What do you think of when I say, "water quality and farmer," or "farmers and the environment?" Students from Center Point-Urbana High School had the opportunity to FarmChat® with Spencer Jordan, Linn County Farm Bureau Board of Director, about some of the practices he implements on his farm. FarmChat® utilizes technology to bring the farm experiences directly into classrooms. Using a laptop at the school and a mobile device at the farm, students connect with and directly speak with the farmer. Students can see the farm and ask the farmer questions. Spencer began by providing an overview of the farm and the type of practices he implements. Conversations are then guided by student questions! Students learned about grassed waterways, nutrient application, yields, runoff, and signs of nutrient deficiency. Students asked great questions: I have provided a brief answer to a few of the questions below. What is the difference between a grassed waterway and a buffer strip? - A grassed waterway is constructed channels in a field that are seeded to grass. The vegetation helps slow the movement of water. A buffer strip is a section of plants between fields and streams, creeks, lakes, and wetlands. Buffer strips help filter water before entering a body of water. How do you know where to place a grassed waterway? - Often times grassed waterways are seeded in highly erodible places. How do you know how much fertilizer to add? -Spencer uses soil samples, soil maps, GPS, and previous crop yield data to help know how much fertilizer needs to be added. Why is seed corn detasseled? -Iowa Agriculture Literacy Foundation explained detasseling in a blog post, "The seed that they buy is often hybrid varieties that have beneficial traits like being drought tolerant or disease resistant. To get these special hybrids, farmers and the companies they work with have to make sure to cross pollinate the corn. Corn pollen spreads by wind so how do farmers ensure that the pollen from one type of corn lands on the silk of another type of corn to create the hybrid." How can you tell when corn is nutrient deficient? - There are many ways to tell if a plant is nutrient deficient. Signs of yellow or purple leaves, spots, weak stocks, delayed pollination, etc. Has no-till made it harder to plant? - No-till is when seeds are planted without plowing. This keeps topsoil in place and helps preserve the microorganisms. Spencer said it was challenging at first but they have been doing it for quite a few years now and the soil has adjusted. It is his preferred method but occasionally tillage is used if the soil has become tough. Every farm is different and farmers implement the practices that work best for his/her farm. It is always interesting to hear about the different ways farmers are striving to care for their crops, animals and land! FarmChat® is great for all ages. We have hosted virtual fieldtrips for grades K-12. Email mhibbs@ifbf.org to learn more!

Did you know during World War II, locally established hydroponic systems were used to grow fruits and vegetables to feed US Armed Forces stationed on non-arable islands in the Pacific? Hydroponic systems have been around for a long time and play an important role in the agriculture industry. Students at Center Point-Urbana High School set up their own system to explore how a lettuce will grow in nutrient-rich water. The system was designed by Phil Pfister, Linn County Master Gardener and provided by Linn County Farm Bureau. We began our lesson by watching TrueFoodTV's "How does it Grow? Spinach" video. This video was a great introduction to how hydropinic systems work. Our classroom system is set up with a water reservoir, plant tray, growing medium (clay pebbles), water pump, tubing and plumbing fittings, timer and grow light. Plants need air, light, water and nutrients to grow. Plants do not need soil as long as we provide all of the necessary nutrients. Nutirents are essential to plant success. Our macronutrients include Nitrogen, Phosphorous and Potassium. Nitrogen gives the plants a rich green color and increase protein levels. Phosphorous stimulates root formation, stem growth and flowering. Potassium encourages increased growth and disease resistance. Hydroponics have many pros and cons! Pros: According to the National Ag in the Classroom lesson, "70% of fresh water globally is used for agriculture. By 2050, increase population may require as much as 15% more water to feed everyone!" Hydroponics uses up to 80% less water than conventional farming and can be recycled. Hydroponics also allows for greater control over temperature, pests, lighting, humidity, water, etc. Hydroponics crops can be grown in the middle of cities or out in the county. It can also increase local food production. Cons: Many hydroponic systems rely on artificial light and electricity. Most hydroponic systems only grow leafy greens, even though it is possible to grow other crops, it might not be as efficient or realistic. There is no buffer between the nutrients and the plant roots. Adding nutrients is a delicate balance. Too much and it can burn the roots and not enough can cause yellowing and delayed growth. Students also began an experiment using the National Agriculture in the Classroom test-tube hydroponic kit. Half of the class will grow soybeans in distilled water and the other half will grow their seeds in nutrient-rich water. We used FloraGro, a general hydroponic solution. Step one, place the soybean seeds in the rockwool cube; step 2, transfer seedlings to test-tubes once germination occurs; step 3, observe and record findings. According to our Linn County Farm Bureau Education Outreach Friday Field Reports, "The soybean is a species of legume native to East Asia, widely grown for it's bean. Soybeans are grown for livestock feed, bio-diesel, vegetable oil, industrial applications, tofu, soymilk, soy sauce, fresh edamame and more! Nearly 42,000 Iowa farmers grow soybeans! The average soybean farmer in Iowa grows enough grain each year to nourish 60,000 people." Discussion time! We asked the following questions... 1. What will happen if you take a nutrient away? 2. How does humidity play a role? 3. How many mediums are there to grow the plant in? 4. Does the plant grow normal size? Will it take the same amount of days to mature? 5. Will the plant absorb the same amount of nutrients? 6. Can you think of more pros and cons? Interested in incorporating hydroponics into your own classroom? Visit https://www.linncoag.com/single-post/2017/08/15/Teaching-Hydroponics to learn more or contact mhibbs@ifbf.org!

National Read a Book Day is set for September 6, 2019! This is a great time to promote agriculture by reading an accurate book to your students! Pig out on these 10 egg-stra special books! Share a photo of your class reading an agriculture book with us through Facebook or by emailing mhibbs@ifbf.org and your class will be featured in our monthly newsletter! Happy National Read a Book Day! Book descriptions: American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture's website. 1. A Berry Good Project "The book helps students understand farmers’ choices related to pest management. It also introduces students to careers in agriculture including Extension agent and strawberry farmer (Upper elementary)." 2. Right this Very Minute "What’s that you say? You’re hungry? Right this very minute? Then you need a farmer. You have the stories, the knowledge, the hard work, the pride, and the dedication of so many right here on your table, in your hands, in your lunchbox, on your plate, and on your fork (all ages)." 3. Hey, Hey, Hay! "An adorable rhyming book that follows the story of hay from field to bale! A mother-daughter team tackles the job of harvesting hay while also celebrating summer and farming (lower elementary)" 4. The Girl who Thought in Pictures "When young Temple was diagnosed with autism, no one expected her to talk, let alone become one of the most powerful voices in modern science. Yet, the determined visual thinker did just that. Her unique mind allowed her to connect with animals in a special way, helping her invent groundbreaking improvements for farms around the globe (all ages)." 5. From Milk to Ice Cream "Learn where ice cream comes from and learn about the jobs of a dairy farmer, a sugarcane farmer, and factory workers in an ice cream factory. This illustrated narrative nonfiction book includes a world map of where dairy cows and sugarcane are raised, glossary, and further resource. Best for Kindergarten to third grade (lower elementary)" 6. Maple Syrup from the Sugarhouse "Follow Kelsey as she and her father begin harvesting sap from sugar maple trees. Family and friends join them to help in the process of turning the sap into maple syrup (lower elementary)." 7. Hatching Chicks in Room Six "Follow a classroom of kindergartners as they participate in a popular activity: hatching chicks. Readers learn about the life cycle of a chicken, incubating eggs, watching them hatch, and raising the chicks until they are old enough to return to the chicken coop (lower elementary)." 8. How Many Seeds in a Pumpkin "Here is an adorable picture book for curious kids, which explores skip counting and estimation in a fun pumpkin-themed classroom experiment. "How many seeds are in a pumpkin?" Mr. Tiffin asks his class as they gather around the big, medium, and small pumpkins on his desk. This book makes a wonderful read-aloud companion to any math or science curriculum, and it's a fun way to reinforce counting skills at home (lower elementary)." 9. Ag Mag Bees "This standards aligned easy-to-read nonfiction text is great for introducing grades 3-5 to bee and pollinators. Includes career corner, all about pollinators section, the beekeepers toolbox, honey a journey from flower to table and more (upper elementary)." 10. Thomas Jefferson Grows a Nation "Thomas Jefferson was more than a president and patriot. He was also a planter and gardener who loved to watch things grow—everything from plants and crops to even his brand-new nation. As minister to France, Jefferson promoted all things American, sharing corn and pecans with his Parisian neighbors. As secretary of state, he encouraged his fellow farmers to grow olives, rice and maple trees. As president, he doubled the size of the nation with the Louisiana Purchase (upper elementary)."

Twenty-four local teachers attended “Exploring what is Special about Agriculture,” a professional development opportunity for educators. The workshop was a collaboration between Iowa Agriculture Literacy Foundation (IALF), Delaware County Farm Bureau, Linn County Farm Bureau and Buchanan County Farm Bureau. “Exploring what is Special about Agriculture,” was offered August 5-6, 2019 at the Delaware County Fairgrounds in Manchester. During day one, course participants toured Pine Hills Flower Farm, Lopata Garden, Timeless Prairie Orchard, and Aronia Berry Services of Northeast Iowa. Each tour demonstrated real-world STEM connections. Educators spent the second day at the Delaware County Fairgrounds Community Center learning the skills needed to incorporate agriculture into many of the Iowa Core social studies and science standards. Lesson materials and ideas were presented by Will Fett, IALF Executive Director; Rosie Roberts, IALF Intern; Jason Russell, farmer and Linn County Farm Bureau Board of Director; Sarah Kielly, ISUEO-Buchanan County Local Foods Coordinator; Cheryl Hopkins, Frog Hollow Farm; Becki Lynch, Linn County Master Gardener; Morgan Hibbs, Linn County Farm Bureau Education Outreach Coordinator and Shelby Schaefers, Buchanan and Delaware Ag in the Classroom Coordinator. A few of the presentation topics included; pork tariffs, local foods, pollinators, apple genetics, chickpeas, goats, and seed germination. Workshops are made possible by supporters of the Iowa Agriculture Literacy Foundation including the Silos and Smokestacks National Heritage Area, Bayer, REAP Conservation Education Program, and Farm Credit Services of America with additional support from Iowa Corn Growers Association, Iowa Farm Bureau Federation, Iowa Pork Producers Association, Corteva Agriscience, GROWMARK, and the Iowa Beef Industry Council.

We hope you had a wonderful summer break! It is hard to believe it is already August but we have a countdown set to the first day of school and we look forward to seeing all of you again soon. Why Teach Agriculture? ​ Agriculture provides local connections to math, science and social studies concepts. By offering agriculture in the classroom we can create real-world STEM opportunities. Did you know our National Agriculture Literacy Themes align with 90 Iowa Core science standards? National Agriculture Literacy Themes: 1. Agriculture & the Environment 2. Plants & Animals for Food, Fiber & Energy 3. Food, Health & Lifestyle 4. Culture, Society, Economy & Geography 5. Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics Below is a list of our Linn County Farm Bureau Education Outreach offerings. PreK- Elementary Offerings: 1. Monthly schedule: Experience agriculture in your own classroom by inviting Linn County Farm Bureau Education Outreach to visit your classroom once a month. Visits typically last between 30 and 45 minutes. Lessons are Iowa Core aligned. Please fill in your preferred time slot in the link below with your name, school and number of students (when you know your schedule). If multiple teachers are participating from one school please collaborate and choose the same day. 2. 4th grade units (by request): Fall (soil): Four 30 minute lessons. Students will explore soil components, soil particles, erosion and weathering. Spring (plants): Four 30 minute lessons. Students will experiment with seed germination and parts of a plant. 3. Harvest kit in partnership with ISUEO-Linn County (by request): A fun fall curriculum for 3rd-5th grade classrooms. Learn all about farms and harvesting from local Linn County Farmers. The kit includes lessons that cover corn, soybean, pumpkin, apple, hay and straw harvests. Each kit provides hands-on lessons and activities, books and samples. 4. Publications (by request): My Family Farm Series, Iowa Ag Today Magazines, Flat Aggie Adventures (dairy or pork). 5. 21 Day Hatching Program in partnership with ISUEO-Linn County (application process): Curriculum for grades K-1. Middle and High School Offerings: 1. Classroom visits: 30-60 minute lesson/presentations by request. We have lessons that teach about soil, water quality, renewable energy, food safety, GMOs, hydroponics and more. Offerings for all ages: 1. FarmChat®: Take a field trip without leaving the classroom. Through FarmChat®, we can visit a farm or agriculture business through virtual technology. 2. Career presentations: Interested in bringing agriculture into your career days? Invite us to present to your students. 3. STEM Fests/Enrichment Days: Invite us to your school's STEM Fest or Enrichment days. Offerings for teachers: 1. Summer Professional Development: Two-day professional development workshops for teachers will be offered throughout the summer and around the state by the Iowa Agriculture Literacy Foundation and partner organizations. The workshops will help teachers apply Iowa Core standards including social studies, and science in the context of agriculture. The workshops will also use agriculture to teach other core concepts and skills like language arts and math. The workshops will be hands on and interactive with one day of site visits and tours and one day of practical classroom application. Many STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) concepts will be integrated throughout. 2. Newsletters: Our monthly newsletters will serve as a place for: updates, upcoming Our monthly newsletters will serve as a place for: UPDATES ̴ UPCOMING EVENTS ̴ BLOG POSTS ̴ NEW LESSONS! events, blog posts and new lessons. 3. Grants: Visit Iowa Agriculture Literacy Foundation's website to learn more. Email Morgan Hibbs at mhibbs@ifbf.org if interested in one of our programs.

HAPPY SUMMER! We made it through the polar vertex, snow make-up schedules, and rainy May afternoons! Iowa has unpredictable weather but unlike the weather... it is our hopes that Linn County participating teachers found our program to be reliable, educational, and fun for students. As we wrap up year two, I want to say THANK YOU! What an incredible year! I am still amazed with all that we have accomplished! Linn County Farm Bureau Education Outreach is igniting agriculture interest locally with 12,086 student impressions made between September 2018 and May 2019! The program reached 8,767 total classroom students with 700 students enrolled in our monthly program, 233 students through FarmChat®, 225 students explored agriculture during career days, 1000 plus students stopped at our booth during a STEM Fest and over 500 students participated in our twenty-one-day hatching program in partnership with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach-Linn County. Linn County Farm Bureau Education Outreach strived to educate on a variety of agriculture concepts including soil and water quality, harvest, compost, pork, technology, history, conservation practices, ethanol production, seed germination, beef genetics, wind energy and agriculture careers It is our mission to increase youth awareness on the importance of agriculture, agriculture careers and the benefits provided by agriculture throughout an individual’s life and we are striving to reach our goals through classroom visits, community outreach and professional development opportunities. Contact Morgan Hibbs at mhibbs@ifbf.org for more information.

Iowa was represented well in Little Rock, Arkansas during the National Agriculture in the Classroom Conference with twenty-one ag in the classroom coordinators, teachers and volunteers! And wow did we learn a lot! I definitely brought my AGVENTURE back to Iowa! Day 1 included traveling workshops! I chose the fish science and cotton history tour in hopes to learn more about southern agriculture. We began our workshop at Keo Fish Farms, the worlds largest producer of hybrid striped bass and sterile triploid grass carp. It was very fascinating to hear about the history of the farm, how they have evolved, and the science and technology needed to raise and transport the bass and carp fish. Keo Farms market their fish for vegetation control purposes and do not sell any fish for human consumption. Farm employees rely on yellow, green and red signs like the one above to indicate if the fish in the holding tanks have been tested positive for triploid chromosmoes (meaning they are sterile). It is important that all fish are tested before leaving the farm. Grass carp can lay 1000 eggs at one time and this can cause the fish to become invasive if they continue to reproduce. We concluded our traveling workshop at the Plantation Agriculture Museum. The preserves highlighted the history of Arkansas cotton production. It was interesting to discover, in chronological order, the changes and improvements of technology throughout the years. Did you know cotton by-products include dollar bills, Ritz crackers, Pringles, clothes, cottonseed meal, Apple Cinnimon Eggo Waffles, and livestock feed? Below is a picture of cotton seedlings, an original picker, and a wagon of harvested cotton. Traditionally cotton harvest was done by hand but today's cotton picker is much safer and automates cotton harvesting to speed up the process while increasing production. The conference continued with two full days of wonderful keynote speakers and breakout sessions. I attended; "Using Agriculture to get Environmentally Motivated," "High-Tech Farming," New MacDonald has a Drone," "Think Outside the Box," Beefing up Math, "Water Connects Us All," "Aeroponics in your Classroom," "I have...Who Has...," "Ag=Abilities," and "Agriculture Family Night." Below are just two of many ideas I hope to implement into our Linn County Farm Bureau Education Outreach Program. In this first activity, "Think Outside the Box," we were introduced to the book, "The Girl Who Thought in Pictures," which is about Temple Grandin, an author, professor of Animal Science at Colorado State, animal behavior consultant, and autism spokesperson. Temple was also one of our keynote speakers during the conference and it was an honor to hear her speak! This STEM activity introduces cattle handling to students and challenges them to create a safe chute system for cattle to be worked. Another fun and engaging activity came from the "Water Connects Us All," workshop which was presented by fellow Iowans! The game above introduces students to particles, nutrients and components that move and travel in our rivers, ponds, creeks and streams. Do you like hands-on, engaging and real-world lessons? I have so many new ideas similar to the ones I shared! Be on the lookout for new lessons and activities during the 2019/20 school year! If you want information about National Ag in the Classroom, how to attend while receiving license renewal or graduate credit, or how to sign up for our monthly program email me at mhibbs@ifbf.org! #TeachAg!

What better way to conclude the 2019 hatching program than with a virtual visit to a real-life hatchery? So that is what we did! We invited all of our hatching teachers to join us on a FarmChat®! I made the trek north to Rudd, Iowa on Tuesday, May 28th. Tony Halsted, Director of Business Development and Alicia Schmitt, Marketing Manager guided us through a virtual tour of the 74 year old hatchery. It was definitely a sight to see! Students had the opportunity to witness the whole process from incubation to shipping during our 30 minute chat! Tony began the tour by showing us where they keep the fertilized eggs. There are over 40 farms around Iowa and surrounding states that supply Hoover's Hatchery with fertilized eggs. The eggs we buy from the grocery store are not fertilized. Grocery store eggs come from farms who raise only layers. To have a fertilized egg we need both a hen and rooster. Hoover's Hatchery offers eggs and chicks from over 100 different breeds. Each breed is unique starting with the egg shell. Tony showed the students a white, tan, brown, blue and even green egg! After Hoover's Hatchery receives the fertilized eggs, it is just a short time before they get placed in large incubators where they will spend the next 21 days. An incubator is a device to keep the eggs warm during the 21 day hatching cycle. From the time the chicks hatch, it is just hours before they are being sent to their new homes. Tony is holding up one basket of recently hatched chicks. All of those baskets of chicks will be counted and shipped off to fill an order. The shipping happens over night to ensure the chicks stay safe and healthy!

Delaware, Buchanan and Linn County Farm Bureau is excited to partner with Iowa Agriculture Literacy Foundation, to host “Exploring what is Special about Agriculture.” “Exploring what is Special about Agriculture,” is being offered August 5 and 6, 2019 at the Delaware County Fairgrounds in Manchester, Iowa. The workshop will be available for teacher recertification credit and graduate level credit. This fast-paced professional development will give teachers, extension personnel, and others who educate youth the skills they need to implement many of the Iowa Core social studies and science standards. Participants will take home activities and lesson ideas that can be immediately implemented into their classroom. The workshop will be hands on and interactive with one day of site visits and tours and one day of practical classroom application. Participants will observe how Iowa farmers are raising specialty crops like flowers, vegetables, apples, and aronia berries. Workshops are made possible by supporters of the Iowa Agriculture Literacy Foundation including the Silos and Smokestacks National Heritage Area, Bayer, REAP Conservation Education Program, and Farm Credit Services of America with additional support from Iowa Corn Growers Association, Iowa Farm Bureau Federation, Iowa Pork Producers Association, Corteva Agriscience, GROWMARK, and the Iowa Beef Industry Council. To find out more about the workshop visit www.IowaAgLiteracy.org.

Are you curious about Ag in the Park but you are not sure what to expect? We got you covered! Continue reading to learn more. Each year the Linn County High School FFA Chapters; Springville, Central City, Alburnett, North Linn and Linn-Mar, sponsor an activity called Ag in the Park. Ag in the Park is being held Friday, May 10th from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Linn County Fairgrounds in Central City. All teachers with school age kids are invited. Students can observe animals, sample agriculture products, look at farm equipment and listen to presentations on topics such as safety, aquaculture, plants, soil and water conservation, pets and beekeeping. High school students lead Ag in the Park efforts and use their own research and expertise in certain agriculture disciplines to educate the youth of Linn County. It typically takes two hours to see everything. Picnic tables are available for sack lunches. Do you want to join the fun? If yes, register your students for Ag in the Park today! There is only 27 days until 500+ students step into the fascinating world of agriculture. To register visit: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090a4cacad2da7fd0-aginthe P.S. We need farmers and those in agribusiness to volunteer their expertise at Ag in the Park. If you are interested in participating with a demonstration or hands-on activity please email Barb Lemmer at blemmer@linnmar.k12.ia.us.

Spring is officially here and waking up to birds chirping has recently become the sound of warmer days to come! I don't know about you but with each changing season I feel a bit more refreshed and renewed! Let's give a shoutout to all of the teachers who have persevered through this crazy, long winter! We can put the delays, early-outs and cancelations behind us! We have warm, spring lessons on the line-up for this month and the rest of the school year! And to help me prepare... I have a brand new office! Linn County Farm Bureau Education Outreach has grown! We have more than doubled the amount of programs each month from 2017/18 to 2018/19 and with the growth came a new office to call home! Our building recently went through a remodel and during that project we transformed the small conference room into space for prep work and all of our educational kits! The move could not have come at a better time. It is currently spring break for most of our schools and I am taking the week to get organized. I couldn't have done it alone, thank you to our Board of Directors for providing a wonderful place to continue growing our program and thank you to my family for helping me move all of my kits and supplies! I am beyond excited to have a such a wonderful space for upcoming lesson prep! I can already feel the creative juices flowing. So much potential for student learning will begin right here in this space. Thank you for stopping by! I hope you enjoyed taking a look inside the new office. Now you know where Linn County Farm Bureau Education Outreach is housed! New to our program? Be sure to checkout our website to learn more https://www.linncoag.com/. Our mission is to increase youth awareness on the importance of agriculture, agriculture careers and the benefits provided by agriculture throughout an individual's life.

Follow Flat Aggie's Adventures as he tours Reicks View Farms! Flat Aggie Adventures is a six-month newsletter series geared towards a 3rd-5th grade reading level. Newsletter content meets both literacy and science Iowa Core Standards. We currently have four issues complete out of six. Here is a little sneak peak from newsletter issues 1-4. Issue 1: Farrowing Edition This picture shows one of the employees assisting a sow with her farrowing. Just like doctors in a hospital, we can help a sow by sleeving her if a piglet gets stuck or administer any medicine she may need. These employees spend their entire day watching sows that are giving birth and help any that are having difficulties. We even have an employee working at night, so our sows have 18 hour a day care. Issue 2: Weaning Edition After about 21 days in the farrowing barns, it's time to wean the piglets! Weaning is when piglets begin eating solid food in place of their mothers milk. As you can see piglets can grow a lot in 21 days. This picture shows a wean age piglet on the left and a one day old piglet on the right. Issue 3: Nursery Edition Flat Aggie is grouping the piglets and checking to ensure that all are around the same size. This helps for individual space and food consumption. Piglets are in the nursery barn for 7 to 8 weeks or 50 pounds. Issue 4: Finishing Edition Finisher pigs eat between six and ten pounds of feed (food for animals) per day. Their feed consists of corn and soybeans along with vitamins and minerals that are essential to healthy growth. The feed is delivered to the barns and supplied to the pigs from feed bins such as the one Flat Aggie is climbing. One bin can hold between nine and fifteen tons, that is 18,000 to 30,000 pounds! Issues 5 and 6 coming soon! Ways to utilize Flat Aggie: 1. Print it off and have students write and highlight key points. 2. Print and laminate for multiple uses. 3. Keep the newsletter in online format and send to the students or display it in front of the class. Ways to integrate Flat Aggie into your curriculum: 1. Guided reading time 2. Morning bell ringer 3. Science time 4. Individual reading time 5. Research project Discussion topics for integration: 1. Identify the STEM careers involved with raising pigs. 2. Discuss how advances in agriculture have changed production over time. 3. Explore supply and demand and how it relates to our pork industry. 4. Ask students to identify key ideas. 5. Discover the different stages in the life-cycle of a market pig.