Youth Fair means Kick-off for GSM's Pig Project

January 11, 2017 at 8:30 am brownwoodnewsstaff

Written by Misty Bowers – The Brown County Youth Fair and Stock Show will be held this week and that means it’s time for The Pig Project of Good Samaritan Ministries.

In its third year, The Pig Project supports both the local youth and local families at risk of hunger. Show pigs are purchased at the stock show, then fed out for a month or longer before being taken to the processor. The meet is ground and returned to the freezers of GSM to be distributed through the Food Pantry.

“This is my first year as Executive Director of Good Samaritan Ministries, so this will be my first opportunity to see the Pig Project in action,” Leesa Stephens, Executive Director of Good Samaritan Ministries said.

“I’m a long-time supporter of the Brown County Youth Fair, and I love the fact that this program meets needs for those at risk of hunger as well as helping students who need to sell their pigs.”

The Pig Project is the result of an idea by long-time supporters and volunteers Larry and Ruth Schwartz. Schwartz stopped by one day and asked why the ministry couldn’t purchase and process show pigs in much the same way as The Deer Project. He was told to come up with a plan and that’s exactly what he did.

“It helps the kids. It helps families served by Good Samaritan,” said Larry Schwartz. “It’s a win-win deal all the way around.”

Charlie Cabler, Pig Project Committee member, Charles Westley, GSM employee, Larry Schwartz, Pig Project Committee member and founder, and Ernest Espinoza, GSM employee, stand with one load of ground pork from the Pig Project.

Schwartz said they try to purchase every pig that is left over at the sale “after other sponsors, grandparents and parents have a chance to purchase pigs themselves.”

Schwartz said he takes the pigs home and feeds them out for four to six weeks just to make sure any proteins or other injections have time to pass through the pigs’ systems. Once the pigs are ready to be processed Schwartz takes them to Santa Anna Custom Processing who processes the meat at a reduced price for this project. Last year, Schwartz said he was able to purchase 17 pigs at the local show, and he has been told that there are even more pig entries this year.

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Schwartz works closely on the project with Charlie and Kirby Cabler of Cabler Construction who have been a part of the program since its inception.

The purchase of the pigs, feed and processing costs are covered by donations from the community. If anyone would like to make a donation for this project or has any questions about how to donate our sell your animal, please contact Larry Schwartz at 325-647-6545.