AUSTIN – Area residents are invited to join pork breeders and college students from across the nation for the 65th annual National Barrow Show and National Barrow Show Junior Barrow Classic, Sept. 11, through Sept. 14, on the Mower County Fairgrounds. Billed as “The World Series of Swine Shows,” the National Barrow Show showcases many of the top breeding boars and foundation females in the country, and all eight major swine breeds.

The committee invites everyone to come out and join exhibitors for the Community Windsor Pork Chop Dinner, 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept. 11, in the Plager Building. It’s a great way to meet people and support the barrow show. Tickets for the Windsor Chop Dinner are just $8. They may be purchased in advance at the Austin Area Chamber or at the door, the day of the event.

The four-day schedule officially kicks off at 9 a.m. Sept. 11, with the Junior Barrow Classic showmanship event, followed by the junior barrow show at noon in Crane Pavilion.

On Sept 12, the swine judging contest takes center stage 8 a.m. with students competing in the university, junior college and 4-H/FFA divisions. Some attending are from: North and South Dakota, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Texas, Arkansas, Tennessee, Ohio, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Wyoming and California. Later in the day, judging of the open barrows and popular truckload competition will take place in Crane Pavilion.

National Barrow Show breeding stock shows are scheduled 8 a.m. Sept. 13. The breeding stock sales will be at 9 a.m. Sept. 14. The National Barrow Show and sale features some of the finest breeding stock in the country. For the first time, crossbred boars will be shown and sold in addition to the eight major breeds.