🐖 Swine Competitions at the 2026 National Peanut Festival
📍 Alabama AG Credit Ag Complex | Dothan, Alabama
Get ready for two exciting days of swine competition at the 2026 National Peanut Festival! From market and prospect hogs to registered breeding gilts and showmanship, these events celebrate youth involvement, responsible animal care, and agricultural excellence.
📅 2026 Swine Show Schedule
Tuesday, November 10
- 8:00 a.m. – Barn opens and receiving begins
- 10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m. – Market Hog weigh-in
- 2:00 p.m. – Arrival and weigh-in deadline
- 4:00 p.m. – Market Hog Showmanship
- Prospect Hog Show immediately following showmanship
- 3:30–6:00 p.m. – Junior Breeding Hog check-in
Wednesday, November 11
- 10:00 a.m. – Junior Breeding Hog Show
- 6:00 p.m. – Market Barrow Show
- Market Gilt Show immediately following the Barrow Show
🏆 Market & Prospect Hog Highlights
- Market Hog weight: 200–290 pounds
- Prospect Hog weight: 50–199 pounds
- Barrows and gilts will show separately in the Market Division when entry numbers allow.
- Barrows and gilts will show together in the Prospect Division.
- Prospect entries are limited to five animals per exhibitor.
- Exhibitors must be between ages 5 and 20 as of the show date.
- Exhibitors must show a pig in a regular class to participate in showmanship.
- Animals must be owned by the exhibitor by October 1, 2026.
Market hogs weighing more than 290 pounds will be placed in a collective weight class and will not compete for champion.
Market & Prospect Awards
- Grand Champion: $175
- Reserve Champion: $125
- Weight-class premiums are awarded through 10th place.
- Showmanship premiums are awarded through fifth place, with first-place winners receiving $50.
🐷 Junior Breeding Hog Show
The Junior Breeding Hog Show is open to exhibitors from preschool through 12th grade. Each exhibitor must own and be able to show the animal without assistance.
Featured divisions include:
- Duroc
- Hampshire
- Berkshire
- Yorkshire
- Hereford
- Spot
- Landrace
- Chester
- Commercial Gilts
- All Other Breeds
A breed must have at least four animals representing two different exhibitors to show as a separate division. Breeds that do not meet the minimum may be combined into an All Other Breeds division.
Commercial gilts must weigh between 100 and 380 pounds. Hogs entered in a purebred division are not eligible for the Commercial Gilt Show. There will be no boar show.
Junior Breeding Hog Awards
- Class premiums are awarded through fifth place.
- Grand Champion Gilt: $60 and a rosette
- Reserve Champion Gilt: $40 and a rosette
The annual Dianne Brannon Showmanship Competition will also be held during the Junior Breeding Hog Show. This special competition is open to participants from preschool through adulthood and recognizes the exhibitor’s preparation, effort, and showmanship skills.
📝 Registration, Admission & Parking
- Registration deadline: Sunday, October 18, 2026
- Entry fee: $10 per animal
- Pen fee: $6 per pen
- Tack pens: Not available
- One-day admission: $9
- Four-day admission pass: $25
- Agricultural parking pass: $27 for one vehicle and trailer
Registered exhibitors receive a complimentary admission armband. All other attendees must purchase admission.
Registration and payment must be completed online. Late entries will not be accepted.
Register Online
📋 Health and Check-In Requirements
- All pigs must remain on their trailers until inspected by the Swine Committee.
- A current Certificate of Veterinary Inspection is required.
- Swine entering Alabama must meet the veterinary certification requirements outlined in the official rules, including applicable PEDv statements and identification requirements.
- Junior Breeding Hog entries are subject to additional health, Brucellosis, and Pseudorabies requirements.
- Registration papers are required for Junior Breeding Hog entries, except commercial gilts.
- All breeding gilts must be ear-notched and have a readable numbered ear tag.
- Health and registration documents must be presented at check-in.
Exhibitors should carefully review the complete rules and consult their veterinarian before traveling to the festival.
🚜 Important Reminders
- Vehicles and trailers must be moved immediately to the designated parking area after unloading.
- Improperly parked and unattended vehicles or trailers may be towed.
- No tack pens are available.
- Exhibitors must furnish their animals’ feed and care.
- No water hoses are permitted inside the swine barns.
- Aisles must be kept clean.
- Animals may not be carried, restrained, harassed, or handled in a way that causes undue stress.
- Dogs are not permitted in the Junior Breeding Hog barn.
- Overnight sleeping or staying in the barns is strictly prohibited.
- All animals are exhibited at the owner’s risk.
📞 Contact Information
Market & Prospect Hog Shows
Thomas Andress, Superintendent
(334) 790-0858
Junior Breeding Hog Show
Lily Jacobs, Department Chairman
(334) 589-9952
ljacobs@dalecountyboe.org
Whether you are raising a future champion, competing in showmanship, or cheering from the stands, the National Peanut Festival Swine Competitions offer an exciting celebration of youth, livestock, and the agricultural traditions that make the Wiregrass special.