“Just keep your head down and don’t bring up the word show pig,” I told myself as I sat in the crowd at my first swine health conference while serving as editor of Farm Journal’s PORK. Well-meaning friends informed me that my background in the show pig industry should be kept quiet.
I wanted to be defensive. As the mom of three kids who have benefited immensely from the privilege of showing pigs, I wanted people to understand why it’s important and why it matters. I wanted to find a way to explain “our side of the story” and how most show pig families are trying to do it right – just like most commercial pig operations are trying to do it right.
Instead, I focused my energy on understanding the concerns and trying to bridge the gap in some small way story by story, conversation by conversation.
The truth is I’ve always seen great potential for synergy and collaboration between the show pig and commercial swine industries. When I was developing and leading the National Junior Swine Association, I sought out commercial pork industry leaders to get involved from an education and career path standpoint. The Maschhoffs stepped up right away to support the young people showing pigs – whom they believed would be future leaders in their business. I can’t explain the joy I’ve felt when I watched that come to fruition over the years, as well as the gratitude I’ve felt that they placed their trust in what we were trying to build.
In my role today, I’ve enjoyed getting to know outstanding young leaders like Harrison Furlow and Seth Mitchell through their participation in the Pork Industry Immersion Program organized by the National Pork Board and National Pork Producers Council. They are a product of showing pigs and grew up with a passion to care for pigs because of the opportunity the show ring afforded them. I’ll argue every day we need more leaders to rise up like Harrison and Seth.
As I was sitting in the stands at a national pig show recently, I looked over at my good friend Brett Kaysen, senior vice president of producer and state engagement at the National Pork Board. I showed him the mockup of the July/August issue cover featuring some kids who show pigs from Louisiana and the incredible story of how that experience has changed their lives and those around them.
“Am I crazy to put that on the cover?” I asked.
He looked at me and said, “No way. Do it. They deserve to be there.”
Kaysen went on to tell me that Louisiana has one of the highest per capita consumption of pork in the U.S. We aren’t just building a pipeline for labor in the pork industry, we’re building something bigger.
It’s true those kids we watched show pigs in the ring that day won’t all come back to work in the pork industry, but his point was made very clear to me. They will all go on to be consumers and advocates of something – hopefully pork.
“The young leaders in the show pig industry generally consume pork and will continue. However, they are still of the generation challenging the status quo – they see pork as an ingredient,” Kaysen says. “I am incredibly proud to see them championing the industry as consumers with diverse and nutritious recipes, but I feel their involvement is bigger. Their integrity, work ethic and on-farm knowledge will serve them well as they continue to be advocates for pigs, people and the planet.”
Right now, all three of our children want to find careers in the pork industry. Have I brainwashed them? Not intentionally. But they see the importance of this industry, admire the people of this industry, and want to be a part of a career that matters.
How can you find someone to take your place in the pork industry? How can you help develop our future young leaders by sharing your time, knowledge and passion with them? During this summer before our oldest heads off to college, I’m reminded over and over again that the window of time to influence their hearts and minds is short. Let’s not let the opportunity escape us.
Read More:
Louisiana Kids Discover a New Path in Life Through Showpigs
It’s Awfully Hard to Let Them Go
5 Lessons That Changed One Showpig Producer’s Life
