swine Showmanship winners from the 8–18-year-old classes will compete for the overall awards. Sponsors will be listed in those premium books.
• Showmanship Classes:
  • Swine Showmanship at the Fair: Ages 8–9, 10–11, 12–13, 14–15, 16–18
  • Swine Showmanship at DNJR: Ages 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17–18

Rules Applying to Mississippi Bred Barrows, Market Hogs, and Commercial Gilts

General Rules

• Review General Rules and Regulations for all exhibitors and animals listed elsewhere in this publication. These rules and regulations will apply in the Market Hogs, Commercial Gilts, & Mississippi Bred Barrow Shows.
• All swine will be released after showing.
• Swine should not be freshly painted before classification.
• Show management will not be responsible for any pigs that do not qualify for the show. These pigs must be removed from the barns (Swine Arena: barn 6; Swine Barn: barn 7; Sheep Barn: barn 8) before all swine shows.
• Swine exhibitors showing Market Hogs, Commercial Gilts and/or Mississippi Bred barrows are required to have a premise ID number at the time of entry.
• Only authorized/approved ring workers or show personnel are allowed in the holding area (class make-up pen) at the Dixie National Junior Round-Up Swine Show.

Mississippi State Fair and District/Dixie National Junior Round-Up Eligibility

All swine must be nominated and ear tagged. Nomination forms are due in the MSU Extension county office by the dates listed below. Nomination forms must be submitted by the Extension agent or agricultural education teacher verifying all hogs under their supervision.

• Mississippi State Fair deadline: August 30, 2024
• District and Dixie National Junior Round-Up deadline: December 2, 2024

Scales and Weigh-Backs

Certified scales will be available for weighing swine as outlined in the schedule. Exhibitors must declare the show weight of their swine using the online web app check-in process by the given time and day.

Grooming

• Show management strongly discourages clipping of hogs on the fairgrounds.
• Show management discourages the use of oil on pigs for this show.

Classification and Class Criteria

At the Mississippi State Fair, there is only a Market Hog show, and all hogs are shown by weight, not breed, so hogs will not be classified.

At the Dixie National Junior Round-Up, all Market Hogs and Commercial Gilts will be classified.

• Commercial Gilts (except for crosses) will be classified from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Thursday, January 30, 2025.
• Market Hogs (including all crosses who will be classified as a light or dark cross) will be classified from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Thursday, January 30, 2025.
• Mississippi Bred Barrows are not classified.

All breeds of swine showing in the Market Hog and Commercial Gilt shows must be classified according to breed characteristics below except for crossbred Commercial Gilts and Barrows entered in the Mississippi Bred Barrow show. Swine that are not taken to be classified during the designated classification time will show in a crossbred class. If you have a breed like a Berkshire who will show in Other Breeds in the Market Hog show, you must get these swine classified to build numbers for a potential breed show in future years. The decision of the classification judge or committee will be final and classification changes will be posted outside the swine show office. Classification criteria are based on the National Swine Registry guidelines as follows.

Hampshire

• Must be black with a white belt starting on the front leg. The belt must totally encircle the body with at least white hairs touching.
• Must possess Hampshire breed character (ears must be erect and not rounded).
• Must not have any white hair or indications of streaking on the forehead. White pigmentation is allowed on the front of the snout surrounding the nostrils, but the white is not allowed to break the rim of the nose. This includes no white on the tail.
• Must not have any white hair above the hock.
• Must not have any white hair past the navel.
• Must not have any red hair.

Yorkshire

• Must be white and possess Yorkshire breed character (ears must be erect).
• Must not have any colored hair other than white.
• All colored skin pigmentation combined cannot be larger than one U.S. minted half dollar.

Duroc

• Must be red and possess Duroc breed character (ears must be down and medium size).
• Must not have any white hair located on the animal.
• All black skin pigmentation combined cannot be larger than one U.S. minted half dollar.
• Must not have any shading or indication of a belt.

Chester White

• Must possess Chester White breed character.
• Must be solid white; combined skin pigmentation other than white cannot be larger than one U.S. minted half dollar.
• Ears must be down and medium size.

Spotted

• Must be black and white.
• Must possess Spotted breed character.
• Ears must not be erect.
• Any red tinted or sandy brown spots are ineligible.
• No distinct white belt pattern (hair or skin) encircling and extending down and onto each shoulder.

Hereford

• 50 percent white face (starting at the top of the forehead extending down to and including the nose, mouth, eyes, and jawbone line), 50 percent red body, and at least two white feet (white must go all the way around the foot).
• Ears must not be erect.
• There shall be no white over the back beyond the shoulder blade with exception for a splash or drip. No connecting belt allowed anywhere on the body, not including the neck.

Crossbred

• Light cross
  • Any pigs with sandy, rusty, orange, roan, gray, blue, or white pigmentation.
• Dark cross
  • Any pigs with black and/or red pigmentation (i.e., not sandy, rusty, orange, roan, gray, or blue) comprising at least 20 percent of total body area.
  • May be black or red belted, patched, or spotted.
  • Excluded solid white and blue.
• The light and dark cross champion will compete for Champion Crossbred Market Hog.

Berkshire and Other Breeds Division

• Berkshire
  • A black and white animal with erect ears, possessing Berkshire characteristics.
  • Color pattern is black with a possible six white points (face, feet, tail).
  • No spotted or mottling pattern.
  • No white belts from the ear to the tail.
  • Only accepted skin color is black and white; no red or sandy colored skin.
  • Upright ears.
  • Tip of tail must be white (unless docked); nothing past the top to be any color other than black.
  • Three of the four feet must be white.
  • Occasional splash of white may appear on the body.
  • Must NOT have:
    • Solid white or solid black face from the ears forward.
    • Solid black nose (rim of nose).
    • Solid white ear, although white is allowed on the ears.
• Landrace
  • Must be white in color and possess Landrace breed character (ears must be down).
  • Must NOT allow any color hair other than white.
  • Must NOT allow more than three spots of skin pigmentation.
  • Must NOT allow any spot of skin pigmentation larger than one U.S. minted quarter.
  • Must NOT have evidence of an extra dewclaw.
• Poland China
  • Must possess Poland China breed characteristics. 
  • Must have ears down.
  • Must not have evidence of a belt formation of either white or white skin encircling and touching the points of the shoulder extending down on both sides of animal to the depth of the elbow pocket.
  • Cannot have red or sandy hair/and or pigment.
  • Must be black with a possible six white points (face, feet and switch).
  • An occasional splash of white on the body is permissible.
  • A hog may not possess more than one solid black leg and be determined as a Poland China.

Class size in the Market Hog show should not exceed 15 hogs in a class. Weight divisions will be used for some breeds in the Market Hog as needed based on the number of classes within that breed. Divisions should consist of 4–5 classes and there should not be more than four divisions per breed. Division Champions and Reserve Division Champions in the Market Hog show are for recognition only and do not garner a sale slot or extra awards/premiums.

Market Hog Rules and Regulations

Nominations

Exhibitors can nominate the number of swine they desire. At the Fair, the number of swine that one can check in and exhibit is six Market Hogs, not to exceed three entries per class. At the Dixie National Junior Round-Up, the number of pigs that one can check in/weigh-in and exhibit is three (combination of Market Hogs and Mississippi Bred Barrows), provided that one pig of the three is tagged Mississippi Bred; if not, only two pigs can be checked in/weighed-in and exhibited. A hog that shows in the Market Hog show at District must show in the Market Hog show at the Dixie National Junior Round-Up. Animals must show at the Dixie National Junior Round-Up in the same Market Hog breed class as they qualified at the district show unless re-classed by the classifier. Nomination forms are due in the MSU Extension county office by the dates listed below. Nomination forms must be submitted by the Extension agent or agricultural education teacher verifying all Market Hogs are under their supervision.

• Mississippi State Fair deadline: August 30, 2024
• District and DNJR deadline: December 2, 2024

At the Fair and DNJR, exhibitors in the Market Hog show may enter swine showmanship at the time of entry and confirm participation in showmanship using the online check-in app at the show.

Market Hog Breeds

• 2024 Mississippi State Fair: all Market Hogs show solely by weight.
• 2025 Dixie National Junior Round-Up: Berkshire and Other Breeds; Spotted; Chester; Hereford; Duroc; Hampshire; Yorkshire; Crosses (Light division and Dark division).
• A Champion and Reserve Champion will be selected for each breed at the DNJR Market Hog Show, from which the overall Grand and Reserve Grand will be selected. Reserve Champions are allowed to compete once that Breed Champion has been selected in the Top 5 Market Hog Show, if held at the show.

Weight Limits

For the Fair and DNJR, the minimum weight of Market Hogs is 200 pounds with no maximum weight.

• Market hog weights for the Fair and DNJR will follow the dates/times listed in the Mississippi Bred Barrows, Market Hog & Commercial Gilt Division section above.

Mississippi Bred Swine Contest

The Mississippi Pork Producers Association (MPPA) sponsors a Mississippi Bred Swine Contest to encourage youth exhibiting pigs to purchase show pigs from local producers.

• Only swine producers residing in Mississippi can participate in this program and this program is open to all producers in Mississippi. Only the person who produced the pig can order Mississippi Bred tags and nominate those pigs as Mississippi Bred. Each producer is responsible for ordering their tags, tagging the pigs, and certifying the tagged pigs by sending the signed Mississippi Bred nomination form to MPPA. All Mississippi Bred pigs must be tagged with an official MPPA tag before leaving the farm and no later than the show deadline date established by MPPA.
• A Mississippi Bred pig must be conceived, farrowed, and raised in Mississippi in order to be nominated. This means the sow or gilt must be bred in Mississippi, have the pigs in Mississippi, and be raised in Mississippi to be eligible for the Mississippi Bred contest.
• Failure to properly nominate pigs sold as Mississippi Bred, nomination of ineligible pigs, or the misuse of Mississippi Bred tags will subject the swine producer to penalties set forth by MPPA.
• The MPPA and Mississippi Bred swine awards committee reserves the right to interpret, amend, and carry out the rules and regulations governing the Mississippi Bred swine awards sponsored by the Mississippi Pork Producers Association.
• Judging
  • All pigs entered in the Mississippi Bred swine shows will be judged within their respective classes during the regular class judging.
  • Only those pigs that are certified as Mississippi Bred and recognized by MPPA are eligible to compete and receive Mississippi Bred premiums. All Mississippi Bred pigs must have the Mississippi Bred tag in their ear at the time of showing. If the tag has been lost, notify the show management before the pig enters the show.
  • A Mississippi Bred Champion and Reserve Champion will be selected for the barrow division of the Dixie National Junior Round-Up.
  • The Champion and Reserve Champion Mississippi Bred Barrow will be placed in the Sale of Champions as approved by the Sale of Champions sales committee and both are eligible to compete for the Grand/Reserve Grand Champion Market Hog.
  • A Mississippi Bred Champion and Reserve Champion will be selected for each breed division after selection has been made for the regular show breed division champion and reserve. The Mississippi Bred breed division Champion and Reserve Champion will be selected from only the first-place pigs of the respective classes.
  • After the regular show Grand Champion and Reserve Grand Champion have been selected, the Mississippi Bred Grand Champion will be selected from the Mississippi Bred breed division champion animals. The Mississippi Bred Reserve Grand Champion will be selected from the remaining Mississippi Bred breed division champion animals and the Mississippi Bred breed division reserve champion animal from the class the Mississippi Bred Grand Champion was selected.
  • Neither the Champion nor the Reserve Champion Mississippi Bred Barrow is eligible to compete for the Mississippi Bred Grand or Reserve Grand Champion of the Market Hog show.
  • Neither the Grand Champion Mississippi Bred nor the Reserve Grand Champion Mississippi Bred pig from the breed divisions will be eligible for the Dixie National Sale of Champions unless it has qualified for the sale in the regular show.

Mississippi Bred Barrow Show

Nominations

Exhibitors can nominate the number of swine they desire. At the Dixie National Junior Round-Up, the number of pigs that one can check in/weigh-in and exhibit is three (combination of Market Hogs and Mississippi Bred Barrows), provided that one pig of the three is tagged Mississippi Bred; if not, only two pigs can be checked in/weighed-in and exhibited. Nomination forms are due in the MSU Extension county office by the dates listed below. Nomination forms must be submitted by the Extension agent or agricultural education teacher verifying all Mississippi Bred Barrows are under their supervision.

• District and DNJR deadline: December 2, 2024

At DNJR, exhibitors in the Mississippi Bred Barrow show may enter swine showmanship at the time of entry and confirm participation in showmanship using the online check-in app at the show.

All barrows eligible for entry in the Mississippi Bred Barrow show must be Mississippi Bred pigs and tagged with Mississippi Bred tags according to the rules and regulations of the Mississippi Bred contest.

Weight Limits

For DNJR, the minimum weight of Mississippi Bred Barrows is 200 pounds with a maximum weight of 290 pounds. Barrows over 290 pounds will be allowed to show in their respective breed class in DNJR Market Hog Show.

• Mississippi Bred barrow weights for DNJR will follow the dates/times listed in the Mississippi Bred Barrows, Market Hog & Commercial Gilt Division section above.

Barrow Rules

• The Champion Mississippi Bred barrow will be selected from the first-place barrows of each class. The Reserve Champion Mississippi Bred will be selected from the remaining first-place barrows and the second-place Mississippi Bred Barrow from the class the Champion Mississippi Bred Barrow was selected.
• The Champion and Reserve Champion Mississippi Bred Barrow will be the Mississippi Bred pigs placed in the Sale of Champions as approved by the Sale of Champions sales committee and both are eligible to compete for the Grand/Reserve Grand Champion Market Hog.
• Mississippi Bred premiums will be paid on the top five placing barrows in each class, the Overall Champion and Overall Reserve Champion Barrow or as determined by the Mississippi Pork Producers Association. Premiums from the Fair commission will be paid on the barrow division the same as the breed classes.
• Mississippi Bred premiums will still be paid on Mississippi Bred tagged pigs in the breed classes, Breed Champion, Breed Reserve Champion, Overall Champion, and Overall Reserve Champion. Each of these Mississippi Bred pigs will still be eligible for the Sale of Champions but only if they qualify from their placing in the regular show.
• Entries for the Mississippi Bred Barrow show at the Dixie National Junior Round-Up must have qualified at their respective district show.
• The Mississippi Bred premiums are funded with producer checkoff funds. The Mississippi Pork Producers Association reserves the right to cancel the premiums or adjust the amount of premiums pending the availability of checkoff funding.
• Neither the Champion nor the Reserve Champion Mississippi Bred Barrow is eligible to compete for the Mississippi Bred Overall Champion or Overall Reserve Champion of the Market Hog show.

Commercial Gilt Rules and Regulations

Nominations

Exhibitors can nominate the number of swine they desire. Exhibitors are allowed to nominate the number of animals they desire. At the Dixie National Junior Round-Up, the number of Commercial Gilts that one can check in/weigh-in and exhibit is three (provided that one of the three is tagged Mississippi Bred); if not, only two gilts can be checked in/weighed-in and exhibited. A gilt that shows in the Commercial Gilt Show at District must show in the Commercial Gilt show at the Dixie National Junior Round-Up. Nomination forms are due in the MSU Extension county office by the dates listed below. Nomination forms must be submitted by the Extension agent or agricultural education teacher verifying all Commercial Gilts are under their supervision.

• District and DNJR deadline: December 2, 2024

At DNJR, exhibitors in the Commercial Gilt show may enter Swine Showmanship at the time of entry and confirm participation in showmanship using the online check-in app at the show.

Weigh-Back of Commercial Gilts

For DNJR, the minimum weight of Commercial Gilts is [200] pounds with a maximum weight of 340 pounds. Commercial Gilt weights for DNJR will follow the dates/times listed in the Mississippi Bred Barrows, Market Hog & Commercial Gilt Division section above.

Commercial Gilt Divisions

2025 Dixie National Junior Round-Up Divisions include: Crosses and Other Breeds Division; Down Ear Division (Duroc, Spotted, Chester White, Hereford gilts); and Up Ear Division (Hampshire, Yorkshire, Berkshire gilts).

• A Champion and Reserve Champion will be selected for each breed division at the DNJR Commercial Gilt Show, from which the overall Grand and Reserve Grand will be selected. Reserve Champions are allowed to compete once that Breed Division Champion has been selected in the Top 5 Commercial Gilt Show, if held at the show.

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Publication 3814-7 (POD-08-24)

By Dean Jousan, PhD, Extension Professor, Animal and Dairy Sciences, and Cobie Rutherford, former Extension Instructor, Extension Center for 4-H Youth Development.