The annual Saskatchewan Livestock Expo, formally known as Cramer Expo, was held back on Thursday February 22, in Swift Current. With eighty companies in attendance exhibiting everything from genetics, to equipment, feed & nutrition, pharmaceuticals and manufactures all aspects of the hog sector were represented. The sold out show was busy and attracted producers from Alberta, Manitoba, Montana and Saskatchewan. Good weather and good roads helped increase the amount of attendees.
Doug Cramer, event organizer and manager was pleased with the buzz in the room.
While the aisles were busy with conversations once the top five place hogs were placed in the cooler much chatter filtered in that direction. Speculation who will go home with top honours in this years Cramer Cup Carcass Competition and then more so the exciting Sale of Champions.

Three people had the challenging job of judging the pie baking competition, Sandra Loeppky (Hipra Animal Health), Amanda Bussie (OJ’s) and Tristan James (City of Swift Current). Selecting the top one for texture, taste, smell and appearance may seem like a easy and rewarding job but the judges admitted it was harder than they thought it would be. The winner of the pie-baking contest was Barbara Kleinsasser from Sand Lake Colony.
Jason Care, Manitoba Hog Grading, performed even trickery job in his seventh year of judging in Swift Current. Using the Thunder Creek 2020 Grid, points were awarded by this criteria: Carcass weight, Carcass Index, Back Fat, Marbling Bonus, Loin Eye Colour, Loin Eye Measurement and Belly – a perfect score would be 111 points. There were 34 hogs entered into the Pork Quality Competition. Thanks to Thunder Creek for processing the meat, as Kaye Kronebusch, Hog Procurement Specialist Donald’s Fine Foods (Thunder Creek) shared with Prairie Hog Country that 7535 lbs. of pork processed is made into primal cuts for the various food banks.
The Colonies that entered the carcass competition were: Baildon, Beechy, Bench, Downie Lake, Garden Plane, Hodgeville, Main Centre, Ponteix, Quill Lake, Rose Valley, Sand Lake, Smiley, Springfield, Sunnydale, Vanguard, Webb and Wymark.
From the 34 entered hogs the top five were 5th Ponteix, 4th Beechy, 3rd Downie Lake, 2nd Sand Lake and 1st place was Wymark.

Also awarded in haying category was Downie Lake and Silage was Pennant. Taking top honour in eggs categories were 19 – 35 weeks Spring Creek, 36 – 55 weeks Beechy and 55 + weeks Ponteix.
Once all the trophies were presented it was time to move forward to the Sale of Champions, special thanks to Tyler Smyth of Flaman for taking on the auctioneering duties once again this year. Generous donations raised over $20,000 cash for the various charities, plus the meat donation totalling over $42,000 value. Amazing how the hog sector gives back. See detailed list below.
First up was the winning pie baked by Barbara Kleinsasser of Sand Lake Colony, her pie was purchased by Western Ag Supply (WAGS) for $225 with monies donated to Val Marie Ambulance Service.
Moving onto eggs: Steinbach Hatchery purchased top place 19-35 weeks winner Spring Creek for $1200, monies donated to HALO. Master feeds secured Beechy taking top spot in 36 – 55 weeks for $1200, monies donated to STARS. Master feeds also purchased 55 + weeks plus Ponteix for $900, monies donated to STARS.
First place hog from Wymark sold to WAGS for $ 3250, donation to Allan Blair Cancer Centre. Second place hog from Sand Lake sold to Fortified Nutrition for $6500 donated to Val Marie Ambulance Service. Third place hog from Downie Lake was sold to Sollio Ag for $2100 donated to Maple Creek Hospital. Forth place hog from Beechy was sold to Nutrition Partners for $3400 donated to STARS. Fifth place hog by Ponteix was sold to Sollio Ag for $2100 donated to STARS.
Again the biggest winner of the day is charity, the recipients of the 7500+lbs will be Souls Harbour Rescue Mission and Chili for Children.

When Doug was closing the show he thanked the Hutterite Brethren sponsors of the show, carcass competition and the sale of champion bidders.
Sponsors included: Acufast, Bio Agri Mix, Blue Water Irrigation, Canadian Bio Systems, Crystal Spring Hog Equipment, Dairy Lane Systems, FLL Feed Solutions, Fortified Nutrition, Hams, K & J Services, Matrix Environmental Solutions, Merck Animal Health, Newton Enterprises, Nutrition Partners, P. Quintaine & Son, Precision Ag Systems, Sask Pork, Sollio Ag, Thunder Creek Pork, Western Ag Supply (WAGS), Western Ag Systems, and Prairie Hog Country.
Cramer mentioned, “mark your calendars for February 20th, 2025 for the 15th Saskatchewan Livestock Expo.” •
— By Laurie Brandly