OINK! Exploring Tyler's 4H project!

At The Farm with Tyler

      This week I had the amazing opportunity to meet Tyler Riddoch, an Orlean native, and his 4 portly pork friends.  Tyler was introduced to the 4H program through a friend, who had begun his own experience with 4H the previous year.  Intrigued by the program, Tyler enlisted the help of his family, and began raising pigs in his backyard.  Tyler purchased the two pigs in which he intends to sell for his project from Frying Pan Park Farm, saving the other two pigs for his family's own freezer.  His father, Ian, built a charming shed and fenced pasture for the pigs, making sure they had enough room to roll in the mud.  His mother, Ellen, helps Tyler feed and water the pigs and also makes sure the pigs are brushed and cleaned and always looking pretty.

     With a full grown male pig weighing almost 700lbs, Tyler goes through about 100lbs of grain based food per week for his 4 pigs, 3 of which are females while one is male.  Tyler is raising Hampshire Cross Breed pigs, known for having good flavorful meat.  With snouts that act as shovels, these 4 pigs can turn over a whole field in just a few short hours.  Luckily, their enclosure is large enough for the pigs to have room to roam, but contains them so they can continue to grow nice and fat while also saving the Riddoch's yard from curious pig snouts.

      In addition to their pigs, Tyler's family also raises chickens.  The combination of pig and chicken manure will make their family's garden extra fruitful this year, as well as the garden at the Orlean Market!

     When I asked Tyler about the hardest task when raising pigs, he responded, "making sure the pigs don't get sunburned."  Tyler's pigs enjoy marshmallows and bananas as their favorite treats.  He said that his pigs have been easy to care for and he looks forward to raising 4 more pigs next year as well as goats!

     Tyler's pigs will be going to sale the beginning of May 2016.  The Orlean Market congratulates Tyler on his success with his 4H project, and thanks him for taking our kitchen scraps to feed his pigs and chicks! The food cycle continues!