GoingWhole Hog for Conservation

Mississippi Wild Hog Control Program Expands, Launches Nation’s First-Ever FFA-based Youth Trapping Corps

By Will Graves

Images of animal trappers stealthily navigating the forest might evoke childhood memories of fabled tales of mountain people and folklore of early expeditions on the American Frontier. In the 18th- and 19th-centuries, trapping and trading fur paved the way for westward expansion and began to chart the expansive North American wilderness.

Though times have changed and technology has progressed in the area of wildlife and land management, the tradition of animal trapping is on the rise nationwide — this time in the name of conservation.

Mississippi is now stepping up as an innovative leader in tackling the evergrowing, costly feral hog problem that plagues both wild and agricultural lands across the state.

In a July press conference, the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce (MDAC) Commissioner Andy Gipson announced that after officially receiving full funding, the agency is expanding the Mississippi Wild Hog Control Program (MWHCP) by launching the nation’s first Youth Trapping Corps.

“Last year at this time, I announced our partnership with Mississippi FFA to expand our wild hog control program to include a youth education and professional development component — the [MWHCP] Youth Trapping Corps. Today, I am proud to report this program has been fully funded through a federal grant, and MDAC is working with 25 schools across the state to implement the youth trapping corps,” Gipson said. “This funding opportunity was made possible by U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith. I appreciate Senator Hyde-Smith’s efforts in securing the funds needed to get this program off the ground. Her continued support of agriculture and Mississippi’s youth will help ensure the success of the Youth Trapping Corps.”

Rooting Out a Big Pig Problem

Wild hogs are a costly problem and can do a considerable amount of damage in very little time. The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates that wild hogs can cause more than $1.5 billion in property damage annually. MDAC says on average, wild hogs damage more than $62 million of valuable crops per year in Mississippi alone. Wild hogs present a significant threat to the integrity of Mississippi’s food supply.

Wild hogs are found in each of Mississippi’s 82 counties, and due to a sharp increase in feral hog populations and damage reports, MDAC created the MWHCP — the first program in the country aimed at combatting the nuisance pig problem.

Gipson said the MWHCP, which provides a cost-share with participating landowners, has seen great outcomes in reducing wild hog numbers thus far.

“Our Wild Hog Control Program has seen great success and demand. We have helped farmers and landowners remove over 2,500 wild hogs from their properties,” Gipson said. “Wild hogs are non-native, nuisance animals and cause substantial damage to row crops, pastures and forestlands; carry harmful diseases; and eat the eggs and young of many wildlife species. Our agency is dedicated to protecting the communities and livelihoods of the people who make up our largest industry in Mississippi — agriculture. I encourage landowners and managers to apply for this unique program and continue the fight against wild hogs across our state.”

Connecting FFA Members With Landowners

Mississippi FFA’s partnership with MDAC in the MWHCP will open up more opportunities for students to gain valuable skills while establishing working relationships and solving wild hog problems with private landowners in their communities. MDAC says by extending the MWCHP to include a youth component, the state is making an investment in the future of Mississippi’s agricultural workforce.

As of now, there are 25 FFA chapters participating in the program and they will soon receive funding to begin procuring traps, cameras and other needed equipment. Part of participation in the youth trapping corps includes training, where FFA members will learn best practices for successful trapping of large groups of wild hogs.

Brandon High School is one of the FFA chapters participating in the youth trapping corps. Agriculture Teacher and FFA Advisor Kramer Sowell and Brandon FFA member Hunter Robinson attended the Youth Trapping Corps announcement press conference and spoke about the impact the grant will have for both FFA

The members and landowners.

“This is so important for our kids,” Sowell said. “It trains them in so many ways. It gives them the opportunity to talk to landowners and farmers, which helps their speaking. They’re going to

MWHCP Youth Trapping Corp Grant Awardees 2023 ($25,000 each) SCHOOL TEACHER COUNTY CITY

Clarkdale High School

Covington County CTE

Forrest County Ag High School

Lawrence County CTC Derek Huffman

Mantachie High School

McLaurin High School

Mize Attendance Center

Nanih Waiya

Neshoba Central High School

Northeast Jones High School

Pontotoc Ridge CTC

Smithville Attendance Center Kayla Eaton

South Jones High School Haley Thomas & Clay Smith

South Panola High School Reginald Carter

Stringer Attendance Center

Tishomingo County CTC

Vardaman High School be able to get in a place to talk to these landowners, they’re going to learn how to trap and ethically handle animals, learn the importance of wildlife management and how detrimental these hogs are to the State of Mississippi and the rest of the United States. These hogs are everywhere — they are a nuisance. The $25,000 grant will go a long way. We can buy tools to build and repair traps, so it helps to build every aspect of it.”

Robinson followed up by saying, “I’m very excited for all the new traps and equipment we are going to get. I think the program is very good for us to be able to learn about handling animals and how to set up traps.”

Participating FFA chapters should have received grant funds by the end of September, so FFA members will be gearing up for training and setting traps to reduce the wild hog population. Gipson has a positive outlook for the program and is excited about the statewide reach and impact the MWHCP Youth Trapping Corp will have for landowners and the benefit it will have in building up student capacity to learn and succeed in agriculture.

“The program has so much potential,” Gipson said. “Just at Brandon — there are 200 hundred students involved in that program. You take that and you go all around the State of Mississippi and we’re going to be able to reach young people that we might not reach otherwise.”