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Top 5 reasons you should go to the World Pork Expo (according to my kids) |
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We had a great time at the World Pork Expo in Des Moines, Iowa last week—my mother in law made the trip out with us. We joked that we were on a Clark Griswold style trip across the Midwest because my kids were threatening to tie my mother in law up on the roof of the vehicle because she need to stop every 1-2 hours.
My kids absolutely loved their experience at the World Pork Expo and have come up with a list to share with you.
Top 5 reasons you should go to the World Pork Expo according to my kids:
1). The food! You will find the best pork bbq on the fairgrounds. Cameron hunted out the bbq teams and had the best ribs, pulled pork and sausage straight off the smokers. My wife and I joke that these kind people took pity on him because he broke his arm at school a few days before we left to go out to Iowa. Also, the Louisiana group cooked delicious Cajun meals everyday-we had crawfish etouffee, shrimp gumbo, and jambalaya.
2). Farm Toy Show! If you collect toy farm equipment, this is the place for you. Each year there is a super collection of farm toy vendors who bring out the best, hard to find, and must have toys for the carpet farmer or collector in each of us.
3). The Junior Show and Breed Shows–My kids are grateful to participate in programs like the National Junior Swine Association and Team Purebred. These programs are designed to offer networking among young swine enthusiasts as well as educational and competitive opportunities to promote the swine industry. They met new friends and reconnected with old friends from all across the US who all share an interest in agriculture. We had a great week, Alex and Cameron had Reserve Champion Hampshire Gilt in the Open show and placed 2nd in class in the Junior Show.
4). Trade Show—here you will find things that you never know you needed. My kids came back with their bags filled and their arms so full of stuff that we wondered where we were going to sit in the vehicle on the way home. In all seriousness though, every product associated with swine production (that I could think of) was there—it’s a great way to ask questions about each product in person and network with other producers about their experiences.
5). The Iowa weather. This past week we saw temperatures in the 90’s with humidity in the 90% plus. There was severe weather warnings every day of our trip. You never know what to expect with the weather in Des Moines, one day we were in sweltering heat and we were soaked with sweat and then would be a “super soaker rain” (that’s what my kids call it) then we’d have to put on a sweatshirt because the temperature would drop and cool off, then take it off in a few hours when it got hot and muggy again. On the day we arrived, I thought we might see a tornado, the skies looked ominous. Here is a photo my son took of some weather moving in. On the day we left, we had to drive thru standing water as high as my running boards on our vehicle—the kids thought it was cool and my mother in law not so much!
On the schedule for this week is the Honor Show Chow VIP event. Hope to have some photos to share with you next week!
My tip of the week: We have been reaching temperatures in the 90’s be sure to keep your pigs cool. I tell my kids Cool pigs = Happy Pigs. Our pigs have fans on them inside of an old bank barn during the day so they stay nice and cool. Refrain from exercising your pigs during the heat of the day, we walk pigs in the early morning and after it cools off in the evening. Also, with all of the rain we have had recently, if you keep your pigs outside you will need to worm them. Good Luck!!
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