Greetings on a cool foggy morning. With the ground now white it’s looking more like early winter than late fall.

Speaking of fall, the seminars, meetings and workshops continue to have strong turn outs. There is an abundance of coverage in this issue from such events; Red Deer Swine Technology Workshop, Saskatchewan Industry Pork Symposium, Manitoba Pork Council fall producer meetings and Alberta Pork Annual General Meeting. Many interesting and informative speakers shared their individual expertise, along with provincial updates. This issue also features coverage from EuroTier, the largest multispecies trade show in the world, held every second year in Hanover Germany. It is so vital to pay attention to latest innovations and technologies in Europe, as so often it (they) come across the pond.

With both Banff Pork Seminar and Manitoba Swine Seminar to come in early 2017 there are even more opportunities to educate ourselves. See Pork Chops for all the details. Coverage of both of these events will be in the February edition of Prairie Hog Country.

I don’t think there was any person that was not paying attention to the U.S. election, how could you not, even in Canada it was always in our face. Time will tell how things will change with our largest trading partner after President Elect Trump takes office. We can only hope that he continues to honour our agreements. Some of my favourite words … stay tuned.

In the centre of this issue you will find the 2017 Prairie Hog Country Calendar, pull it out hang it in your offices and homes. I have already had a few calls of when pictures are due for next year’s contest and calendar. The photo contest will be for the August-September issue, deadline will be the end of July and we’ll receive submissions for the calendar until mid-October.

I look forward to seeing many of you in the weeks and months to come. I will be in Winnipeg for Prairie Livestock Expo, then at Banff Pork Seminar and in Swift Current for Cramer Expo.

Thanks again for the tremendous encouragement and support during 2016, our 20th year of publishing Prairie Hog Country. I am thrilled that so many of you have taken the time to send a note, stop at the booths or just give me a call just to say that you enjoy reading Prairie Hog Country. Numerous have added that they appreciate that we have maintained our focus in Western Canada. I am excited to continue into our 21st year with the same passion and dedication that we had back in 1996 when we started Prairie Hog Country.

On behalf of all us associated with Prairie Hog Country I wish you a very Merry Christmas and a wonderful holiday season.

As always I am only a phone call or email away. Prairie Hog Country, Box 5536, Leduc, Alberta T9E 2A1, 780.986.0962, fax 780.980.9640 or email: hogcountry@shaw.ca

Talk to you in 2017.