Greetings on a very fall feeling day, cool and breezy and a haze of combine dust in the air. This edition marks one year since I had to change printers after the press I had been using since 1998 closed its door. I do hope you are enjoying the slightly different look on the core section with full bleeds a option on every page.
With fall in the air it means the weeks ahead are filled with meetings, seminars and trade shows. Many amazing opportunities to gather with fellow producers and industry reps, with chances to both learn something and share in social activities. The complete list of the fall and early in 2025 events are included in Pork Chops, see page 54 for details and contact information.
Online registration is now open for Sask Pork Symposium & Banff Pork Seminar, plus booth bookings are now open for Prairie Livestock Expo and Saskatchewan Livestock Expo.
This edition is once again jam packed including an update on Wild Boar in Alberta, a Saskatchewan rare breed farm, Manitobas’ outlook on trade, Animal Health Canada’s updates from African Swine Fever forum, some insights from Dr John Carr and so much more.
2025 is vastly approaching, for those of you that plan ahead the release dates are on page 53, next year will be the 29th year of publishing for Prairie Hog Country. I very much look forward to keep bringing you the latest hog news and information six times per year. We will continue with six editions per year to keep you, our readers, informed. Should you or any company you represent want more information on or about PHC or how to get your message direct into the producer’s hands including all the Colonies please do let me know.
I had a few comments that the last contest was a bit harder, count the number of times the word Prairie appeared in last edition. Some counted plural versions of the word too, some missed it in the logo. So for this issues contest I included a old favourite for all ages to participate in a word search, located on page 61.
In a recent conversation with a dear colleague in the hog sector he asked me how many pigs I have in my total collection. So my aim is to line them all up and have a contest in next issue to count how many there are. Seems simple enough, but I have a copious amount so will take time to gather and arrange so all can be seen. It was suggested to me to spread them out on the lawn and stand on my roof to take a picture – we’ll see, stay tuned.
Since the last edition was so full I was able to include a few more pictures in the centre from the Pork Showcase at the Calgary Stampede. I had a great time volunteering this year and already look forward to next summer.
Thanksgiving is right around the corner, we are so blessed in this Country, take time to give thanks and spend time with those who mean the most.
As always, I am only a phone call or email away. Prairie Hog Country, Box 5536, Leduc, Alberta
T9E 2A1, 780.986.0962, fax 780.980.9640 or
email: hogcountry@shaw.ca
Talk to you in December. •