Gettysburg FFA members and pig project participants.
Every year, a member of the Gettysburg FFA Chapter in South Dakota is in charge of the Gettysburg FFA Pig Project for their Supervised Agriculture Experience.
Gettysburg FFA President Bobbi Eide has led the project for a couple of years. The project is an event where FFA members teach elementary and middle school-aged students how to raise pigs, typically with the goal of showing and selling them at the Potter County Fair.
Gettysburg FFA member Bobbi Edie blocks the alleyway for pig project participant Thomas Penrod.
The project provides hands-on agricultural experience while teaching valuable lessons in responsibility, animal care, food production, and community engagement. The pigs are raised for several months, and members and students are responsible for feeding, cleaning and overall management, as well as the health of their animals.
In August, they hold a local premium sale, which allows community members to support the students’ activities and helps the program prosper in the future. The project is made possible through the collaboration of local community members, FFA members and the Gettysburg FFA advisor.
Pig project participants Liam Lehman and Louie Fischer answer the judge’s questions during the showmanship round at the Potter County Fair.
The event typically takes place over several months. It often begins in the spring (around May), when the pigs are acquired and continues into the fall (usually September), when the pigs are sold to the butcher.
Some of the most memorable moments from the event have been seeing the excitement and anticipation of the youth showing their pigs at the county fair. Another is feeling the sense of pride that comes from seeing the community rally behind the project, with local buyers and families participating in the auction and supporting the chapter’s initiatives.
Pig project participants learn how to wash their pigs.
Overall, the Gettysburg FFA Pig Project is a multifaceted event that promotes agricultural education, supports local youth and strengthens community connections. It’s a hands-on opportunity that blends education, business and agriculture to benefit both the students involved and the larger community.
Pig project participants gather after cleaning their pigs.
