Attendees to the Iowa State Fair will be able to witness piglets being born and how the animals are cared for. The Iowa Pork Producers Association (IPPA) will be using this to engage consumers and educate them about how sows and piglets are cared for. These few select pigs will also continue to educate after the fair.
Joyce Hoppes is the Consumer Information Director for the IPPA. She tells us about the farrowing display at the fair. This display will be at the Animal Learning Center.
Hoppes says this gives the IPPA a great opportunity to connect with consumers who otherwise wouldn?t see these animals up close. Hoppes says they answer a wide variety of questions; from simple questions to more in-depth.
These sows and piglets will not be done educating once the fair is over. These 8 moms and their piglets will be donated to seven Iowa FFA chapters, around the state, to help students have a more hands-on approach to learning about the animals and their care.
The IPPA will not only be handling the farrowing display. They also will be serving food at the Pork Tent, sponsoring the entr?e at the Farm to Fair dinner, at being a partner in the State Fair After Dark events.
Audio: Full Interview with Joyce Hoppes of Iowa Pork Producers.
The Iowa State Fair runs August 8th ? 18th in Des Moines.
