Payton Hines Named Star in Agriscience
Published: Friday, March 16, 2018
Payton Hines of Quincy was named the Star in Agriscience during the Stars over Michigan pageant during the Michigan FFA 90th annual convention last week. She was also named state winner for Swine Proficiency for her purebred swine herd and will advance to the Eastern Region competition in the project area.
Hines, a senior at Quincy High School, is the daughter of Brian and Donna Hines. In addition to agriscience research projects, she has a diversified livestock Supervised Ag Experience including raising and showing hogs in local and national competitions and showing lambs, goats and steers.
Payton earned the honor by completing four scientific research projects during her ag science classes at the Branch Area Careers Center (BACC) in Coldwater. Her topics included testing for radon levels in swine production facilities in two different studies, researching the genetic purity of Hampshire hogs, including hogs from her own herd, for genetic purity, producer understanding of the Veterinary Feed Directive implemented last year and evaluating treatment approaches to reduce navel cord infections that cause umbilical hernias in hogs.
The Hampshire genetic purity project was completed as a team with her sister Cailyn and results of the project were recorded in the National Swine Registry, the organization responsible for recording and keeping purebred swine registration. Payton tested for genetic purity between sample populations of correctly marked (full-belted) Hampshire versus Hampshire whose marking patterns did not fully match the breed registration requirements (off-belted).
In their hypothesis, the sisters sought to prove that the off-belted samples had less genetic purity than the full-belted test subjects. Twenty-three pigs were analyzed in the study by drawing blood and performing genetic purity tests at the MSU Animal Science Lab. Their results showed that both groups averaged 93% genetic purity to the Hampshire breed and no significant difference could be determined based on the animal's markings.
Payton's senior year project followed 38 hog litters from birth to weaning using two different treatment models to discover which would reduce incidence of umbilical hernias. The October litters received the normal 2 cc iron treatment. Nineteen litters born in November received 2 cc iron plus .1cc Excede, known to be a gram-positive treatment in fighting staph and strep infections at the umbilical site.
At weaning, nineteen percent of the untreated hogs showed signs of umbilical hernia while only four percent of Excede treated piglets had hernia signs.
"You can relate everything back to the scientific method," Payton said. "I even used it to make my selection for college." She will attend Lakeland Community College in Mattoon, Illinois this fall.
"Payton and her family have poured hours and hours into science fair projects since seventh grade," said Carrie Preston, ag instructor at BACC. "Her science projects have been a nice complement to her swine SAE and they all relate back to swine, which is definitely her passion."
Bill Earl and Alison Bassage are also ag teachers who have helped Payton excel. Bassage was once Payton's babysitter and shows hogs with the Hines family.
Payton has been active in 4-H, National Honor Society, basketball, soccer and Youth in Government.
Randy Sowles, principal at BACC, has been privileged to attend the Stars Over Michigan pageant for several consecutive years to support students who have earned a place in the spotlight.
"With the FFA and our students, we have a long tradition," Sowles said. "We have high expectations for our students and they put in a lot of hard work. The teachers spend hours and hours of hard work with the kids, supporting them and helping them succeed. We look forward to continuing the tradition with the students and staff of this exceptional program."
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