Hardin County Pork Banquet Scheduled

Hardin County – The Hardin County Pork Producers will hold their annual Pork Banquet on Saturday, March 19 at Mid-Ohio Energy Cooperative in Kenton, starting at 6:30 pm.

The evening will include naming of the Hardin County Pork Industry Queen and Pork Producers Scholarship Recipients, as well as pork dishes and door prizes. Ticket prices are $10, and $5 for 2021 Hardin County Junior Fair Swine Exhibitors, as well as fair workers from the Pork Producers Building, and children under the age of 12.

The banquet is open to all interested persons but advance tickets are required. Tickets can be purchased through March 11 from the following county Pork Producers Directors: Grant Mizek, Tyler Skidmore, Steve Searson, Doug & Christine Heilman, Tim Holbrook, Mark Watkins, Matthew Holbrook, LeVern & Nancy Weaver, Nathan Weaver, Rusty Bingham, Wes VanScoy, Joe Ramge, Trent Watkins, and Jody Dye. Tickets can also be reserved from the Extension office by calling 419-674-2297.

The Hardin County Pork Producers are offering six $500 scholarships to qualified students. Scholarships will be awarded to one student from each of the six county schools. Applicants must be a son/daughter of a Hardin County Pork Producer or have been a 4-H or FFA member who has/had swine projects at the Hardin County Fair. Questions about the scholarships can be addressed to Doug Heilman at 419-674-6427.

The Pork Producers are also looking for 2022 Pork Industry Queen Contestants. Eligible candidates for the title of Hardin County Pork Industry Queen must be age 15 through 19 as of January 1, 2022. In order to be eligible for the State Pork Industry Queen contest, the entrant must be 17 prior to January 1 of the year they will be competing. Anyone qualified and interested can become Hardin County Pork Industry Queen, but only those who reside on a farm on which hogs are raised and is the daughter of parents now actively engaged in the production of pork will be eligible for the State Pork Industry District III Queen Contest in 2022. Selection will be held before a panel of judges at the Pork Banquet on Saturday, March 19. Questions about the Pork Industry Queen can be addressed to Nancy Weaver at 567-674-0559.

Applications and rules for both the Hardin County Pork Producers Scholarships and Hardin County Pork Industry Queen can be found at hardin.osu.edu or picked up Hardin County Extension Office, 1021 West Lima Street, Kenton.

Applications for both the scholarships and Pork Industry Queen must be received either online or at the Hardin County Extension Office by February 22, 2022.