It makes sense why we struggle to find people to come back to the farm and put in long, hard days working with livestock. It’s not easy. People don’t understand what it’s all about. With more and more generations removed from the family farm, the pool of potential employees continues to shrink.
There is no question that visa programs are making a big difference. But I believe the swine industry is missing opportunities by not investing more into the next generation of kids who simply love pigs.
I’ve spent the last month on the road watching hardworking, driven, talented young people chase big dreams – and contrary to what some may think, they aren’t just dreams about banners. They are dreaming about so much more because of the opportunities the National Junior Swine Association (NJSA) and Team Purebred are providing to gain knowledge, develop leadership skills and explore career opportunities.
They Know How to Work
For Nathan Hedden, vice president of swine and animal nutrition at Keystone Cooperative, Inc., there’s no better place to find his future work force.
“We don’t just see young people in the NJSA—we see our future. These youth bring grit, passion and a work ethic that mirrors our values,” says Nathan Hedden, vice president of swine and animal nutrition at Keystone Cooperative. “These kids know how to work. That’s why we’re fully invested—not only in their success, but in building a pipeline of leaders who will shape the future of agriculture, protein production and beyond.”
It’s easy to discredit things you don’t understand. I am excited to see more commercial swine producers and industry partners engage with these kids who have a passion for the swine industry.
Give Them a Chance
It’s not hard to find stories of incredible leaders who found their path to the pork industry because of youth programs. Paul Ayers shares how a hands-on activity during a Pork Quality Assurance training session years ago sparked his curiosity and inspired a career as the animal care programs manager for The Maschhoffs today in a recent column.
For Courtney Case, our newest Barn Hero, managing a 5,000-sow farm for Country View Family Farms wasn’t on her radar as a city kid. But through 4-H, she was exposed to showing pigs where she uncovered a passion for working with animals. This led her to pursue a degree in animal science at Delaware Valley University and an internship that changed her life. Read her story here.
We need more Courtneys and Pauls. Their stories show what can happen when we pass on our passion to others.
Say Yes
My son’s favorite part of competing in the speaking and skill-a-thon contests offered at these shows is interacting with swine breeders and industry leaders. From the outside, it might look like a group of people evaluating his knowledge, but it is more than that. It is a group of people encouraging and pointing to the pork industry with every question they presented him to figure out.
Their time made a difference.
We can’t fix this problem by talking about it. We’ve got to do something. If you aren’t sure where to start, check with your local 4-H program. Volunteer to judge projects or be an official at a local judging contest. Ask the National Junior Swine Association and Team Purebred organizations if they need financial support or help with the contests.
The worst thing we can do is let them go without trying to keep them.
