The Brown County Youth Fair and Stock Show will be held next weekend 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 Friday night sale, then fed out for a month or longer before being taken to the processor.

The Pig Project is the result of an idea by long-time supporters and volunteers Larry and Ruth Schwartz.

“Larry stopped by one day and asked why we couldn’t purchase and process show pigs in much the same way as we do deer through The Deer Project,” said Angelia Bostick, Executive Director of Good Samaritan Ministries. “I told him to come up with a plan. He did and it has been a great success.”

Bostick said she loves ideas that come from people who see a need and a local resource then take initiative to marry the two to meet that need.

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

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 their pigs.

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.

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, please contact Larry Schwartz at 325-647-6545.