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| I'll contribute a few reasons on the why not side of the coin. I'm a minority partner in a different show species so I come from that species perspective vs pigs.
Sounds like you would need to invest in equipment, even if it is used and functional, you are needing to add overhead. If the equipment is used and not much cost to install, so it can be easily removed and sold, then it isn't as bad. Building remodel and concrete usually aren't costs that can be recouped.
Can you draw the line where it needs to be? Sometimes there is creep because it is just as much work to have 15 sows as 5 sows, so there becomes extra work or add to justify some equipment.
What are your goals for the competitiveness of the pigs you raise? Most show animals have become decoupled from production livestock. For 4-H/FFA projects that are closer to production pigs, it likely isn't as bad. For competitive show stock (state/regional/national level), the need for assisted births is extremely high. The females that produce winning offspring can be terrible mothers. The need to use AI and embryo flushing can get expensive, and you still need to have a sire around for clean up. Synchronize reproductive activities to match birth dates for fairs can be challenging (maybe not as much for pigs as ruminates).
Our family's goals are to be competitive at county and state levels and we were blessed to be able to partner with another family that has had similar goals as us and allowed us to invest. We've also matched up very well in what we were willing to spend to improve the genetics and the risk that it brings. I couldn't fathom trying to accomplish the goals our family has on our own in a cheaply remodeled old dairy barn while crop farming and working full time job. I think the closer to production you are the more manageable it becomes.
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Talk me out of raising a few litters of pigs for 4-H/FFA kids
