Alyssa Gruszie Wins National FFA Grant

 

February 27, 2019

Winner of a National FFA Grant, Alyssa Gruszie and her favorite sow Blue pose in a horse stall on the family ranch. Blue is a pedigreed sow that Gruszie purchased from Crane Colorado Show Pigs.

Each year, FFA chapters around the country celebrate National FFA Week, which this year took place February 16 – 23. And last week, Chinook FFA Chapter member Alyssa Gruszie was indeed celebrating after she learned that she had won a National FFA Grant. The $1,000 award will enable her to expand her hog farrowing operation.

In 2012, Gruszie, who is currently a junior at Chinook High School, purchased her first sow. Now she owns ten. What began as a 4-H project transitioned into a show pig business that sells pure bred Yorkshires and some Hampshire crossbreeds and is part of Gruszie's FFA Supervised Agricultural Expereince (SAE) in Entrepreneurship/Ownership. An SAE is required as an FFA member works towards obtaining a Chapter FFA Degree with the National FFA Organization.

According to Chinook FFA Chapter Advisor, Robin Allen, Gruszie applied for the National SAE grant, but it was funded at the state level by the Montana FFA Foundation. "The foundation is calling the grant an SAE Grant of the Montana FFA Foundation for public relations material. Alyssa is using this grant to expand her swine production facilities. FFA has lots of different opportunities like this," Allen reported.

Gruszie joined the local FFA chapter when she entered junior high. In order to win the grant, Gruzise had to write an essay about why she needed the funding and how the grant dollars would support her future operations, She was also required to present a budget and to share pictures of her facility, which currently has five farrowing crates. With the grant money, Gruszie plans to purchase the lumber to build additional crates.

When asked what inspired her to start her hog business, Gruszie replied: "Dad raised pigs when he was little, and even though Mom proclaimed, 'We're not raising hogs;' well, here we are!"

Gruszie's favorite sow is one named Blue, a Hampshire Cross featuring a blue-gray coloring. Blue is a pedigreed sow that Gruszie purchased from Crane Colorado Show Pigs located in Pritchett, Colorado, which boasts "the best genetics available."

From her hog raising experiences, Gruszie has learned the importance of controlling climates that will enable the animals to thrive. "Temperatures in the farrowing rooms have to be warm for the piglets but not too hot for the sow," Gruszie explained.

However, the most challenging aspect has been feeding the right mix of protein, fiber, and nutrients like calcium and phosphorous. "Feed costs represent 60 to 70 percent of the total cost to produce a market hog, so quality feed control is key to successful production," Gruszie said.

Traditional wisdom suggests that errors in feed can have an economic impact on swine production. When protein rises above fifteen percent, feed costs increase but performance doesn't improve in market hogs. Furthermore, a low-protein diet results in poor average daily gain.

In order to achieve more flexibility and control with regards to feed, the Gruszies became MoorMan's feed dealers. MoorMan's calls itself "the industry leader in show livestock nutrition." With their trademarked slogan, championship performance through feed technology, MoorMan's claims: "We don't merely make feed; we fuel champions."

One of the highlights of Gruszie's business is the annual Gruszie Family Show Pig Sale. This will be the fifth year of the sale which will take place on Sunday, April 7 at 22820 Cleveland Road. Preview of the 60-70 quality barrows and gilts for sale will begin at 10:00 a.m., a workshop on feed information will occur at 11:00 a.m. Then, after a noon lunch, pig selection is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.

Montana FFA Foundation SAE Grant Will Fund Expansion Plans. Grant monies will enable Alyssa Gruszie to expand her swine production facilities. Gruszie plans to purchase the lumber to build additional farrowing crates.

According to Alyssa's mother, Heather Gruszie, the 4-H Teen Leaders will be putting on the feed information workshop on sale day. "They will go over everything the kids need to do once they get their pigs home to have a successful project," the elder Gruszie said.

The younger Gruszie's goal is to provide fellow 4-H and FFA members the opportunity to purchase affordable, fancy, and well-muscled show pigs. According to her mother, "Alyssa started the pigs for FFA and the other kids have joined in. Allen and I are just the advisors and the free labor."

Gruszie, who is also a member of the Chinook cheer squad, reported that her mother often feeds and waters the animals when busy school and sports schedules prevent her from performing chore duty.

The most satisfying aspect of the entire show pig project for Gruszie is seeing other young people win. She reports that many of her hogs have earned grand champion market hog status at multiple county fairs and that her best customers are local 4-H families.

 
 

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