2024 AKKPS ANNUAL SOCIETY EBLAST
Published January 15, 2025
HAPPY NEW YEAR AKKPS MEMBERS!
We hope that 2024 was a wonderful year for all Society Members, their Families and Farms!
The AKKPS had a phenomenal year with many new milestones and goals accomplished.
In October of 2024, the AKKPS received approval from the trade commission and the AKKPS Member logo is now officially Trademarked. This project took almost 2 years to complete!
The AKKPS Member Portal has grown to include additional features for members. In 2025 there will be even more features added!
Member Benefits have steadily been added throughout the year and now include Custom Contracts and Social Media Frames to mention a few.
The AKKPS Herd Book logged the 53,000 number in December.
The AKKPS Board of Directors is thrilled with the membership growth and continued commitment and dedication of the membership. In 2025, the AKKPS will again offer a $40 discount off of yearly membership dues when memberships are renewed on time making the AKKPS dues for renewing members $25! In addition, the cost of a 1 year Sponsored Membership has been reduced to $25.
The AKKPS is now offering a new membership level - LIFETIME. Lifetime memberships will be available to existing and new members for $250. Please see more information below in the looking into 2025 section of the AKKPS eblast.
Please read through this Year End eblast and reflect on 2024 and look into what 2025 will bring to the AKKPS.
We look forward to serving the AKKPS Membership in 2025!
Happy New Year and may 2025 bring goodwill to all!
THE AKKPS BOD
#AKKPSproud
CODE OF ETHICS
It is incumbent upon every member of the American KuneKune Pig Society to represent the organization honorably and to abide by the AKKPS By-Laws, to treat their fellow members respectfully and courteously, to refrain from knowingly making misleading statements about AKKPS, fellow members, or the breed, and to be knowledgeable about the proper care of KuneKunes and to fulfill obligations to the animals in their care.
The AKKPS issues code of ethic violations when the AKKPS Code of Ethics is broken in a public form such as social media or on the internet.
The AKKPS cannot issue code of ethic violations in private communication such as emails, texts, pm’s or verbal conversations.
KEEPING YOUR "MY ANIMALS" UP TO DATE IN THE AKKPS HERD BOOK
- If a pig is being watched to see what purpose the pig will have using the Under Observation - OB catagory is a great choice.
- If a pig is in your meat program the Animal for Harvest - MP is the appropriate catagory.
- If you have a barrow that will forever be a companion pig the Companion Animal - A is the appropriate catagory.
- For a pig that will be sold as a fully registered animal but is not yet sold, register the animal to yourself and then transfer the pig when it is sold.
HIGH PERCENTAGE WHITE & BELTED & BANDED
BREEDER REGISTRATION SUBMISSION TIMEFRAME
Full Registration - Seller has 10 weeks from new owners possession of the pig to submit registration to the AKKPS Registrar
Transfers (Full/Companion Animals/Animals for Harvest)- Seller has 4 weeks from new owner possession of the pig to submit transfer to the AKKPS Registrar
2024 SOCIETY VOTE RESULTS
MEMBERS VOTED THE FOLLOWING
FEBRUARY 2024
- AKKPS will accept AI (Artificial Insemination)
- AKKPS will NOT accept cloned animals
- AKKPS will adopt the EKPA Body Condition Score Chart
MARCH 2024
- AKKPS will not have a virtual Year End Society Meeting - instead a special year end eblast will be emailed in January of the following year
- AKKPS members voted to continue to use the BKKPS Breed Standard which was adopted by the AKKPS in2013.
JUNE 2024
- The Members voted to expand the AKKPS By Laws in reference to BOD vacancies.
NOVEMBER 2024
- BY Law addition approved by member vote -
The AKKPS is founded on the belief that an AKKPS Breeder is entitled the privilege to establish their own breeding program and farm goals while keeping the AKKPS breed standard at the forefront and adhering to all AKKPS Registration Regulations.
The AKKPS Registration Regulations require all pigs fully registered with the AKKPS have parentage DNA Verification throughout the pedigree up to the imports and an approved permanent identification method.
AKKPS will not limit or deny full registration to an AKKPS Breeder for any animal due to but not limited to wattle status, color or COI so long as AKKPS Registration Regulations are adhered to in full.
Should a new Registration Regulation be proposed for implementation in reference to what can and can not be registered with the AKKPS, the Society shall hold a Member Vote on whether or not the item will be added to the AKKPS Registration Regulations.
Should this portion of the AKKPS By Laws be proposed to be removed or amended, a Member Vote must be held approving the removal or amendment of this By Law.
MEMBER SURVEY RESULTS FROM NOVEMBER
The AKKPS has responded to the November 2024 Survey in the following document.
Each and every suggestion / concern / request has been responded to in the following document.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
- LOGGED THE NUMBER AKKPS 51,000 IN THE HERD BOOK
- FINALIZED THE TRADEMARKING OF THE AKKPS LOGO
- FURTHERED CUSTOM MEMBER BENEFITS
- CONRACTS
- FARM ADS
- MEMBER IN THE SPOTLIGHT
- SOCIAL MEDIA FRAMES
- SHOW SPONSORSHIP ADVERTISING
- MONTHLY EBLAST UPGRADED PRESENTATION
- AKKPS WEBSITE ADDITIONS
- PORK SECTION
- EDUCATIONAL ARTICLES
- GESTATION CALCULATOR
- FEED CALCULATOR
- FEED CHART
- FUN ZONE
- AKKPS MERCH
- FOR PURCHASE
- THANK YOU'S TO MEMBERS
- AKKPS MEMBER PORTAL ADDITIONS
- SECOND OWNER
- SWALLOW BELLY
- MORE ANIMAL INFO TO PEDIGREES
- COI HERD GENERATOR
2024 STATISTICS
LITTER NOTIFICATIONS: 1738
FULL REGISTRATIONS: 2587
TRANSFER REGISTRATIONS: 1915
DUAL REGISTRATIONS: 235
CURRENT AKKPS #'S IN THE HERD BOOK: 53,177
CURRENT AKKPS MEMBERS: 1409
CONTACT YOUR DIRECTOR FORMS: 96
CONTACT THE REGISTRAR FORMS: 222
LARGEST LITTER BORN: 15
AVERAGE LITTER SIZE: 6
FINANCIAL RECAP
The AKKPS stayed well below budget in 2024 while continuing to offer AKKPS Members a plethora of benefits.
NEWLY ELECTED BOD MEMBERS - 2025/2026 TERM
A huge thank you to the following AKKPS Board Members whose elected term was up 12/31/24. Their are not enough Thanks You's to offer them for the hours they dedicated volunteering for the AKKPS Members.
- Jamie McIntyre
- Kate Belbeck
- Steve Baker
- Denise Stubbs
All 4 were re-elected to the AKKPS BOD in the AKKPS Member Vote.
2024 AKKPS MEMBERS IN THE SPOTLIGHT
JANUARY
DuckDawg Creek Farms - Libby Milroy & Ron Green, DVM
Pigs in the Patch Farm - Sami & Ben Robertson
Fog Hill Farm - Amanda Schrack
Eight Day Farm - Ryan Harker
Windy Acres Farm - Michelle Malone
FEBRUARY
Willow Creek Ranch - Christina Burnham
Fecundale Farms - Chenelle Knapp
MARCH
Handerston Hills Farm - Tara Beech
Four Acre Farms - Ashley Barnes
APRIL
Blue Feather Farms - Heather Terrell
Godbey Farm - Ted & Theresa Godbey
Moonlight Hollow LLC - Britini &Troy Teeters
MAY
Maple Family Farms - Sheila Williams
Comadres Farms - Melinda Carson-Bailey
JUNE
Higher Standard KuneKune - Alysa Carmichael
Liberty Farms - Paula Toney
Clover Springs Farm - Brooke Ware
JULY
Needham Homestead - Kathryn Bragdon
Avery Farms of Canton - Cheryl Benson
AUGUST
Capers Acres - Shyla Richards
EIEIO Pastures - Liza Goodrich
Happy Hollow Farm LLC - Margaret Bosquez
SEPTEMBER
New Rain Artisanal Farm - Megan Self
Boone Family Homestead - Dave & Sonya Boone
OCTOBER
Camp Farm & Ranch - Keleigh Tuttle
Highway Hills - Tinslee Sutter
Aisling Brae Farm - Laura Koehn
J & N Farms - Nicole & James Lewis
Iron Wolf Manor and Homestead - Jessica Sweeney
Coyote Creek Farm - Laura Howard
NOVEMBER
Copper Bottom Farm - Kate Fossati
Summer Tree Farm - Melissa Hirshfeld
Endless Horizons Homestead - Lauren Schrumpf
Ridge Runner Farm - Meagan Laberge
Pudgy's Pets - Taylor Lonborg
DECEMBER
Salt and Pepper Homestead at Joyful Ranch Counseling - Jackie Carlino
Ragnarok Ranch- Jordan McCullough
Wandering Willow Farm - Sensa Wolcott
TTNJ Ranch - Jessica Maiyer
Kaohe Corral - Lindsay & Micah Dennis
Braha Mahma Ranch - Tracena Franklin
LIFETIME MEMBERSHIP LEVEL
NEW MEMBERSHIP LEVEL
AKKPS LIFETIME MEMBERSHIP
APPLICATION for LIFETIME AKKPS MEMBERSHIP
- Lifetime memberships will be available to existing and new members for $250 through the AKKPS Member Portal at the time of renewing membership or joining the AKKPS.
- The Lifetime Membership level affords all of the benefits to AKKPS Members without having to renew membership each year.
- Lifetime memberships have no expiration date and no additional dues should membership fees be raised in the future.
- A Lifetime AKKPS Logo will be mailed to all Lifetime Members for their use (see logo at the top of this block)
- Lifetime memberships are non refundable.
SPONSORED MEMBERSHIPS NEW PRICE $25 FOR 1 YEAR
The price of a 1 year Sponsored Membership has been reduced and is now $25. The person being sponsored by a current AKKPS Member must be a new AKKPS Member. You can find the sponsorship application in your AKKPS Member Portal.
2025 DISCOUNTED MEMBERSHIP DUES
Due to a surplus of money with the AKKPS conservative budget and volunteer verses paid positions, the AKKPS will be giving all current AKKPS Members an automatic $40 discount off of the $65 Yearly Membership Dues making dues for 2025 $25.
In order to receive the discount members must renew on time before membership lapse.
The AKKPS emails 2 reminders when dues are due as well as posting the information in each members AKKPS Member Portal.
2025 BOD ELECTIONS FOR THE 2026/2027 TERM
The AKKPS will hold BOD Elections in November of 2025 for the 2026/2027 terms.
Applications will be accepted in October 2025 and Voting will be 11/15/25 through 11/30/25.
The following AKKPS BOD Members seats will be up for election. They may re run if they so choose.
- Caroline Malott
- Amanda Carlisle
- Brenda Eldridge
- Paula Toney
2025 BUDGET
The AKKPS budget is based on a conservative income and inflated spending to ensure the success of AKKPS financially.
NEW MEMBER PORTAL FEATURES COMING IN 2025
- "ABOUT US" Section for each AKKPS Member. When someone views a Member, this information will be viewable.
- Optional photo on AKKPS Pedigrees.
- Herd COI comparison with any AKKPS litter notified or registered AKKPS animal.
- FARM ITEM FOR SALE. This will be similar to the Pigs for Sale feature.
- A downloadable PDF receipt for AKKPS Member Dues.
- Zelle and Venmo added for forms of payment.
- An additional field for AKKPS memberships allowing for more family members to be listed on the AKKPS Membership.
- More sorting options.
- A CSV option for a member to print a list of all of the animals in their name with the option of sorting by registration status.
EKPA AKKPS SPONSORED WEBINARS FOR 2025
THE AKKPS WILL SPONSOR 5 EKPA SEMINARS IN 2025
- The Butchers Cut Sheet January 18th
- Value Added Products with Lard - MARCH 2025
- Keeping Healthy Pigs with Ryan Harrell DVM - FEBRUARY 2025
- The Art of Curing Pork at Home -- DATE TBD
- Show Preparation : pig prep, good video and other tips.- APRIL 2025
Q & A with the AKKPS
EKPA AKKPS SANCTIONED SHOW DATES FOR 2025
EKPA SPRING CLASSIC
MAY 24th & 25th
EKPA INTERNATIONAL FUTURITY
OCTOBER 25th & 26th
REGISTRAR 2025 CONTRACT
The AKKPS has contracted Caroline Malott for a 3rd year on a volunteer basis for the AKKPS Registrar This volunteer position has helped enable the AKKPS to offer discounted Yearly AKKPS Membership Dues to all members who renew their membership prior to lapsing.
WEBMASTER 2025 CONTRACT
The AKKPS has contracted Caroline Malott for a 3rd year on a volunteer basis for the AKKPS Webmaster Position. This volunteer positions has helped enable the AKKPS to offer discounted Yearly AKKPS Membership Dues to all members who renew their membership prior to lapsing.
