Area residents are invited to join pork breeders and college students from across the nation for the 63rd annual National Barrow Show and NBS Junior Barrow Classic, Sunday, Sept. 13 through Wednesday, Sept. 16 on the Mower County Fairgrounds. Billed as “The World Series of Swine Shows,” the NBS showcases many of the top breeding boars and foundation females in the country, and all eight major breeds.

The NBS schedule also includes a Community Windsor Chop Dinner, 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept. 13, and collegiate/junior judging contests, Sept. 14. Nearly 500 students will compete in the judging contests, representing colleges, universities, 4-H and FFA clubs from Minnesota, Michigan, North Dakota, South Dakota, Ohio, Indiana, Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Texas, Oklahoma, Wyoming and Colorado.

“We have nearly 1100 pigs entered to date, about 100 more than the past two years,” said local NBS Committee chairman Joel Nelson. “Collegiate judging entries are also way up; we’ll have nearly 300 colleges and 200 4-H/FFA division students competing. This event continues to grow, and that is good news for Austin and the pork industry.”

The four-day schedule begins Sunday, Sept. 13 with the NBS Junior Showmanship Contest and NBS Junior Barrow Classic swine show in Crane Pavilion. Collegiate and 4-H/FFA judging contests follow on Monday along with open market and truckload shows. NBS breeding stock shows are scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 15; the breeding sale will be held on Wednesday, Sept. 16.

The National Barrow Show is organized annually by the National Association of Swine Records, and is assisted locally by the Austin Area National Barrow Show Committee. That group is comprised of representatives from several organizations including the Austin Area Chamber of Commerce, Austin Convention and Visitors Bureau and Mower County Fair Board.

Tickets for the Windsor Chop Dinner are $8 in advance and $9 at the door. Advance tickets are available at the Chamber and Convention and Visitors Bureau. For more information on the show go to www.mowercountyfair.com and click on the National Barrow Show link.