FAD Communications Toolkit- Swine Show Participants
Whether they’re helping out on the farm, participating in youth programs like FFA, or competing in local swine shows, kids and their families have an important role to play in the biosecurity process. It’s important for today’s youth to understand the significance of a foreign animal disease outbreak, what biosecurity means, and the responsibilities they have to be safe around pigs.
Key Message:
Swine Shows are an excellent opportunity for young people to travel, gain new experiences, and meet new people, but it’s important to remember the responsibilities that come along with this exciting experiences.
With so many pigs leaving and returning to farms during Swine Shows, there exists a huge risk of spreading foreign animal diseases. And if spread, these FADs could negatively impact the entire industry, not just your local Swine Shows. For these reasons, it’s absolutely crucial to make proper biosecurity practices a core part of your Swine Show experience- before, during, and after the show.
introduce kids to biosecurity and Foreign Animal Disease Basics:
Still have some time, maybe even years, before your kid’s first swine show? They might not be ready for all the details of biosecurity, but it’s never too early to start learning the importance of taking basic precaution. Considering sharing this simple one pager and video.
A one page introduction to how diseases can spread to and from animals
A short, fun video from the Upper Midwest Agriculture Safety and Health Center (UMASH) that introduces kids to 6 biosecurity tips for swine shows and other events
Downloadable Guides For kids preparing for youth swine shows:
A one page overview from the National Pork Board on applying biosecurity measures before, during and after a show
A detailed, downloadable, 13 page guide from the National Pork Board and American Association of Swine Veterinarians
For educating kids who prefer learning from other young people:
Many young people are more receptive to instructional content that comes from people who look like them or people they look up to. Share the following three Oklahoma Pork Council videos to educate young pig showers on basic biosecurity best practices.
Before the Show:
During the Show:
After the Show:
For those looking for a deeper understanding for FADs:
Though it’s always important to deliver clear, concise messages on foreign animal disease topics, especially for kids, it’s also valuable to make more detailed information available for those who want or require additional information.
A 16 page summary of Pork Checkoff-funded research on FADs including Foot-and-Mouth Disease, Classical Swine Fever, African Swine Fever, and more.
Dr. Lisa Becton, Director of Swine Health Information and Research for the National Pork Board, gives thorough 30 minute presentation on all things FAD impact and preparedness.