How to Make Videos and Enter Kunekune Cyber Shows
Beginning with COVID most Kunekune shows switched to a virtual format. There are benefits and drawbacks to this. Drawbacks include; the lowered ability to network and meet other Kunekune farms/enthusiasts, they’re not as fun/social (in person shows generally include barbeques etc.), and you could usually bring animals for sale and offer them at the shows. Benefits include; they are much less expensive (no travel expenses/vet certificate expenses), less threat to biosecurity (no exposure to other farm’s germs), and they are more accessible (you can enter all of the shows versus just the ones in your driving range).
Participating in shows is really fun, there are great prizes, and you can earn titles that are reflected in the herdbooks. Most importantly you can showcase your herd and display the hard work you’ve put into your genetics on a national/international level. Plus, the judge is going to give you great feedback on your animals which will help you make smart decisions when it comes to whose genetics you need to keep or cull from your program.
There are four organizations that host Kunekune shows. They each have different rules and you can find a slew of information including the rules to enter/create videos by visiting their websites. Let’s look at some of the key rules for entry and the general show schedules for each organization.
AKKPS: https://americankunekunepigsociety.org/
AKKPS Show Handbook: https://www.ekpa.org/show-handbook
EKPA: https://www.ekpa.org/
EKPA Show Handbook: https://www.ekpa.org/show-handbook
These two organizations co-host two shows each year; a spring and fall show. They include breeding classes, New Zealand type classes, market classes and showmanship classes. The entry fees are reasonable and the prizes are exceptional, usually including custom products with your farm logo. Key rules for your entries include: 30-90 second videos, you can drive or lead your animal, and you must use new videos for each show.
IKKPS: https://ikkps.org/
IKKPS Show Guide: https://ikkps.org/ikkps-blog-news/kunekune-pig-shows/#show-guidelines
This organization is doing something really exciting with its shows; it is hosting a series of three shows with a national championship at the end of the year. The shows include breeding and homestead (market) classes. The entry fees are reasonable and the prizes are fun and varied, usually including something custom with your farm name. Key rules for your entries include: 30-90 second videos, you can drive or lead your animal, and you can use videos that you used in other shows.
IKHR: https://www.internationalkunekunehogregistry.com/
IKHR Show Rules and Information: https://www.internationalkunekunehogregistry.com/show
IKHR is the oldest organization and usually hosts three shows a year including a virtual spring and Christmas show plus a fall show that is sometimes virtual and sometimes in person. Shows include breeding, specialty, showmanship and market classes. Entry fees are more expensive than the other shows and prizes include ribbons and buckles. Key rules for your entries include: 60-90 second videos, animals must be ear tagged, you can drive your animal only (no leading), only double wattled animals are eligible to show, and you can reuse videos from other shows.
General Tips for Shooting Good Videos
Remember, the investment to make your animals and videos look their best is important because you are showcasing your program nationally/internationally and this may be others’ only time to form an impression of you and your farm. Make sure that your animal is freshly bathed and well groomed. Increase the feed to your animal beginning a couple months before video day so that they have good flesh and look their healthiest. Worm them so their coat looks good. Choose a place to shoot your video that looks tidy, ideally a freshly cut lawn. If you have a fence on one or two sides it’s helpful to keep your animal in place. You can use your phone to shoot the videos, put it in horizontal mode. I usually do one long video, up to four or five minutes and then cut out the beginning and/or end to make it the right length. Otherwise you cannot edit your videos and you also should not zoom in and out. Have the person filming kneel or sit at the animal’s level, not stand (it's not flattering). Make sure that you are shooting in a direction that takes advantage of the sunlight (you don’t want to film shadows on your animal). Also make sure that there are no other animals in the filming area. Remember, you want to present yourself professionally, dress nicely!
How To Enter The Shows
All the shows can be entered through organization websites or through links posted on Facebook. The organizations all do a great job of posting the show link multiple times preceding the show. Keep in mind, videos will be due before the show anywhere from one week to one month before. You can enter, pay and submit your videos all from your cell phone. To view the shows each organization is a little different, but most post the show or links to the show on Facebook on show day, or they send the link to the show via email. Facebook is the easiest way to participate and stay up to date with everything, so if you don’t have a free farm account, I would get one.
Note: The video above is a video that we shot of AG BH Tutaki 5- Hector winning his second Supreme Championship!
