Strouse Show Pig sale provides local youth with quality fair pigs
Thirty Holmes County born and bred pigs will be available for purchase for youth looking to raise a pig for the upcoming Holmes County Fair during the Strouse Show Pigs 10th annual pig sale Sunday, April 6.
Most people are familiar with the “Three Little Pigs,” but an upcoming sale will have 30 little pigs, all set to be sold for local junior livestock sales, especially for the Holmes County Fair junior livestock show.
The Strouse Show Pigs 10th annual pig sale will take place Sunday, April 6 at Strouse Farm, 9117 state Route 39, two miles west of Millersburg. The sale will be hosted by auctioneer Drew Turner, who will keep things moving throughout the afternoon.
All the pigs will be January pigs, meaning each should be perfectly ready to show at this year’s fair.
Eric Strouse said he chose to host the event on a Sunday so it wasn’t competing against a lot of other spring athletic events, allowing more kids and their families to attend.
He also said having an auctioneer do the bidding process is quicker and fairer than having a bid board, where issues can arise.
“You have an auctioneer. You’re paying him to say sold, and that’s the final word,” Strouse said.
There will be 30 pigs on sale at the auction, and youth and parents can set up a plan on which pigs they like by viewing the pigs in the barn, where they will all be available for viewing and walking.
Because pigs at the Holmes County Fair continue to bring premium prices, most of them selling for more than $10 per pound, the idea of raising and selling a hog at the fair continues to be a growing passion for many kids.
Strouse said it is amazing to see the way this community supports its 4-H kids, and many people in the county enjoy honoring and supporting kids who invest in Holmes County pigs.
Strouse Farm produced both the Holmes County Fair Holmes County Born and Raised champion and reserve champion at last year’s fair, and Strouse said there is something special about purchasing and raising pigs that are born right here in the county.
“Many of the top pigs at the Holmes County Fair are purchased with the purpose of getting them to the state fair,” Strouse said. “Those pigs are paid for, bred and cared for to win the state fair. One of the reasons I want to promote these Holmes County pigs is to help kids realize that we have some great pigs right here, that if they raise them right, they can compete at the top level.”
Thus, when the county fair finally began recognizing the Holmes County Bred pigs as award-winners, it made purchasing a local pig more enticing.
He said when a youth commits to a Holmes County Bred pig and does it the right way, they can compete, as was the case last year when Zarah Schultz, who produced the Home Grown grand champion pig that was purchased at the Strouse sale, placed fourth overall.
“That pig beat a lot of state fair pigs,” Strouse said. “So it’s possible to compete at the highest level with pigs bought right here in Holmes County. I think both Feikerts and us have a lot of pride in the pigs we sell because we both think it’s important to purchase and raise pigs that are born right here in the county.”
Strouse said his January pigs are all bred within a three-day time period in order to have them maturing at the right time for the fair. He also said he and his family are more than willing to talk to youth about raising pigs the right way and how to best raise them to get them ready to show at the fair. That includes checking up on and weighing each pig in the future.
“I bought a scale and go out around Memorial Day and Fourth of July and weigh them,” Strouse said. “My goal is to have them weigh 200 pounds by the Fourth of July. That keeps them right in the area you want them at so they are between 250 and 280 pounds by the fair.”
He said he also will allow anyone purchasing a pig during sale day to keep their pig at the farm until they can transport it, and he also will give them advice on how to feed and care for them properly.
He said like any fair animal, raising them properly and spending time with the animal is a must because it shows which kids have invested themselves into raising their pigs the right way on fair day.
On sale day each pig is ear-tagged, and there will be pens set up in front of the barn. Each pig will then be run into the pen one by one, allowing potential buyers to get an even better look at how they perform.
“People can walk down an aisle, pick out a pig, walk or run them down the aisle, and get a better feel for them,” Strouse said. “It’s very convenient and moves along quickly.”
All the pigs are currently available to view.
Anyone wishing to view the pigs prior to the sale may set up a time by calling Strouse at 330-763-1410 or Keaton Strouse at 330-473-7373.