Mason FFA Livestock Co-Op  Goal – Provide Mason FFA Members an opportunity to raise livestock for the Ingham County Fair.  Mission Statement - The Mason FFA Livestock Co-Op will provide Mason FFA members with a positive experience in both animal husbandry and entrepreneurship. Co-op members will learn responsibility, teamwork, communication and record keeping skills.

History and Evolution of Co-Op  Our Co-Op opportunity started in 2003 with four members raising pigs at a local farm.  Those small scale arrangements continued until  Projects moved to our barn at that time with the first Sow Co-Op

Financial Agreement  $50 Deposit Required (Due Friday)  Livestock, Feed, Bedding and Medical supply costs fronted by the FFA Chapter.  Electricity, Water and Equipment costs are covered by chapter. Members profiting $ or more will provide the chapter a $25 facility use fee. Members profiting less than $250 will have a facility use fee of 10% of their profit.  Livestock, Feed, Bedding and Medical supply costs will be taken out of fair proceeds before fair checks are sent to members.  In the case of a negative balance members are responsible for reimbursing the chapter for the remaining balance.

Daily Chores  Review Check Sheets  Feed Animals  Water / Check Waters  Clean Pen  Fill out Check Sheet  Exercise Animals

Communication  Written Communication on barn check sheets  Remind 101  Webpage:  Phone calls to individual members  Facebook posts

Working With Your Animal  Livestock shall be worked a minimum of three times per week for twenty minutes.  Daily exercise promotes health, lean muscle development and will prepare animals for the show ring.  Frequent training sessions work better than longer less frequent workouts.

Weigh Dates  All animals need to be weighed and weights recorded on the assigned weigh dates. (each Monday)  Weekly weights are used to monitor growth and health of your livestock.  Growth rate and weights provide information to adjust feed rations.  Members are responsible for keeping individual records.

In-Vessel Composting  Working with MSU to accelerate and improve the recycling of nutrients.  We are planning to load and unload it weekly.  May work into additional income for program.  This program is still currently delayed as we continue to work out an agreement with MSU.

Parent Responsibilities  Hold your child accountable for: completing chores correctly and timely when assigned exercising their livestock soliciting potential fair buyers dressing appropriately for show at the fair completing all responsibilities to prepare for and participate at the fair ○ Decorations ○ Pen Set Up ○ Pen Tear Down ○ Barn Clean Up

Hog Financial Facts  50 lb feeder pig (cost $130) maybe more this year due to PEDv  250 lb market hog  = 200 lb gain  Average feed efficiency 3.5 lbs of feed per pound of gain  = 700 lbs of feed  Feed costs $24 per hundred  = total feed costs $168  Approximate Cost $298 per pig

Hog Financial Examples  Costs Pig $130 Feed $180 Total $310  Income 220 lb pig x 1.25 = $275 ○ Loss $ lb pig x 1.50 = $375 ○ Profit $ lb pig x 2.00 = $540 ○ Profit $ lb pig x 2.50 = $625 ○ Profit $315

Lamb Financial Facts  50 lb feeder lamb (cost $200 - $225)  135 – 140 lb market lamb  Feed costs $110

Lamb Financial Examples  Cost Lamb $225 Feed $100 Total $325  Income 125 lb lamb x 3.00 = $375 ○ Profit $ lb lamb x 2.50 = $350 ○ Profit $ lb lamb x 2.00 = $200 ○ Loss $ lb lamb x 2.25 = $ ○ Profit $21.25

Buyer Letters  Fair book Lists Previous Buyers  Mason Elevator sponsors a program to help members learn to talk with potential buyers and will pay for postage of letters  Include information in your letter about you, your project and the auction

Fair Responsibilities  Decorations – helping prepare and set up  Daily Chores – Chores completed each day by 8:30 am and at 5:00 pm  Showmanship – Participation Required  Barn Duty – Shifts will be divided equally among members  Circle of Life – 2 four hour shifts  Buyer Thank you’s

Potential Parent Committees  Financial – Mr. Barnum  Feed – Mr. Crandall  Chore Checks  Fair Decorations  Fair Supplies  Animal Growth Progress  Barn Pen Project -

PQA plus Training  Pork Quality Assurance Educational program created by the National Pork Producers Current PQA certification required to show swine at the fair. Two or three workshops will be held this spring. (Fairgrounds Community Building) An online option is also being piloted.