Swine

Each year, over 1,000 swine are shown by their exhibitors at the Wisconsin State Fair.

See swine in the Swine & Goat Barn or in the Compeer Financial Discovery Barnyard.

Read on below to learn more about swine terminology and the type of competitions they are shown in during their stay.

Swine Grand Champion Drive

Swine at the Wisconsin State Fair

Swine Berkshire Breed

Quick Swine Facts

Key Swine Terminology
  • Swine: the scientific name referring to animals in the pig family
  • Boar: a mature male swine
  • Sow: a mature female swine
  • Piglet: a newborn swine
  • Barrow: a young, castrated male swine
  • Gilt: a young female swine
  • Hog: a mature swine (usually weighing more than 120 pounds)
  • Pig: a young swine (usually weighing less than 120 pounds)
  • Sounder: refers to a group of swine
Common Breeds Shown at State Fair
  • Berkshire
  • Chester White
  • Duroc
  • Hampshire
  • Hereford
  • Landrace
  • Poland China
  • Spotted
  • Tamworth
  • Yorkshire
Swine Event Showmanship

Swine Event Descriptions

All swine shows are held in the Swine & Goat Barn Show Ring with the exception of the Grand Champion Market Drive on Aug. 12 held in the Case IH Coliseum. Click through the boxes below to see what happens in each of these judging events.

In order for a swine to be eligible for this class, the exhibitor must have owned the swine’s mother and raised the swine from youth.

The swine are then evaluated on the overall correctness of their body proportions and how well their characteristics match the standard for their breed.

Swine are evaluated on the presence of desired maternal attributes, the overall correctness of their body proportions, and how well their characteristics match the standard for their breed.

Swine are evaluated on their idealness for meat production, the overall correctness of their body proportions, and how well their characteristics match the standard for their breed.

In this event, the exhibitor is evaluated on their knowledge of and their ability to handle and maneuver their animal.

The judge selects an overall champion across all types, breeds or genders of swine.

The judge selects an overall champion within a specific type, breed or gender of swine.