Davis Howell is the first to admit winning the 2023 National FFA Swine Entrepreneurship Proficiency Award is still a bit of a blur.
“There wasn’t a lot of thinking while I was up on a stage,” says Howell, a 17-year-old member of the Clinton FFA chapter in Clinton, Ill. “The whole event went so quickly – going up on stage, shaking hands, waiting, then having your name called, going to the front of the stage, and immediately going backstage to do interviews and get pictures taken. I didn’t really have time to process it. I was mainly just in shock.”
Agricultural Proficiency Awards honor FFA members who have developed specialized skills through supervised agricultural experiences (SAE) that they can apply toward their future careers. Howell’s SAE consists of two projects: breeding swine and show swine.
Howell’s family has raised show pigs for multiple generations. At the beginning of seventh grade, he decided to start his own swine herd for his SAE.
He has had between 12 and 15 sows and gilts in his breeding swine project, along with a check boar. He breeds twice a year with the goal of the best offspring transferring over to his show swine project. The pigs not transferred are sold at a sale barn as feeder pigs.
In his show swine SAE, Howell exhibits animals throughout spring and summer that he has raised or pigs from other breeders from whom he has purchased show animals. Then, he either transfers gilts back to his breeding swine project, sells them as complete finisher pigs at his local sale barn, or sells them to other breeders.
“The biggest lesson I have learned through my SAE is the importance of hard work. Between working on the farm, showing throughout the summer and keeping accurate records, my SAE required a lot of perseverance and dedication,” Howell says.
Although he’s not sure exactly where his future will take him, he plans to continue his education after high school pursuing an agricultural degree with a focus in animal science. In the meantime, he’s excited to continue his project and encourages other youth to consider getting involved in the swine industry by showing pigs.
“The connections I have made through the swine industry are priceless,” he says. “There are many opportunities available – from showing to judging to skillathons – and everyone should have the chance to take part in them. I have been lucky to take part in many aspects of the swine industry, and it has helped me grow as a person.
Just weeks after he received his national FFA award, Howell competed on the Illinois skillathon team that won national champion honors at the National 4-H Livestock Skillathon at the North American International Livestock Exposition. You can read more here.
Howell is grateful for the support of his parents, Rebecca and Zachary, and his FFA advisors Hannah Riedle, Kayla Riedle and Savannah Riegler.
“Reflecting back on being up on stage at National FFA Convention, I am excited and thankful for the opportunity and success I have had,” Howell says. “It was a great way to celebrate the hard work and the people who have helped me get to this point.”
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