There’s just something about competition that often results in the perfect match. For Garrett and Marisa See of Benson, N.C., it was their shared love for livestock judging, skillathon competitions and livestock shows that brought them together years ago.
“After a livestock judging contest one year, I got a Facebook message from Garrett asking if I would be showing at the North Carolina State Fair so he could have the opportunity to redeem himself (I had won more awards that year). Fast forward to several shows and contests later, and he (finally) asked me out,” Marisa says.
Too Busy Talking in the Holding Pen
Although Garrett often won showmanship, Marisa is quick to point out she usually beat him in the skillathon.
“One time the judge even called us out at a show to ask if his placings would be a problem,” she laughs. “Many of our dates were spent at shows and hauling pigs. In fact, I remember one show where we were too busy talking to each other in the holding pen that we didn’t even notice the judge was waiting for us to enter the ring.”
It was no surprise to anyone when Garrett proposed and the two became one on May 19, 2018.
“I think having a shared passion is always nice in a relationship,” Marisa says. “Not only does it give you something to talk about, but we bond over it. Although we are in different sectors of the pork industry, we still bounce ideas off each other and discuss industry happenings.”
Garrett pursued his PhD in Nebraska. After that, they lived in Indiana for a couple years, and now they are back closer to family in North Carolina. Marisa says all that travel helped them learn to depend on each other.
Dinner Dialogue
Their joint understanding and passion for the pork industry continues to provide opportunities for some pretty interesting conversations, she says.
“Garrett has been known to draw diagrams on napkins on a date to explain hormone differences in males and females,” Marisa says. “We’ve both been guilty of comparing our knowledge of pigs to pregnancy and having children.”
The couple has one daughter, Isla, 2, and a baby on the way. Garrett is a swine geneticist for AcuFast and Marisa works in communications for the pork industry.
“I love how Garrett both pushes me and keeps me grounded in life,” Marisa says. “He is not afraid to call me out but does so in the most supportive and caring way of anyone I know. This bleeds into his willingness to go on adventures but be completely content playing board games at the house.”
For Garrett, watching his wife become a mother has been an amazing experience.
“I really appreciate how Marisa is such a loving, charismatic and patient mother,” Garrett says. “It doesn’t hurt that she’s a tremendously good cook.”
The competitors now turned couple will never forget what the pork industry has done for their lives.
“We are forever grateful to pigs for giving us a passion, letting us travel, providing us with careers, and most importantly, helping us find each other.”
Keep reading our #porklovestories series: Zach and Katlyn Cain: A Hog-Wild Partnership
