More than a few Stetsons have snapped around as the Pig Rig trailer passes ranchers’ trucks on Alberta highways.
Designed by Alberta Pork Producers as part of its ambassador program, the live pig show has visited fairs across the province, giving city people a close look at a nursing sow and its piglets.
It’s estimated that the trailer reached two million people last year. It stopped at Aggie Days in Calgary where more than 15,000 children and their teachers stopped by to pet a squiggly piglet and talk with volunteer producers. It attended the Calgary Stampede, KIondike Days in Edmonton and most recently Saskatoon, said Bill Mullen of the pork producers group.
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“Every time we go out, we get better at it,” added Roy Kruse, who also works for the group.
Another outreach program is a community cruiser that is invited to barbecues at hog barn openings and charity events to talk up the virtues of Alberta pork.
Agricultural education is also offered at the pig science centre that is attached to the University of Alberta swine research centre.
Tours and viewing areas showing visitors live pigs in an actual hog barn have welcomed more than 1,200 visitors since it opened last year. Guests have included 40 elementary students, boy scouts, girl guides, researchers and the general public.
The centre is promoted through the classroom agriculture program and teachers’ conventions by explaining how the hands-on activity stations fit the elementary school curriculum for science, social studies and health.
Co-ordinator Jodi Hesse said the centre fits well with Alberta Education’s increased emphasis on agriculture in its revised social studies program. Teachers receive a resource guide with handouts so that students can continue learning about pigs after they return to the classroom.
A further aspect of the ambassador program is an advertising campaign that uses producers to speak directly to the public about environmental protection, factory farming, food safety and animal care.
