4-H

Claim Your Free 840 RFID Tags: How Show Pig Families Can Save Money This Season

Wed, 29 Apr 2026 17:44:44 GMT

As spring jackpot season kicks off, show pig families are facing a familiar hurdle: a mountain of paperwork and additional veterinary costs. However, a new tool could mean fewer manual errors and more money back in exhibitors’ pockets.

Making Show Prep Easier

Dr. Patrick Webb, assistant veterinarian at the National Pork Board, wants to help streamline some of that process using AgView, a free, opt-in technology solution funded by Pork Checkoff. AgView helps show pig producers and exhibitors track pig movements to and from show and exhibitions easily. This tracking is important, especially if animal health officials request updated and accurate data in a disease outbreak like pseudorabies or African swine fever.

The new MyBarn feature, funded by a USDA cooperative agreement, is an easy solution for show pig producers and exhibitors to add project pigs to their AgView account, along with its location and movement history, Webb says. This information is shared with the state veterinarian in the event of a disease outbreak.

“We continue to find ways to build AgView out to make it very easy for show pig enthusiasts to get tag numbers into AgView, associate them with their project pigs for that year, and then be able to associate those pigs with the movement to the show that they’re going to,” he explains.

There is no additional cost to families to obtain an AgView account, Webb says. Exhibitors can use AgView as a modern way to electronically track, and share when needed, locations and pig movements. They will also be able to use AgView to participate in programs like the U.S. Swine Health Improvement Plan.

Streamlining Show Paperwork

But AgView isn’t just for exhibitors. Webb is excited that they are finding ways to help show officials, too.

“Shows require paperwork,” Webb says. “This includes a lot of handwriting of information and files being sent via email. We’d like to streamline that whole process from the show pig producer to the show organizer to the state animal health official.”

This next phase of enhancing AgView will better meet the needs of the show organizer, he adds. For example, they are improving electronic gathering of pig identification and traceability data to meet the requirements set by the state veterinarian for record keeping and reporting by shows. This is currently done by hand.

“All pork producers and exhibitors need to have the ability to rapidly share traceability data (locations and movements) with their state veterinarian in the case of a foreign animal or regulatory disease outbreak,” Webb says. “The longer it takes producers or exhibitors to provide that information, the longer the industry waits to get back to business.”

One other way National Pork Board is helping eliminate manual errors is by moving to the use of RFID tags. Through a partnership with the USDA, official 840 RFID tags are now available to show pig producers at no additional cost. This removes a financial barrier for families needing official identification for sanctioned shows.

Moving to digital records solves the common issue of miscopying 15-digit tag numbers, which Webb notes happens “nine out of 10 times” when done by hand.

“Think about it – you’ve got 10 project pigs,” he says. “You enter those 10 project pigs in ‘My Barn,’ associate them with the RFID tag that’s in their ear. The kid enters it once and then everything flows where it needs to go.”

(National Pork Board and the Pork Checkoff)

How to Claim Your Free 840 RFID Tags

Follow these steps to secure yours before the next show:
1. Verify Your PIN: You must have a valid Premises Identification Number (PIN) for the location where the pigs are housed. If you don’t have one, contact your state animal health official.
2. Visit the Portal: Go to www.840swinetags.com to place your order.
3. Enter Your Details: Provide your PIN, shipping address, and the number of show pigs currently on your premises.
4. Tag Your Projects: Once the tags arrive, apply them using a compatible RFID tag applicator.
5. Sync with AgView: Open your AgView account and use the “MyBarn” feature to scan or enter the tag numbers once. This ensures your records are accurate and ready for any show requirement.

Show Pig Health Checklist

When pigs mix for the first time at these shows, health problems undoubtedly follow. Help keep your pigs and your friends’ pigs healthy by following these steps.

1. Complete thorough animal health checks before loading up your pigs to go to the show.
2. If you have sick pigs, leave them at home and follow up with a veterinarian.
3. Bring health documentation to the show.
4. All identification and movement records should be in accordance with federal code of regulations, and it’s required when moving pigs in interstate commerce.

Read more about keeping your pigs health at the show here.

Visit porkcheckoff.org to learn more about AgView and its MyBarn Feature.

Why Livestock Judging Is the Ultimate Character-Building Sport for Youth

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 20:06:55 GMT

When Grace showed up to livestock judging practice for the first time, I instantly got a good vibe from this freckle-cheeked third grader. She just couldn’t stop smiling.

Later that evening of our first practice of the season, I asked all the juniors (3rd through 8th grade) to write down their goals for the season. The goals ranged from getting a 50 in a contest to a five-point plan for judging success.

But when I got to Grace’s goal, it stopped me in my tracks.

“To be amazing.”

I’ve read through a lot of judging goals over the years, but this was a first. In a world obsessed with winning, Grace reminded me of something even more important.

The Long Game of Livestock Judging

Looking at Grace, I saw the beginning of a journey I am currently watching my own son conclude. As he nears the end of his 4-H judging career, I’ve realized that my husband and I haven’t just been coaching him on how to rank a class of gilts; we’ve been coaching him on how to navigate life.

Maybe I am being overly sentimental as our son nears the end of his 4-H livestock judging experience. As I reflect back, I’m honored by the unique (and sometimes challenging) seat I’ve had to watch his progress. I remind myself that while the wins that can happen in livestock judging sure feel good and keep us going back for more, it’s really about something so much bigger.

Hunter Shike judging at Black Hawk College East Campus Judging Contest

(Faith Lortie)

The Intangible Advantage

It’s easy to pinpoint the skills kids learn from livestock judging such as decision-making, evaluation, attention to detail and critical thinking. But what is even more valuable is how livestock judging helps young people develop a mindset that doesn’t go away when the final card is turned in.

Here are three ways I’ve watched this “sport” build character.

1. Turning Disadvantages into Drive

One of my favorite examples of determination comes from a boy who had no livestock experience before he joined the team. No one could deny he was at a disadvantage because he didn’t have a show pig or a steer in the barn to go look at and study. Everything he was being taught was initially done by watching video classes during practice. I wondered if he would stick with it because he came from a different place than the other judges. I was pleasantly surprised to see how this disadvantage fueled his determination to learn and absorb as much as he could every practice. He’s now in his third year of judging and has been at the top of the pack all season. He reminds me to look at disadvantages as opportunities to grow. Livestock judging is a great equalizer. It doesn’t matter if you have a million-dollar barn or a video screen; it only matters how much you are willing to “see.

2. Balancing Perspective with Belief

I’m a bit of a stickler when it comes to the topic of humility. I find it challenging to build confidence and humility at the same time. But there’s no question that livestock judging teaches it, whether you want to learn it or not. As much as we want kids to walk up to a class or into the reasons room with as much confidence as possible, we also want them to remember judging livestock is subjective. We must be able to consider others’ perspectives and not just center in on our own. I’m grateful for how judging livestock provides a training ground to help students gain open-mindedness and a desire for continual learning. Judging forces a child to stand firm in their conviction while simultaneously acknowledging that an official might see the world differently. When their confidence can lie in their ability to learn versus their ability to always be right, something powerful happens.

3. The Slow Work of Success

The transition between being a junior who places classes and answers questions to being a senior who places classes and talks oral reasons is tough. It’s one thing to answer questions about a class; it’s another to stand in front of an official and present a 1.5-minute case for why you placed the class the way you did. It takes time to hone that skill. I remember how challenging it was for our son to go from winning the state contest as a junior to struggling through his first few contests giving oral reasons. Good placings mattered, but beginning oral reasons scores kept him out of the top group. We had to remind him that becoming skilled in the reasons room simply takes time. Seeing him achieve his goal of winning oral reasons in a contest this past year remind me that good things do come eventually if you allow yourself to be molded and shaped by the less-than-great moments that are sure to happen along the way.

(Faith Lortie)

The livestock industry doesn’t just need more high-point individuals, it needs more people with the mindset that judging builds. To every coach and parent feeling the weight of this task: Keep going. You aren’t just teaching them how to rank livestock. You are building the leaders our industry desperately needs. Focus on the character, and the results will take care of themselves.

I don’t know if “Amazing Grace” will win the state contest this year. But as I watch her smile through every missed placing and every tough set of questions, I realize she’s already achieved her goal. She is amazing—not because of her card, but because of her character. And that is something we need to talk about more often.

The Miracle Behind “Eddie”: Pig Breaks World Record Sale Price at $505,000

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 22:09:36 GMT

The barn was quiet at 4:30 a.m. when Brad Mabry walked in to give “Eddie” one last chance. It was the morning of the crossbred barrow show at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo (HLSR). For his 15-year-old son Landry Mabry, a lot of hard work and heart was sitting on the edge of a scale.

The family had tried everything to help their constipated barrow who was eating and drinking, but not giving any weight back. They had walked him for miles and cycled him through the wash rack a dozen times for cool rinses. Desperate, Brad did the only thing he hadn’t tried: he took off his hat, placed a trembling hand on the barrow’s back, and prayed.

“I didn’t pray for a win,” Brad recalls. “I prayed that Landry would get to finish this experience on good terms—not losing him on the scales for being overweight. I just wanted to see Landry and his brother Kenton’s hard work out on the green shavings.”

When he opened his eyes, the “miracle” happened. The barrow finally relieved itself.

“I cried like a baby,” Brad says. “All that worry and anxiousness was immediately gone.”

Hours later, when the judge’s hand slapped Eddie’s back, the roar of the crowd was a blur. For the Mabry family, the grand champion title wasn’t just a win; it was the fulfillment of a prayer. One day later, that moment turned into history when Eddie sold for a world-record price of $505,000.

An Unconventional Champion

Every family who enters a major show in Texas dreams of a moment like that, says his mother, Chyla.

“It’s not something you actually think can happen because it’s so hard,” she adds. “At Houston, 2,200 pigs showed up, and about 40,000 other entries were tagged that didn’t make it there.”

Eddie’s path to the champion drive was anything but traditional. Born July 12, Brad says Eddie “swam upstream” on everything.

“He was too young, too white, and too cheap to ever win a show like Houston, according to the world,” Brad says.

But when Eddie walked into the ring, Judge Andy Rash didn’t hide his emotions well.

“This one gives me goosebumps,” Rash told the crowd. “When he came through the sift pen and I saw his head and his chest and his forearm, I said, ‘Please God, let him have some center body and let his hind leg work – and work in a good way.’ And he just kept getting better.”

Rash went on to say Eddie was a special animal for a lot of reasons.

“If you like skeleton and if you like structure, and you don’t like this one, I’d find something else to do,” he said. “If you like them stout and bold coming and going, here’s one you can sit and talk about. If you want them to look good up front and still have a stout skull, still be fresh in their back and have range of motion, use all the -ests you want, that’s one you can talk about.”

The Scent of Victory

When the grand champion drive rolled around three days later, Landry remembers everything getting strangely quiet as Judges Andy Rash, Alltech U.S. monogastric director, and Brian Arnold, United Animal Health senior product manager-direct fed microbials, looked through the pigs one more time.

“I felt like time stopped when Andy Rash came to shake my hand,” Landry recalls. “I remember the scent of his cologne when he hugged me. My plan was not to cry and be a macho man, but that didn’t happen. Right after I was selected, it was like the sound went back on and it got really loud again. I don’t remember anything I said except thank you.”

After hugging both judges, Landry went over to hug Eddie. Brad says it brought back memories of one of the first county stock shows the boys attended. When Landry was named champion, he hugged the judge, then he hugged his brother who was also showing in the grand drive, and then both boys went to hug their pigs.

“From the time they were little bitty until now as teenagers, our boys have had such a deep respect for their livestock,” Brad says. “They understand the pig’s purpose, but they also want to give dignity to their animals throughout the entire process.”

Learning Who Your Friends Are

As Chyla, an ag teacher, watched her son achieve this dream, she says she was overwhelmed with emotion. While she followed the rules and went the long way around the ring to hug her son, she jokes that Brad jumped the fence and got in trouble trying to get to Landry. The emotions were running high for everyone.

“I can’t even tell you what it was like to be there surrounded by our friends in that moment,” Chyla says. “They were holding our hands, hugging us and truly celebrating the win with us. Multiple show dads were crying with us. One of my best friends was holding my hand so tight – we were wiping our hands because our hands were so sweaty.”

As she thinks back to that moment, the win will always be awesome, but the people by her side will never be forgotten.

“I think it’s a testament to the good part of this business,” Chyla says. “Yes, the trophy is wonderful. But I found out who my friends were this week because they were the ones helping us when we were stressed, holding my hand when I was freaking out, and crying with me when he won.”

Brad grew up showing livestock, but it didn’t prepare him for this moment as a parent.

“I was not prepared for what it felt like to not want anything else,” Brad says. “I know what it feels like to lose, to just want to make the sale, to want to make my ag teacher happy. I used to want so many things. I learned how to handle losing because I did it so much, and I had come to grips that was our norm at the big shows. I was just thankful for the experience my dad created to show at a show like Houston when I was a kid.”

The swine auction committee at Houston is incredible and does an incredible job of gathering support, Landry says. The sale runs so smoothly and everybody wears pink.

It Takes a Little Luck

Hard work alone doesn’t win a show, Chyla says. Everyone who goes to Houston must work very hard to get their pig to that stage.

“You definitely don’t get that bowlegged H trophy in the grand drive at Houston without working your booty off,” Chyla says. “But it takes a lot of luck, and things just have to fall into place.”

The Mabry family believes holding post-game, family “press conferences” where everyone weighs in on what they can do better next time has helped them improve.

For example, this show season, the family agreed to feed fewer barrows so they could give more attention to every barrow. The boys have also continued to take on bigger leadership roles in the barn.

“They execute the job,” Brad says. “They mix our feed and pour the feed. We’ve had errors doing that because they’re kids, and that’s going to happen. We want our kids to be responsible and accountable, and this is a great way to build those skills.”

Judge Arnold says one of the best parts of the livestock experience is seeing how families work together to maximize the potential of their animal for their targeted shows.

“Along the way, these young people will experience many unexpected challenges that they will have to take head on such as health events with their pig,” Arnold says. “All these hours of work lead up to literally seconds in the showring where you are at the mercy of a judge’s opinion. This whole process provides young people with experiences that transcend the showring and can be applied in all areas of life.”

Beyond the Buckle

It’s the people who make the stock show industry great, not the awards, Landry adds.

“Having bigger backdrops is way cooler than bigger buckles,” he points out. “When you graduate, you can’t go win shows anymore. It’s about the people you meet along the way.”

When Landry reflects on his experience at Houston, his mind goes to the people who stepped up to help when Eddie was struggling and the friends who celebrated the win. He thinks about the loyal friendship with breeder Roger Lacy who gave him the opportunity to show Eddie. And most of all, he appreciates how showing livestock brings his family together.

“In life, you will meet role models and examples,” Brad says. “Role models are people to listen to and follow. An example is when someone shows what not to do. I might be a role model in one situation and an example in another one. I tell the boys to be selfish and choose which parts of people they want to learn from. You can’t throw people away because they make mistakes, but that doesn’t mean you have to fan their flame either.”

The Legacy of the Sale

Growing up a low-income student who benefited from scholarships and community support, Brad is incredibly grateful for the HLSR scholarship program. He earned a Houston scholarship that allowed him to attend college.

“When my dad passed away when I was a junior in high school, he made $250 a week,” Brad says. “I had humble parents who loved and supported their kids. I never felt poor, but I knew that I was. Their priorities were always correct, but money wasn’t one of those priorities.”

Brad and Chyla believe strongly in raising their kids to understand that there is a cost to showing livestock and that requires fiscal responsibility and humility.

“I’m not going to lie, my commitment to that was tested as the pig was going from $300,000 to $400,000 to $500,000,” Brad says. “But that’s what I love about Houston – they are 100% transparent on what buyers are getting. There is no illusion that a kid will win $500,000. It’s clearly stated that the kid will win $45,000. I think that’s more than enough.”

The brothers will split the money equally because all their pigs are shared efforts. The money will be invested into college accounts, and they will continue to work to earn scholarship money to help pay for the rest of their college education.

The remaining $460,000 raised from the sale of Eddie will go directly into the HLSR scholarship fund to support inner-city students, 4-H members and FFA members.

Answered Prayers

It’s been less than a week since they left Houston to return home to Crawford, Texas. Brad says it’s still a “windfall of emotion” that he can’t process yet.

“Getting to show was an answer to prayer,” he says. “It wasn’t the banner. It wasn’t the buckle. Getting to walk into that class was so profound. Only a livestock person would think an animal going to the bathroom was a miracle, but it truly was a miracle.”

And Brad made sure to tell everyone he could about it at the show.

“I can surely, with a non-Christian mind, tell you that there was a cool breeze that morning, that the water hit him just right, and those extra five steps got his body back in rhythm,” Brad says. “But the Christian in me doesn’t go down that road at all. It was an amazing answer to prayer that rattled my bones. The banner is going to get all the attention, but my family knows where that attention should go.”

Adam Sanders Brings Hog-Wild Energy on Stage in CBS Series “The Road”

Tue, 25 Nov 2025 21:11:05 GMT

What does pig farming have to do with the new CBS series featuring Keith Urban and Blake Shelton? More than you might think.

The Road is an exciting new show that features 12 emerging artists who are competing for a $250,000 prize package and recording opportunities. Each participant also earns the opportunity to open for Urban during his national tour.

Six artists remain, and one of the featured artists is Adam Sanders, a Nashville singer and songwriter originally from Florida. He’s also a good friend of Missouri pig farmer Jesse Heimer. Not only has he performed at Heimer’s farm multiple times, but the pair has also written two songs together, including “Do What We Do.”

The tour bus rolls into Tulsa for a concert at the iconic Cain’s Ballroom. In place of Blake Shelton, award-winning country artist Dustin Lynch sits in with Keith Urban. For the first time, the seven musicians are divided up to perform two group covers before performing their originals, on THE ROAD, Sunday, Nov. 23 (9:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT). Pictured: Adam Sanders. Photo: ©2025 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Highest quality screengrab.

(CBS/CBS )

“I think what folks see on the screen is someone who’s had just enough experience on stage in front of a crowd, and the feelings of all of it, to know that he really wants it,” Heimer says. “This isn’t Adam’s first time to town – he opened for Carrie Underwood at a sold-out Iowa State Fair. He understands the stage, the audience, and the emotions people have as they listen to an entertainer.”

It’s been an incredible experience to watch Sanders shine on The Road, Heimer adds.

“He really took this opportunity to heart – to be on screen in front of millions to tell his story and put his talent on display,” Heimer says. “Adam is a high energy guy all the time and that’s what you see on stage. But he’s also one of the most genuine, down-to-earth friends I’ve ever had. The Adam you see on screen is the Adam you’ll see on the street.”

That’s Why We Do What We Do

Heimer first met Sanders in 2019. They were introduced by a mutual friend after Heimer created a series of videos to highlight the benefits of showing livestock. His goal was to help people outside of agriculture see that showing livestock was about more than just the animal and the ribbon. Their mutual friend encouraged Heimer to produce a music video which eventually led him to meet Sanders, a talented songwriter.

Adam Sanders (l) and Jesse Heimer (r) on the farm in Taylor, Mo.

(Legacy Livestock Images/Heidi Anderson)

“I had to learn more about his industry, so I could have enough knowledge about his side of the fence,” Sanders says. “I think we spent months really talking about the idea of this. One day, it really just registered with me and it clicked. I remember writing down in my phone: ‘that’s why we do what we do.’”

Sanders called on his friend Brice Long, a fellow songwriter to help write “Do What We Do.”

“I wanted the song to be broad enough that it could appeal across facets of agriculture,” Heimer says. “I knew if we made it just about the show ring, we were only going to attract those that already believe the same things as me.”

The project started as an anthem for stock show kids and although that goal never changed, the video went down a different path than Heimer first expected. He wanted to create a music video that everybody in agriculture could see themselves in. Regardless of what your role in agriculture is, Heimer believes this song speaks to the feelings of many about why they do what they do.

“I couldn’t be prouder of how the song turned out, and how it all came together,” Sanders says. “It was just a natural fit. It took some time to make it happen, but God had a plan in all of this and how it shaped out.”

Sanders adds that the stats show the song resonates with people. Through organic promotion only, the song has now been streamed nearly 600,000 times and appears on 39 playlists. It’s received 873,000 views on TikTok, too. Beyond traditional streams, the song has been very popular with TikTok users who are increasingly using it in their content.

But You’d Get It If You Did It

Three years after Sanders released this song, Heimer had an “epiphany” at the 2024 Missouri State Fair.

“I realized I was watching my kids doing, saying and loving all of the same things I did at the state fair when I was a kid,” Heimer says. “It felt like déjà vu. I talked to Adam during the fair and told him we should write a song about it – to piggyback off ‘Do What We Do.’”

Not long after, the song ‘ Get It If You Did It ’ was born.

“From the outside looking in, it’s hard to understand why we raise pigs, why we go to shows, why we commit so many resources for our kids to find success in the show ring,” Heimer

But you’d get it if you did it
I bet you wouldn’t knock it
If you dug your boots down in it
You’d know why we can’t stop it
You can’t replace the dreams we chase
Naw ain’t no way we can quit it
Might not love it like we love it
Or live it like we live it
But you’d get it if you did it.

- Get It If You Did It

points out. “This song is a continuation of the original story. The writing is broad enough, though, that it fits anyone’s hobby or passion from hunting to sports to rodeo. I hope it gets a spot on The Road.”

The chorus is easy for people in agriculture to relate to, Heimer says.

“The show pig community has been incredibly supportive of me as an artist for several years, going back to the introduction of ‘Do What We Do’ – and even before,” Sanders says. “It seems like no matter where I’m playing, people from this industry are in the crowd.”

Live from Oklahoma Ranch

Show pig industry leader Blake Kennedy, owner of Kennedy Ventures, was fortunate to be in the audience during the taping of The Road in Oklahoma City.

“It was a really cool experience to be selected as a cast member,” Kennedy says. “When we got there, they checked us in and took our phones and belongings. Because no one had the distraction of a phone, everyone was very present and engaged.”

The atmosphere inside Oklahoma Ranch was very exciting, he adds. Sanders performed his original, “Burning Roses” and Jo Dee Messina’s hit song “Heads Carolina, Tails California.”

Although the contestants only get a few minutes of time in the TV show, Kennedy says their live performances were about 10 minutes and allowed the audience the opportunity to get to know each performer a little more.

“It was awesome to see someone like Adam be successful in his world who also enjoys seeing us achieve success in our world, too,” Kennedy says.

Tune in Sunday

Don’t miss the next episode performed at The Hall in Little Rock, Ark., airing on CBS on Nov. 30 at 8 p.m. CT. https://www.cbs.com/shows/the-road/

Read the ‘Do What We Do’ story here:
Nashville Singer and Pig Farmer Release Anthem for Ag

Senecavirus A Outbreaks in Show Pigs Prompt Reminders for Exhibitors

Thu, 30 Oct 2025 18:46:21 GMT

Recent outbreaks of Senecavirus A (also known as Seneca Valley virus) in show pigs prompt the importance of biosecurity, good stockmanship and communication with your veterinarian, says Patrick Webb, assistant chief veterinarian at the National Pork Board.

Senecavirus A, a small, non-enveloped picornavirus, has been circulating in U.S. pigs since at least 1988.

“The challenge with the virus is that it’s indistinguishable from foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) as far as how it looks in a pig,” Webb says. “They get vesicular lesions (blisters) on their snout and around the top of their hooves, around the coronary band. They can get blisters in between the hooves.”

What is Senecavirus A?

This FMD look-alike is interesting, he says. When a pig gets infected with it, clinical signs typically show up three to five days later.

“That’s when you’re going to see a bit of lethargy and fever, but more importantly, you will see vesicular lesions,” Webb says.

(National Pork Board)

Don’t expect to see the actual blister, he points out. Because the snout and feet are high-motion areas, blisters don’t last very long. You may see areas that look like a scab because the blister has popped.

“Think about a blister popping on your hand and what it looks like,” Webb says. “Seeing blisters is pretty rare. Seeing popped blisters that are crusty and gross and may have a secondary bacterial infection starting up is more common.”

The virus can shed in nasal secretions, oral secretions and in manure for almost 30 days. It also seems to “set up shop” or “hide out” in the tonsils. When a pig is stressed, some reports say pigs can start shedding the virus again.

Webb says it seems to be a hardy virus, but many common disinfectants work well against it.

The Swine Health Information Center fact sheet on Senecavirus A says the efficacy of many disinfectants against SVA remains unclear. Because vesicular diseases are clinically indistinguishable, disinfection protocols for FMD should be followed even if SVA is suspected. This includes use of sodium hydroxide, sodium carbonate, 0.2% citric acid, aldehydes, and oxidizing disinfectants including sodium hypochlorite. Learn more here.

Report Immediately

Since Senecavirus A looks like FMD, a foreign animal disease, it needs to be reported to your local veterinarian or state veterinarian immediately, Webb says. As Senecavirus A has become more common, it has resulted in some desensitization to these vesicular lesions.

“It used to be ‘Oh blisters, that’s a big deal.’ Now it’s ‘Oh blisters. It’s Seneca, and that’s the wrong mindset,’” Webb says. “We need to have vesicular lesions looked at by a veterinarian, and potentially have a foreign animal disease investigation done, because it’s clinically indistinguishable from FMD. We must make sure FMD doesn’t sneak in undercover.”

If you don’t work with a veterinarian, he urges show pig exhibitors to connect with their state veterinarian. This has become more common in areas with less access to veterinary care. Building that relationship is very important for the good of the entire swine industry, he adds.

Prevention of Senecavirus A

Both direct and indirect transmission are likely to play a role in the spread of Senecavirus A. This virus has been identified in mice and houseflies. Webb points out that transportation and commingling of pigs is a common way for the disease to spread. Reports have shown in some cases that no lesions existed on pigs loaded onto trucks bound for long-distance harvest facilities. However, by the time they arrived at the plant, lesions were present.

“There seems to be, at least anecdotally, the ability for this virus to maybe reoccur and result in lesions in a short period of time,” Webb explains.

(National Pork Board)

Senecavirus A has been a challenge at packing plants during upticks of the virus that seems to ebb and flow based on the season.

“When vesicular lesions show up in pigs at the packing plant, it starts a foreign animal disease investigation that disrupts the plant schedule,” Webb says. “Although it seems like it’s not as hot and heavy as it was when we first really saw Seneca floating through the industry, it’s here to stay.”

For show pig producers and families , Webb wants people to be aware that Senecavirus A is out there. This virus does not present a risk to human health or food safety, but it does require veterinary consult.

“Everything we do to prevent influenza, porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome, porcine epidemic diarrhea and more, all apply the same as Senecavirus A,” he says. “Good biosecurity and good traceability through Ag View are important. If your pigs are sick at home, have your herd veterinarian come and take a look at them. If you do see vesicles, call your veterinarian or the state veterinarian’s office and report it. Don’t take sick pigs to exhibitions. If they’re clinically ill, separate them out and contact your herd vet. If you start to see clinical signs at shows in your pigs, report it to the veterinarian at the fair.”

Senecavirus A Resources:
Senecavirus A Fact Sheet by Swine Health Information Center

Senecavirus A: Frequently Asked Questions

Tragic Turn: Trailer of Show Pigs Bursts Into Flames on I-80

Thu, 02 Oct 2025 20:41:05 GMT

With the windows rolled down and the sun on his face, Chad Rieck admits he was having a pretty good day driving down Interstate 80. He was pulling a trailer with four gilts, and one of those gilts was bringing home the title of Third Overall Purebred Breeding Gilt from the Aksarben Stock Show.

For Chad and his wife, Amy, spending precious time with their 17-year-old daughter Hollynn at a stock show is something they don’t take for granted. Their busy daughter, now a senior, was juggling the show weekend with homecoming, volleyball and dance team. Because of this, she drove separately to the show with her mom to squeeze in more of her school activities.

Separated by a couple minutes on the interstate, they were chatting on the phone keeping each other awake on the drive from Grand Island, Neb., back to their farm in Creston, Iowa. Suddenly, the traffic slowed down and their day took a tragic turn.

A car burning alongside I-80 held up traffic for miles.

(NDOT)

Igniting the Fire

“I remember my wife saying, ‘Traffic is starting to get bad,’” Rieck recalls. “I told her there was an accident up ahead and we’d get through it eventually.”

When he came upon the scene, he discovered a car burning alongside the road. By this time, he had rolled up his windows and slowly drove by the car. No emergency vehicles were on the scene, so Chad estimates the fire had probably started within three to five minutes of when he passed it.

“The front of the car was fully engulfed in flames,” Rieck describes. “The driver’s portion to the back of the car was starting to get hot – hot, hot flames. My fear of driving by was, ‘What if there’s a gas tank there, and that gas tank blows? That’s going to be bad.’”

When he drove by, something burst.

“It wasn’t the gas tank that blew, but something, whether it was a fuel line, a tire or whatever, blew a ‘poof’ of flames,” he says.

About a mile after he passed the car on fire – maybe one or two minutes at most – Rieck noticed smoke rolling out of the trailer. At first, he thought maybe some smoke from the fire got in through the open trailer windows. Then, he wondered if he blew a tire.

“I’m looking in the mirrors checking for that and continually rolling,” he says. “I see a semi behind me begin to flash his lights at me. That’s when I thought, ‘Okay, I’ve got problems.’”

Fortunately, he was coming upon an exit ramp. He jumped off the interstate and threw the truck in park as soon as he could.

“My wife’s still on the phone with me at this point,” he says. “I jump out of the truck and see the trucker running up with a couple of fire extinguishers. Because of him, I was able to get the back doors opened on the trailer. We got most of the flames down but didn’t have enough to get the fire completely out.”

When he opened the door, he saw that their banner-winning Poland China gilt was already dead, but the three other pigs were hanging on to life.

“The Poland gilt was on the back of the trailer and had somehow broken out of her pen trying to get away,” he says.

The burning trailer was caught on camera by the Nebraska Department of Transportation (NDOT).

(NDOT)

Roadside Rescue

The fire picked up again as he tried to figure out how to get the pigs off the trailer.

“When I parked the trailer at the show, we left some tack in the trailer. So, I locked the ramp and the driver side walk-through door,” he explains. “I ran to get the key that I thought was in the truck, but there was no key there. Now, I’m just frantic.”

With no way to get to the three pigs still on the trailer, he grabbed for the big cart they hauled tack with that was standing upright in the back pen.

“Not a smart deal,” Rieck recalls. “I grabbed it with my hand, and now I’ve got some nice blisters. But even if I could have moved that cart, it wouldn’t have mattered. I had to get the pigs out the side ramp.”

The trucker ran back with a crowbar and Rieck broke the latches off the ramp door to get the ramp down. Flames greeted him. He was running out of options. He ran around to the other side’s ramp, broke that latch off and ended up getting two pigs out.

“The third pig was scared and wouldn’t come out, so I had to reach in through one of the sides to push her out,” he says. “I ended up with some burns on my arm from that, but I finally got her out.”

At this point, the trailer is still on fire. The trucker told Rieck to unhook his truck and pull it away from the trailer now that the pigs were out.

“I would have never thought of doing that,” he adds. “We had a gas can and small generator in the tack room of the trailer, so I went to work to get that out of there before we had an even bigger problem. Fortunately, the tack room was in decent shape, likely because there was a door between it and the main part of the trailer.”

Once the fire truck arrived, they focused on the trailer first. Megan Hobbs says she was able to gather buckets from the tack room to start filling to get to water all three pigs who were alive at the time. Unfortunately, they lost the Duroc, so they had to turn their focus to the remaining two.

(Megan Hobbs)

Meanwhile, people began showing up and helping with the pigs that were now scattered.

“I had one pig walking down the exit ramp,” Rieck says. “Meanwhile, one gilt was hunkered down under a tree in the ditch and the third was dying alongside the exit ramp. I’m in shock at this point – walking around and asking myself why.”

Stock show people he had never met before like Joe and Megan Hobbs of Newton, Kan., turned around and came back to help.

“As soon as we arrived at the scene, there was another young lady who worked for Legacy Livestock Imaging that had also stopped to help,” explains Megan Hobbs. “We immediately just jumped into action getting any and all water available to help cool the pigs down. At the beginning all we had was cooler water and water bottles. In those situations you don’t ask for permission, you just go with what your gut tells you to do.”

(Chad Rieck)

A Little Bit Ironic

When the York Fire Department showed up, they quickly went to work extinguishing the fire in the trailer. Hobbs says she kept running water back and forth from the firetruck to the people caring for the gilts alongside the road.

“God put us in the right place at the right time,” Hobbs says. “We trusted our gut turning around to go help as we just knew it was probably one of our own from the livestock industry that needed help.”

The firefighters on the scene also reached out to a firefighter in a nearby department, David May, who had show pigs.

“I received a call from dispatch when I was about 5 miles from my farm heading home with pigs from the show,” May says. “They said there was a vehicle fire involving a trailer with larger pigs and asked if I could help wrangle and haul the surviving pigs. Of course, I didn’t hesitate and was already on the move.”

May devised a plan to get his pigs off his trailer quickly and navigate through the piled-up interstate traffic.

“I had my 16-year-old daughter Braxtyn with me, so we began talking through things on the drive there,” May says. “I even joked with her, ‘It’s probably someone who kicked our butt today.’ But that didn’t cause either of us to hesitate to help however possible.”

When May got to the scene, he immediately recognized the pickup. It had been parked directly beside his truck during loadout about 45 minutes ago.

“I recognized the people and confirmed I didn’t know them,” May says. “I parked and walked up to assess and gather information. Within a minute, another Iowa trailer showed up to get the live hogs. We discussed what to do with the now two deceased pigs. I offered to put them on my trailer and dispose.”

After all the pigs were on trailers and the firefighters had inspected Rieck’s trailer to confirm it was safe to haul home, Rieck went over to talk to Braxtyn and thank her for coming to help.

Hollynn Rieck’s Champion Poland and Third Overall Purebred Breeding Gilt at Aksarben.

(Legacy Livestock Imaging)

“For some reason, I wanted to try to cheer this kid up who had just seen this devastation,” Rieck says. “I tried to distract her by asking if she showed a pig that day, and she said, ‘Yes, I was third place with my Poland gilt.’”

It was definitely a little ironic, both dads admit. Their kids had been competing against each other just a few hours earlier. They loaded their pigs up beside each other and took off about the same time. As they got back into their trucks and trailers for the second time that day, they both spent some time reflecting on their drive home.

A Case of Bad Luck

Hollynn drove her dad back in the truck and trailer because he was still in shock. All Rieck could think about was what he could have done differently.

“I saw a number of trailers roll right on by as we stood there with the trailer smoldering,” Rieck says. “I know the next time I see a car fire, I’m going to feel like Ricky Bobby in Talladega Nights. I’m going to be like, ‘Don’t drive through it.’ Maybe I could have gotten in the ditch more, but that’s not safe either.”

It was the kind of incident that you could never predict, May says. Typically, a trailer fire starts with a bad wheel bearing, then the wheel gets hot or locks up. Eventually, the tire catches on fire and results in heavy black smoke that’s easily visible.

(Chad Rieck)

“Most livestock trailer fires start on the outside of the trailer,” May says. “But this fire started inside the trailer. This was a completely freak accident.”

The odds of something hot coming off the car at the precise moment Rieck drove by while also entering the trailer is one in trillions, he adds.

“It’s a bad-luck lottery. It could never have been predicted,” May says. “But, just like so many instances in life, you just have to react and adapt as plans change.”

Still, Rieck says he learned some valuable lessons going through this experience. He will make sure his next trailer has fire extinguishers. He won’t travel with his doors locked on his trailer. He’s also going to invest in some wireless cameras to put into his trailer.

Stock Show Support

When they returned home, a veterinarian confirmed the gilts who survived the trailer fire needed to be euthanized, as their injuries were too severe. Rieck says it was hard on Hollynn to walk through an empty pig barn the next day. Although it’s not an uncommon thing, as every show season comes to an end, this was not the ending she expected. She had high hopes of taking the Poland gilt to the American Royal in a few weeks.

Hollynn won Champion Poland China Gilt and Third Overall Purebred Breeding Gilt at Aksarben.

(Amy Rieck)

For Rieck, the hardest part was calling the breeders who leased them the gilts and telling them what happened.

“The personal financial portion of this isn’t much compared to having to contact those breeders and let them know about the fire,” Rieck says. “We work with Hunter Langholff to get some of our pigs. I can only imagine what the conversation was like with me screaming and yelling about the pigs right after it happened. I’ll never forget Hunter calmly saying, ‘Do not worry about that. These breeders will only care that you, Hollynn and Amy are fine. Pigs can be replaced.’”

With a few tears in his eyes, Rieck says he never wants to take his stock show friends for granted.

“Stock show people are pretty special,” he adds. “Because guess what? We all wanted to win that day. We raise our kids in the show ring and in the show barn for a reason. It’s so we can be around these people. My daughter is going to be a much stronger person because of the experiences that she’s had winning and losing in the show ring and yes, even going through this trailer fire.”

Hollynn says she’s already learned a lot from the fire.

“I am so thankful for all of the people who stopped to help us during our emergency,” she says. “This is living proof that the stock show industry is the best thing to be a part of. The amount of love, thoughts and prayers I have received from people has been astronomical. At the end of the day, I am just grateful my family is ok and that I will forever be a part of such an amazing industry.”

As May reflects on what happened, he says he’s not surprised by the overwhelming support people provided to the Rieck family.

“It’s what we do for each other in all aspects of agriculture, not just livestock,” May says. “I’m glad I was able to assist as needed here and glad my daughter was able to see value in helping others even when it’s not always pretty fairy dust and rainbows.”

Stock Show Kids Share What They Learned This Summer

Mon, 08 Sep 2025 18:55:50 GMT

Youth stock show exhibitors say there are a lot of things they love about showing livestock, but one of the answers heard time and time again is that they love the opportunity it provides to spend time with family and friends.

“In sports, your family’s all split up,” says Trevor Rhoads, exhibitor of the Grand Champion Barrow at the 2025 Illinois State Fair. “But with livestock shows, you’re always with your family. They’re always there and always helping you. It’s just good to be together as a family at these shows.”

Kastin Campbell, exhibitor of the Reserve Grand Champion Land of Lincoln Market Lamb, agrees. He thinks it’s also fun to try to win.

“You don’t just show up on show day and show your animal,” Rhoads adds. “It takes a lot of hard work and effort at home. The banners, ribbons and checks are a result of that. What you put into it is what you get out of it.”

For Lily Grobosky, exhibitor of the Reserve Grand Champion Land of Lincoln Market Goat, that’s her favorite part. She enjoys working with them at home and getting them ready to go into the ring.

Exhibitors from the 2025 Illinois State Fair share reflections and perspectives on their summer showing livestock.

What do you think is the most important lesson that you’ve learned at the State Fair this year?

“Hard work will pay off.” – Cash Kinsella, exhibitor of the Reserve Grand Champion Market Hog

“I’ve learned to be patient and kind to people when they ask questions, but also to take your time and talk to people and not be rushed in your responses.” – Kaolin Lewis, exhibitor of the Reserve Grand Champion Land of Lincoln Market Steer

“Keep grinding at what you do. Regardless of what you’ve achieved or what you haven’t achieved, keep trying and keep trying for more. I like building a connection with an animal, having that responsibility of taking care of them day-in and day-out, and learning from others along the way.” – Hunter Shike, exhibitor of the Reserve Grand Champion Land of Lincoln Market Barrow

“To be humble and be kind.” – Kastin Campbell, exhibitor of the Reserve Grand Champion Land of Lincoln Market Lamb

What do you wish people knew about showing livestock?

“All the hours that are spent in the barns during the week – whether it’s after practice, after school or all day in the summer. It’s a building process – you don’t just show up and win.” – Maddox Horner, exhibitor of the Grand Champion Market Goat

“It’s a lot of hard work. We put in countless hours waking up really early to walk in the morning, then you’re out there all day, tanning, skin care, and then out late at night. There’s a lot of work that goes into it, which can sometimes go unnoticed if you’re not in the livestock industry.” – Ashley Wiegand, exhibitor of the Grand Champion Land of Lincoln Market Barrow

“Sometimes it’s difficult to get them to do what you want so it takes a lot of long hours.” – Kaolin Lewis, exhibitor of the Reserve Grand Champion Land of Lincoln Market Steer

“Every single day you’ve got to work with them make sure they’re right.” – Kastin Campbell, exhibitor of Reserve Grand Champion Land of Lincoln Market Lamb

“I wish people knew just how much time and effort and how often we think about our animals. It’s not like we just go out to the barn for a couple hours a day and then forget about them. When we’re inside, out at our practices, or gone for something else, we’re still always thinking about our livestock projects and how they are doing.” – Hunter Shike, exhibitor of the Reserve Grand Champion Land of Lincoln Market Barrow

3 Stock Show Lessons That Don't Make the Highlight Reels

Wed, 03 Sep 2025 13:49:55 GMT

Even though I know the easy path is rarely the best path, I will admit it would be nice to be on it once in a while. Juggling three children, numerous animals, two jobs and little sleep while traveling to three national shows within a month was beginning to make my husband and I just a little grumpy this summer.

I’m pretty sure he’s not the only stock show dad who threatens, “We could just buy a boat and go to the lake next summer instead of showing livestock.”

No one ever raises their hand for that idea, so we keep at it. And if we are truthful, even though the lack of sleep and possibly too much time together can take its toll, there is nothing we would rather spend our summers doing than showing livestock together.

Although the champion animals often make the highlight reels and headlines, I would argue the most important things happening at shows are less talked about. Here are three lessons I re-learned that go far beyond bringing home a banner.

1. There is more in you than you know.
As I sat on the bleachers during the closing ceremonies in Louisville, Ray Perryman shared a message with the families in attendance that I think more people need to hear.

“There is more in you than what you know,” Perryman said. “You were born for a purpose – to make this world better. Quit fitting in and begin to show out.”

We waste our time comparing our lives to others when we really need to be living into the unique talents and skillsets we have been given. There’s a lot of pressure on our kids today to fit into the mold and prioritize what their teachers, coaches and even parents want them to prioritize. We need to help them realize their voice has a purpose.

2. You have to be uncomfortable to grow.
I like to say I embrace change, but sometimes it’s just not fun to change. It’s fun to change things like your outfit, your vehicle or the TV series you are binging. It’s not fun to change things like your schedule, your passwords or your focus. That can be uncomfortable, and who wants that?

“Sometimes you’ve got to step out of where you are comfortable so you can go where you are needed,” Perryman continued.

Every time I’ve been uncomfortable, I’ve grown. I’ve also been a little scared and worried about what would or wouldn’t happen in those moments. But in the end, I was better. As I watched my youngest get ready to step into the ring that week, her nerves were on full display. When the gate opened and she drove her pig to the judge, I could see the nerves begin to lift and the focus form.

Being uncomfortable makes her better. It makes her discover parts of herself that she didn’t know were there. It opens doors for her to go new places and try new things.

3. You aren’t alone.
As humans, we want to know that we aren’t alone. In fact, experts suggest the desire to belong was critical for our ancestors’ survival. The need for social connection is a fundamental human drive rooted in our biology and essential for both mental and physical health.

It makes sense why our family feels such a deep connection with other families who do what we do at these shows. There’s an understanding of what it took to get to the show, the sacrifices made and the expenses incurred.

I love how the stock show industry connects us and brings us together around shared goals and passions. In a world that often feels so divided, it feels pretty good to know that we’re all coming together for a common purpose in the show ring.

We aren’t even two weeks out from a busy summer showing livestock, but we are already missing it. I guess that makes the sleepless nights and grumpy moods worth it.

Read More:
There’s No Tired Like State Fair Tired
Odd One in the Room? Embrace It
The Power of a Mentor: How You Can Inspire the Next Generation

Legislators 'Battle for the Bacon' at the Ohio State Fair

Tue, 05 Aug 2025 19:11:45 GMT

Some of Ohio’s boldest and fun-loving state legislators came together to show off their animal handling skills at the Ohio State Fair’s Battle for the Bacon, a collaborative event produced by the Ohio Pork Council (OPC) and the Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA).

Rep. Melanie Miller and Addilyn Bryant share a high five before the competition.

(Ohio Pork Council)

“We bring state legislators, whether or not they have a farm background, and team them up with our OH-PIG youth participants,” says OPC president Nathan Schroeder. “It is a great way to bridge a gap between two worlds and have a lot of fun doing it.”

Rep. Bob Peterson and Rep. Roy Klopfenstein served as judges for the event. OPC Executive Vice President Cheryl Day, along with ODA’s Director Brian Baldridge, kept the crowd informed of the show ring events while recognizing those who volunteer to make it all possible, especially the youth mentors and their families who helped the legislators prepare for their show ring experience.

Sen. Michelle Reynolds keeps her eye on the judge.

(Ohio Pork Council)

“This continues to be a highlight for us to be able to show our state legislators just what it takes to not only show a pig but to care for it round the clock every day,” Day says. “That’s why we’re so pleased to have so many great youth mentors and their families from our OH-PIGS show pig circuit who step up to assist these lawmakers each year in preparing for the show ring and explaining how they raise these animals on the farm.”

After the legislator and mentor were introduced to the crowd of cheering fans, the lawmakers took their pigs to the ring as the crowd watched them employ their “unique showmanship style” to keep their animal showing at its best.

Ohio lawmakers pose with their show ring honors after learning what it takes to show a pig at the Ohio State Fair during the Battle for the Bacon event sponsored by the Ohio Pork Council and Ohio Department of Agriculture.

(Ohio Pork Council)

The 2025 participants (legislators and youth exhibitors) included:

Senator Kyle Koehler & Wade Smith
Senator Michele Reynolds & Megan Smith-McCarley
Senator Willis Blackshear & Allison Brink
Senator Kristina Roegner & Gilbert White
Representative Christine Cockley & Alli Knecht
Representative Dave Thomas & Taylor Ellsworth
Representative Haraz Ghanbari & Clair Lampe
Representative Kellie Deeter & Kinsley Swanson
Representative Melanie Miller & Addilyn Bryant
Representative Michele Grim & Tucker Schuffenecker
Representative Kevin Miller & Colton Beckstedt
Representative Erika White & Ava Genter
Representative Johnathan Newman & Genevieve Davis

In the end, Rep. Haraz Ghanbari of Perrysburg was named the grand champion, with reserve champion honors going to Rep. Johnathan Newman of Troy.

Taking grand champion honors was Rep. Haraz Ghanbari shown here with his Ohio pork youth mentor, Claire Lampe.

(Ohio Pork Council)

“The real champions are our 4-H and FFA youth,” Ghanbari said in a release. “Claire was an outstanding coach and ambassador for Wood County and the entire state. I’m proud to share this win with her — and ice cream.”

Each lawmaker went away with a specialized banner, recognizing their efforts and ensuring future fond memories.

“This event is a unique way to engage with our state’s key political leaders in a fun and lighthearted way that connects them with our industry,” Day says. “It’s always about bringing people together to understand that we’re all striving to do what’s best for our state and beyond—doing what’s right for our people, our pigs, and our environment to ensure a better future for everyone.”

8 Easy, Cost-Effective Tips To Maximize Biosecurity On The Farm And At The Fair This Summer

Wed, 30 Jul 2025 16:32:36 GMT

When it comes to biosecurity, livestock producers should have protocols in place for both on the farm and when taking animals to fairs or exhibitions. Live animals, vehicles, equipment, animal products and people can carry disease onto farms.

University of Missouri Extension dairy specialist Chloe Collins says preparation helps producers know what they are up against.

“This will help your biosecurity practices run smoothly and effectively,” she says.

With it being county and state fair season for many parts of the country, University of Missouri Extension veterinarian Corinne Bromfield says there are easy things producers can do to improve biosecurity and help minimize transmission of diseases.

“Many think biosecurity needs to be intense and expensive, but small, consistent actions can pay big dividends,” Bromfield says.

Collins and Bromfield share basic biosecurity steps that cost little to nothing but can save a lot of money and headaches:

Check health requirements for exhibitions. Many events require a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI), or health certificate from a veterinarian — especially for livestock traveling from out of state. This helps ensure only healthy animals go to shows, reducing the likelihood animals will pick up something at the show and bring it back home. If livestock exhibit any signs of contagious disease, such as coughing, diarrhea or skin irritations, they should be left at home.

Dedicated clothing. People taking animals to fairs should wear dedicated clothing and footwear at the fair and not bring them home to their other animals. Having dedicated clothing/footwear that doesn’t leave your farm is also important for your animals staying home.

Isolate new or returning animals. This is a key step to mitigate the immediate spread of disease and gives producers time to observe animals. Make sure the isolation area is separate from high-traffic areas and has its own feed and water sources. Another option is attending a terminal show, where the livestock will not return to the home herd.

Set a quarantine protocol. Keep new or returning animals separate from the herd for at least two weeks (four weeks is even better), and watch for any signs of illness. This helps prevent the spread of disease to animals that are currently healthy animals. Work with your quarantined after working with the home herd.

Sanitize. Keep housing, feeding and watering areas clean. Regularly disinfect these spaces and remove manure frequently to reduce cross contamination. Avoid bringing home feed, shavings or manure from the event. Wash the trailer to clean off manure, and always wash your hands after interacting with animals.

Clean your equipment. This is especially important for those attending fairs this summer or frequently moving animals. Always clean your equipment before you leave the farm and as soon as you return. If you’re bringing new equipment, such as a stock trailer, to the farm, stop at a truck wash on the way home to clean and disinfect it. Don’t forget to scrub buckets, fans, panels, shovels and any other objects that have traveled with your animal or may have encountered other animals or animal products.

Limit farm access. Create designated areas for visitors. If you frequently have people who visit your farm, create zones for them — preferably away from animal areas. Require visitors to wear disposable footwear covers (like plastic boots) to limit disease spread. Designate parking and foot traffic areas to keep a barrier from your herd. Consider posting “Personnel Only” signs and establish protocols for high-risk areas, such as feed storage and highly trafficked zones.

Develop a written biosecurity plan unique to your farm. First, figure out what risks you already face with visitors, moving equipment on and off the farm and other animals that could be potential disease vectors. Plan how to mitigate animal contact and minimize risks.

Your next read: Remember Biosecurity Practices As You Exhibit Animals at Shows and Fairs

Breaking Boundaries Event Helps All Kids Shine in the Pig Show Ring

Mon, 28 Jul 2025 22:38:17 GMT

An inclusive event at the Ohio State Fair offers participants between the ages of 9 and 22 with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities the opportunity to shine inside the swine show arena.

This is the third annual Breaking Boundaries Pig Show, which is presented by the Ohio Pork Council (OPC).

Dozens of youth mentors from across the state, who are part of OPC’s OH-PIGS swine exhibition program, are paired with a Breaking Boundaries participant. These mentors offer individualized and appropriate instructions on how to care for, handle, and show a pig in front of a live audience of supporters, guest judges, and the show’s emcee, Ohio Department of Agriculture Director Brian Baldridge.

“We’re so thrilled to have these special youth and their families come out and be a part of this program each year,” says Kelly Morgan, OH-PIGS director. “We are also so proud of youth mentors who truly want to serve in this role to be able to bond with these youth who can often be the same age. It just shows how much the pig community cares.”

Youth from across Ohio participated in the third-annual Breaking Boundaries show at the Ohio State Fair, presented by the Ohio Pork Council. Cheryl Day, Ohio Pork Council Executive Vice President (in blue shirt center), was surrounded by the excited youth mentors and participants along with key supporters, such as Nathan Shroeder, OPC President, and Kelly Morgan, OH-PIGS Director (both back right).

(Ohio Pork Council)

Echoing this sentiment is Ava Genter, an OH-PIGS mentor, she sums up her feelings on behalf of her peers.

“This program highlights how agriculture, and the pork industry in particular, has a strong sense of community,” she says. “It’s comforting to know that we all look out for each other, including new friends. Breaking Boundaries allows us to demonstrate this and show others that we’re here to support them no matter the circumstances. We’re here to cheer them on and give them the resources they need to succeed.”

Mentors and their families from the OH-PIGS program provide the event’s show pigs and share knowledge and expertise during their time with the youth participants.

It’s an opportunity for Ohio pig farming families to give back to their communities.

“It’s just a true honor to be in the show arena with these special young people and everyone who is giving of their time and talents to make a difference to these families,” says Cheryl Day, OPC executive vice president. “We’re incredibly pleased to bring this to the state fair each year and bring some true joy to people.”

The Truth About Stock Show Moms

Fri, 18 Jul 2025 17:09:55 GMT

Stock show moms can’t be put in a box. From the mom who can feed barrows better than anyone in the barn to the mom who always has the best snacks for the kids, and from the mom who takes all the pictures to the mom who listens to everyone’s problems, it takes all kinds to make the show go on.

Emily Spray, a stock show mom of three from Indiana, says there is no shortage of lessons learned at stock shows. One of the most valuable she has learned from being a stock show mom is humility. If it’s not the animals, it’s the kids who humble you, she laughs.

The Spray family and friends at the 2024 Indiana State Fair.

(Lindsay Hanewich)

“The other day I saw a picture of a house with a long row of hydrangea bushes,” Spray says. “The owner was discouraged because there was only one bloom on that whole row of bushes. The owner said, ‘I’ve been fertilizing them the same way. I’ve been watering them the same way. They’ve all been tended to the same way. But I’m only getting one bloom on that bush.’”

Spray relates this to showing livestock and raising kids.

“We’re not just going to dig out all the bushes and plant something else,” Spray says. “We’re going to keep at it. We’re going to keep going. Sometimes when we’ve got these kids who have big goals, there’s a lot of stress, competitiveness and goals being made. You’re doing the right things. You’re walking them all the same, feeding them all the same, but you’re not getting those blooms.”

Motherhood is about teaching kids to keep doing the next right thing. And someday, Spray adds, they might have more blooms on all those bushes.

“Keeping things in perspective is a valuable lesson,” she says. “Being able to change, adapt and edit as you go is important because there’s not always one right answer.”

“Her flexibility with an ever changing and always busy schedule is probably her super power,” Makayla Spray (r) says about her mom Emily (l).

(Jennifer Shike)

Sometimes It’s Not Your Turn
Disappointments inevitably come when goals aren’t reached or hard things happen. Spray recalls a story about one of their best Hampshire gilts before the state fair.

“I’ll never forget when my husband Craig and daughter Makayla walked in from the barn,” she says. “I could tell there was something wrong.”

The gilt had shucked her hair. Because she had a thin belt to begin with, they knew the gilt would likely not be eligible to show as a Hampshire according to breed requirements.

“That led to some hard conversations about the right thing to do. Ultimately, we’re in this industry to teach our kids the right things to do. We had to sit down and say, ‘Okay, if this happens, this is how we’re going to handle it.’”

Emily Spray

During breed checks, the gilt didn’t pass. As she and Makayla walked out of the ring, Spray says she had to initiate another conversation to shift both of their perspectives.

“That week there was a family who had some teenagers coming to the state fair when they were in an awful wreck on the interstate,” Spray says. “There we were complaining we weren’t passing a breed check, but there was another family just down the road fighting for their life in the hospital. As hard as it was to say, ‘Okay, this is what we really wanted,’ we had to think about keeping the big things the big things.”

Sometimes it’s your turn, and sometimes it’s not, Spray says.

“In that moment it wasn’t Makayla’s turn,” she says. “Instead, she had a front row seat to the Hampshire show. It wasn’t from the middle of the ring like she wanted, but she sat in the front row and watched the entire show. Those are the moments that put that drive and desire in your heart – being so close to getting that goal – to come back and try again.”

Stop Comparing
New York Times bestselling author Shauna Niequist says, “You can compare and you can connect, but you cannot do both.”

Spray believes one of the biggest challenges parents face right now are social media highlight reels.

“So many of our kids are seeing all the wins, all the kids who are having success at all the shows across the nation,” she says. “That wasn’t a thing when we were kids. We saw who won the open show when we were there that day in living color. These kids are constantly seeing everyone’s highlight reel, so it’s easy for them in that moment to stop and compare themselves.”

Don’t miss the opportunity to connect with other families at shows.

(Craig Spray)

Spray wants to challenge people – kids and parents alike – to reframe that moment to connection instead.

“The best way to stop comparing is to find ways to connect,” she says. “I think there’s a lot of disconnect when it comes to being friends on social media. Have you ever had a conversation with that person? Do you know anything more than what you’re seeing on a screen about that person? How can you really get to know them?”

A few years ago, she had a t-shirt made for state fair that said, “You can’t compete with me.”

“When you read that first line, you think, ‘Oh, well, that’s kind of proud.’ But the second line said, ‘I want you to win, too.’ When I wore that shirt, it confused a lot of people,” Spray says.

She remembers one dad who was particularly bothered by her shirt. He finally came up at the end of the day and asked her about it.

(Emily Spray)

“He said, ‘What do you mean? You don’t want your kid to win?’ I said, ‘Absolutely, I want my kid to win. But if you look at any other kid in this barn, it’s not like they just threw their pig on the trailer and decided to come to a show,” she says. “All of these kids have put in so many hours of work. And you know what? If your kid gets to win today, I’m going to clap for them, and I’m going to be happy for them.”

Keep the Big Things Big
The show barn is filled with people who share many common interests. It’s where true friendships are forged. For Spray, it’s worth remembering that as she strives to keep the big things big and the little things little.

“What are your big things? What is most important for you as a family?” she asks. “Is it winning a banner? Is it developing character? Is it enjoying what you’re doing? I think it looks different for every family, but taking that time to decide what means the most for your family is key to not letting all the other stuff get in the way.”

Episode 24 with Emily Spray is one you can’t miss.

(Jennifer Shike)

Even though it’s easy to judge others by what you see on the outside, Spray says the truth is that no mom has it all figured out.

“Look for that mom who’s in the season ahead of you,” she says. “Invite her to coffee and talk with her about the things she’s going through. That has been valuable for me, because when you’re in the thick of it – when you’re in the weeds and you can’t see beyond one day to the next – it’s helpful to have somebody who’s already paved that path ahead of you.”

Listen to The PORK Podcast to find out how Spray’s social media persona, The Funny Fair Mom, came to be, why she chooses to redirect when life gets stressful, and helpful hacks every show family needs to know before state fair season. Watch this episode on YouTube or listen anywhere podcasts are found.

Don’t Let Activists Spoil the Fun this Fair Season

Thu, 17 Jul 2025 16:25:45 GMT

As we move into fair season this year, there are so many reasons to be excited! It’s a time to get out and visit with friends and neighbors, eat delicious snacks, and celebrate the hard work that youth put into raising livestock for shows. As a member of the agricultural community, this is also an invaluable time to reach outside the bubble and engage with the public about agriculture and where our food comes from. However, there are often detractors attempting to sway public opinion and, in some cases, even protest these events.

In recent years, animal rights groups have been known to protest with a variety of tactics, including People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) bringing their “Hell on Wheels” vehicle to the fairgrounds. This initiative from PETA is a large truck that is meant to look like it is transporting pigs – it also claims to be loud, playing “the screams of panicked animals.” Last year, this truck made an appearance at several Midwest state fairs and is currently circling the U.S. with recent stops in Nebraska, Indiana and Illinois.

Other tactics seen at fairs and expos last year include animal rights groups handing out stickers and other pamphlets. It was reported that a group of animal rights supporters previously handed out what seemed like coupons to fair attendees. These coupons claimed to be for free fair food, like turkey legs and pulled pork sandwiches, but when you scanned the QR code, it would take you to a website in support of their vegan cause.

Fairs have also been the target of animal rights groups protesting birthing centers, specifically those highlighting pork production. While this is a great experience for fair attendees to potentially see piglets born up close (and the care that goes into this practice), animal rights groups have used this as an opportunity to protest sow housing and farrowing stalls.

Unfortunately, animal rights activist organizations see fairs as a major opportunity to spread misinformation about our industry and to diminish the great work done in the agricultural community. The good news? There are some steps fair organizers and exhibitors can take to keep security top of mind and keep the fun times rolling:

• All events should have a crisis plan outlining who should do what in various scenarios – protests, disruptions, etc. Crisis plans can also address natural disasters, accidents and other issues that may arise during the event. During this planning process, local law enforcement should be consulted about how to handle activist activity at fairs.

• Keep an eye out for suspicious activity: people carrying signs or other protest materials, someone taking a strange amount of photos/videos or recording with their phone (livestreaming is a common practice), individuals asking very direct questions, etc. Report any concerns immediately to fair management.

• Avoid confrontation. Activists want attention – please avoid giving it to them. Keep your cool and let law enforcement or event management handle any issues.

I hope that this is truly a great fair season for everyone and that you don’t let the actions of animal rights groups stand in the way of this great opportunity to interact with the public and share what truly supports pig farming in the U.S. – great farm families, starting with youth!

Abby Kornegay is the manager of issues and engagement for the Animal Agriculture Alliance.

Pork Steals the Show in Iowa State Fair's Best New Foods Competition

Thu, 17 Jul 2025 14:06:30 GMT

It should come as no suprise to U.S. pig farmers that pork’s taste and flavor is a winner. Two of the top three foods competing in a fan vote for the People’s Choice Best New Food title at this summer’s Iowa State Fair include pork.

The 2025 Iowa State Fair has a lineup of 67 new foods from nearly 200 food stands. Seven brand-new vendors will make their debut at the state fair in 2025. Fair officials narrowed the list of new foods down to 11 for a flavorful contest on July 15 where judges tasted each and voted for their favorites.

The top three finalists and official descriptions include:

Three Little Pigs

Three Little Pigs
(Iowa State Fair)

Oak-kissed smoked ham balls served as a trio flight of nostalgic flavors. First is a savory and sweet honey and mustard-glazed ham ball topped with cornbread crumbles, reminiscent of a tried and true corn dog. Next is a tangy cherry soda glaze with Maraschino cherries to give it the old-timey feel. The third ham ball has a buttery vanilla glaze dusted with powdered sugar, bringing a sweet contrast that plays on the classic fair treat. Three Little Pigs sells for $13 from Whatcha Smokin’ BBQ from Luther, Iowa.
Bacon chicken ranch eggroll

Bacon Chicken Ranch Eggroll
(Iowa State Fair)

Experience the savory delight of Winn and Sara’s handmade Bacon Chicken Ranch Eggroll, made fresh just for the Iowa State Fair. Each eggroll is lovingly wrapped by hand, filled with tender chicken, crispy bacon and rich white cheddar cheese. A perfectly golden, crunchy exterior drizzled with Winn and Sara’s famous homemade ranch dressing. Every bite is a delightful combination of cheesy, savory goodness wrapped in a crispy, flaky shell. Bacon chicken ranch eggroll sells for $15 from Winn & Sara’s Kitchen from Indianola, Iowa, and Norwalk, Iowa.
Scotcheroo shake

Scotcheroo Shake
(Iowa State Fair)

Meet your new fair favorite – a rich, creamy shake made with our handmade scotcheroo ice cream – peanut butter and butterscotch ice cream swirled with gooey scotcheroo fudge and packed with chewy chunks of the classic Midwest treat. It’s crowned with fluffy whipped cream, generous drizzles of chocolate and caramel and a full slice of scotcheroo on top. A nostalgic dessert reimagined as the ultimate fair shake. Scotcheroo shake sells for $12 from Over the Top from Pleasant Hill, Iowa.

Fairgoers can sample the top three finalists — along with all the rest of the new foods — and cast their vote in the Peoples’ Choice contest starting Thursday, Aug. 7 through midnight Wednesday, Aug. 13. The winner will be announced Friday, Aug. 15.

Other Best New Food semi-finalists featuring pork include:

Hawaiian Hog, Iowa Pork Producers - Iowa Pork Tent

Hawaiian Hog
(Iowa State Fair)

The Hawaiian Hog is a delicious sandwich layered with shaved pork loin, creamy coleslaw, brown sugar pineapple ring and served on a bun with a side of sweet chili sauce. This fits in with Iowa Pork Producer’s current menu as pork is the star of the show!
Maple Bacon Bourbon Grilled Cheese, What’s Your Cheez

Maple Bacon Bourbon Grilled Cheese
(Iowa State Fair)

It starts with a freshly made maple bread, then topped with a maple bourbon cream cheese. Add a gourmet maple bourbon cheddar cheese and wait. A bourbon maple candied bacon is added between all the goodness, and then it’s grilled to a golden brown and served with a maple bourbon raspberry dipping sauce.

Here’s a look at the 2025 New Food List:
• Bacon Chicken Ranch Eggroll *2025 finalist
• Bacon Popcorn
• Beignets - 2 Ct.
• Big Acai Sorbet Flight
• Butter Beer Cone
• Brisket Tenderloin
• Cafe Colada Funnel Cake
• Capn Crunch Berry Funnel Cakes
• Caramel Apple Delight
• Chicken & Waffle Breakfast Sandwich
• Chicken Pickle Ranch Rocket On A Stick
• Chicken Spiedini On A Stick
• Choc O Tater
• Chocolate Chip Storm Tornado
• Classic Korean Corn Dog
• Cookies N Cream Ice Cream Bar
• Craft Link On A Stick
• Deep Fried Banana S’mores
• Deep Fried PBJ with Nutella
• Double Bacon Cheese Burger Balls
• Fairgrounds Fiesta Wonton
• Flamin’ Hot Pickle Pizza
• Flaming Hot Cheetos Fries
• Footlong Hot Cheetos Corn Dog
• Freeze Dried Fruit Mix
• Fried Banana Cream Pie
• Full Mozzarella Korean Corn Dog
• Golden Fried Corn On The Cob Strips (Battered, Seasoned)
• Green Apple Cream Slush
• Hawaiian Hog
• High Roller Roll
• High Roller Roll Combo
• Holy Doughly
• HoQ Wrap (Chicken, Lamb Or Tofu)
• Hot Cheetos Mozzarella Corn Dogs
• Jalapeno Popper Egg Salad
• JR’s Bacon Wrangler BLT
• Lemon Cheesecake Ice Cream Single Scoop
• Loaded Cowboy Fries
• Lobster Biscuits & Gravy
• Maple Bacon Bourbon Grilled Cheese
• Maple Bacon Flavored Cheese Curds
• Nashville Hot Chicken Mac N’ Cheese Pizza Slice
• Oatmeal Cream Pie
• Peanut Butter Cup Cheesecake
• Philly Cheese Steak Twisters
• Potato Half & Half Korean Corn Dog
• Praline Crunch Caramel Sundae
• Saigon Lobster Bomb
• Scotcheroo Ice Cream Shake *2025 finalist
• Sloppy Dog
• Smoked Meatloaf Platter
• S’mores Ice Cream Sandwich
• Soy On A Stick (Fried)
• State Fair Sweet Crunch
• Steak Tips Gnocchi
• Strawberry Cheesecake Flavored Pecans Small Cone
• Strawberry Kettle Korn
• Surf N Turf
• Sweet Granny’s Apple Delight Sundae
• Sweet Swine Stack Attack
• The Butcher’s Donut
• The Butter Cow Tornado
• Thelma’s Lemon Blueberry Ice Cream Sandwich
• Three Little Pigs *2025 finalist
• Voodoo Chips
• Voodoo Fries

The 2024 winner also featured pork - the Bacon Cheeseburger Egg Roll from Winn & Sara’s Kitchen.

Read complete descriptions here.

Livestock Expert Urges Youth to Follow Biosecurity Practices Before and After Fair

Mon, 14 Jul 2025 13:46:54 GMT

A Kansas State University livestock specialist is urging youth and others showing animals at local fairs to take the time to make sure that those animals remain safe – both at the fair and during transportation.

Joel DeRouchey said youth and others associated with showing animals should have basic biosecurity practices in place to prevent the spread of diseases between animals, and to contain the sickness when it occurs.

According to DeRouchey, swine can spread some pathogens quickly amongst themselves. He advises those showing swine to look for symptoms before, during and after fair season.

“If your pig begins to cough, has a loose stool or isn’t eating, it is important to consult a veterinarian on a treatment plan to help cure and prevent the spread of the sickness,” he said.

DeRouchey said maintaining biosecurity at the fair can be hard with multiple showmen bringing hogs together. He said a common practice using something solid -- such as a wood or plastic board inside of the pens -- to prevent the hogs from making nose to nose contact, which is one way in which disease is spread.

According to Derouchey, “If you’re bringing your livestock back home from the fair, you need to have in place a plan to protect other animals not taken to the show.”

“Isolation is the primary way to prevent bringing sicknesses home to your (non-fair) animals,” he said. “If you do not have a separate area to isolate your (fair animals), then separate the hogs that were at the fair in a separate part of the barn from the others.”

Another way to prevent spreading sickness includes cleaning and disinfecting equipment that was taken to the fair, or used frequently at the farm. DeRouchey said sickness can also be carried on clothes and shoes, so making sure to thoroughly clean clean and change clothing can prevent sickness.

If you do have a sick animal, it is important not to spread it to the other pigs,” said DeRouchey, who encourages youth to become certified by a program known as YQCA, or Youth for the Quality Care of Animals.

Why Keystone Cooperative is Investing in the Stock Show Industry

Fri, 11 Jul 2025 15:31:27 GMT

When it comes to hiring employees, Keystone Cooperative, Inc., looks for three core competencies: customer focus, drive for results and teamwork. The company says it is finding its next generation of employees within organizations like the National Junior Swine Association (NJSA).

“We talk a lot at Keystone about these core competencies, and you definitely must have all three if you’re going to be successful in the show ring,” says Nathan Hedden, vice president of swine and animal nutrition at Keystone. “You have to work hard at home and that will end up bringing the other three competencies along.”

Keystone is a farmer-owned cooperative with roots that go back to 1927, Hedden explains. Based in Indianapolis, Ind., the company operates in Indiana, Ohio, Illinois and Michigan.

“We have 2,000 employees at Keystone across four different divisions: agronomy, energy, grain, swine and animal nutrition,” Hedden says. “It really made sense for us to partner with NJSA. When we think about talent, we want to be the employer of choice in the Midwest, not just in agriculture, but across all different industries. We see this as the next talent pool to continue to grow Keystone.”

(Legacy Livestock Imaging)

During the National Junior Summer Spectacular in Louisville, Ky., Keystone representatives were on site watching the show and meeting young people from all over the country.

More than 600 exhibitors from 28 states brought 1,324 pigs to the event, says Clay Zwilling, CEO of the National Swine Registry.

“One of the things that was the most exciting for me was asking how many of new families were in the crowd at our opening ceremonies,” Zwilling says. “Probably a third of the crowd raised their hands. It really heeds to the passion people have for this industry and the excitement of the long-term engagement and sustainability of our side of the business for young families that are coming in and getting engaged.”

(Jennifer Shike)

Molding Leaders
NJSA is focused on developing the next generation of leaders for the pork industry, Zwilling says.

“It’s been really exciting to watch this grow and blossom and be able to connect really talented young people back into the pork industry,” Zwilling says. “The number of new employees and tenured employees at Keystone that have come through the junior livestock project, and specifically NJSA, is incredible.”

The core competencies that Hedden looks for align with NJSA’s focus, he adds.

“It’s incredible to watch little kids that we’ve got to encourage to break out of their shell go on to have success in the show ring and ultimately come back to the industry as talented leaders,” Zwilling says. “I think this alignment makes a ton of sense. I’m very excited about the future and appreciate the support of people willing to help invest in these kids.”

It’s A Big Industry
The stockmanship skills youth learn raising and showing pigs is another reason Keystone was drawn to support this youth swine program.

“We have 282 sites across the Midwest where we raise pigs today, working with an independent farmer who is actually taking care of those pigs,” Hedden explains. “Well, as those farms have grown, we’ve seen a lot of those operations that haven’t had pigs or maybe haven’t had pigs for a while and haven’t kept up with the technology that’s available today, want to raise pigs again. If you can find employees with stockmanship skills that can stand in the gap and help them learn and develop that, that creates a huge competitive advantage for us.”

The pork industry is full of opportunities, Hedden adds. He’s committed to helping youth see that there is more waiting for them after they finish showing pigs.

“It doesn’t end at the end of your show career,” he says. “Find people that you can talk to, maybe even ride along with, to better understand what they do. That may help you find your passion for what you want to do next.”

Young Author Tackles Show Pig Journey in First Book: 'Bye-Bye Buddy'

Wed, 09 Jul 2025 17:53:06 GMT

It’s the time of the year that many stock show parents dread and struggle to talk about with their kids – the end of the show season.

That’s one of the reasons why 20-year-old Isabelle Doherty decided to write Bye-Bye Buddy, a book about the sensitive subject of saying goodbye to your show animals.

During a literacy class last year at the University of Wisconsin – Whitewater, she learned what it takes to make a good children’s book. An early childhood and special education major, she says she has always wanted to write a book about this topic because she thinks it could help kids.

“I’m not a writer, and I’m not an illustrator,” Doherty says. “But I knew this was a topic that needed to be talked about and that kids needed something to look at when they’re having to say goodbye to their best friends.”

Bye-Bye Buddy is written and illustrated by Isabelle Doherty.

(Jennifer Shike)

For Alex Bobell, a 10-year-old show pig exhibitor from Illinois, that’s one of the things she appreciates about the book.

“I love this book!” Bobell says. “It showed me that I am not the only one who gets sad when I have to say good-bye to my pigs at the end of the year. The pictures were also so good.”

Wravenna Bloomberg, a mother of four youth livestock exhibitors from Illinois, was one of the first to read Doherty’s book.

“What a sweet story depicting the bond between show pig and showman,” Bloomberg says. “The amount of time young exhibitors spend with their show animals creates a special relationship with memories far beyond that animal’s show career. I love how this story highlights this, while making it an easy read for young children.”

The Show Pig Journey
Doherty has been showing pigs since she was 3 years old. Her book explores the journey of the show pig project, including all of her own illustrations.

Isabelle Doherty reads her book, “Bye-Bye Buddy,” at a special event during the Team Purebred National Junior Show in Springfield, Ill.

(Showpig.com)

“The process of writing this book was difficult because I had to teach myself everything,” she says. “I couldn’t have done it without my parents and my family. I did not show them the book until it was finished, though. I wanted it to be something special and get the reaction when it was done and when it was printed.”

Her parents have served as her inspiration throughout her show career and the development of this book, Doherty points out.

“The show pig industry has been my life,” she says. “Now, it’s not every piece of my life, because there’s a bigger world out there. But what we take from this industry can help us impact that bigger world.”

Although she isn’t pursuing an agriculture-related degree, she believes the foundation she’s developed in agriculture will impact all of the children she meets in her future classrooms.

“I can’t wait to spread the love from this industry and what it has taught me to my future students,” Doherty says.

Of all the lessons she’s learned in the show ring, she hopes the industry will remember that the youth show industry is not about the breeders, feeders or fitters.

“This is about the kids,” she says. “We need to stay on track to that by placing value on showmanship and the contests, too. It is not about the place you get in class. That’s what’s so important about this industry and what it has taught me.”

Don’t Let Them Go: We Need to Try Harder to Keep Them in the Swine Industry

Tue, 08 Jul 2025 17:14:34 GMT

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.

The pork industry needs to recruit kids when they are young to help them realize there are lots of opportunities for kids who like working with pigs.

(Jennifer Shike)

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.

Youth participate in the first Foundations of Flavor Cooking Contest at the National Junior Summer Spectacular.

(Kyle Knauth)

“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.

One of the greatest gifts you can give someone is your time and attention. Merck Animal Health’s Dr. Abby Redalin and Eric Fugate offers insight to a junior exhibitor at The Exposition.

(Legacy Livestock Imaging)

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 .

(Country View Family Farms)

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.

Kyle Crowder, an Indiana pork producer and member of the Indiana Pork board of directors, facilitates a station in the skillathon contest at The Exposition.

(OG Media)

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.

Lighting the Spark: Why Investing in Youth Is Vital to the Future of the Swine Industry

Thu, 03 Jul 2025 16:25:11 GMT

By Paul Ayers

What was your spark?

For many of us, our path into the swine industry wasn’t forged by accident. It was ignited by a spark that lit out passion for agriculture. In 4-H, a “spark” is defined as something that gives a young person’s life purpose, direction and meaning. It’s the thing that excites them, challenges them and keeps them coming back for more.

For me, that spark came from a local 4-H extension agent who challenged me to get involved in swine projects. I still remember a hands-on activity during a Pork Quality Assurance (PQA) training session in which he made complex concepts feel real and relevant. That experience didn’t just teach me about pigs – it sparked my curiosity and inspired me to pursue a career in swine production.

Recently, I had the chance to lead a similar PQA activity with our local 4-H youth. Watching their curiosity grow, I couldn’t help but hope it might light a spark for them the way it once did for me.

Investing in Tomorrow’s Leaders
Our industry’s future depends on people – innovators, caretakers, leaders – and they don’t appear overnight. They’re developed through early exposure, guidance and mentorship. Programs like 4-H and FFA teach far more than animal care; they instill responsibility, leadership and resilience. But these programs only thrive when adults invest time and energy into them.

That’s why I’m proud to work at The Maschhoffs, where our purpose is “feeding families and building communities.” That purpose isn’t just a tagline, it’s something we live out every day. One of the ways we do that is by giving every employee a paid volunteer day to support causes they’re passionate about. For many of us, that means showing up for youth in agriculture. Whether that’s mentoring a local 4-H’er or volunteering at a fair, we all can be the spark for someone else.

A Call to Action: Be the Spark
So here’s my challenge to you: think about who sparked your interest in this industry. Reach out and thank them. Then, pay it forward. Volunteer at a youth livestock show, speak to a local ag class, or invite a young person to your farm. Even the smallest gesture can make a lifelong impact.

Our barns will need managers. Our companies will need innovators. Our industry will need leaders. And they’re out there – right now – waiting for someone to believe in them. The future of pork production doesn’t just lie in our genetics or technology; it lies in the hearts and hands of the next generation. Let’s make sure they find their spark.

Paul Ayers is the animal care programs manager for The Maschhoffs.

Your Next Read: Show Pig Exhibitors: Future Talent the U.S. Pork Industry Needs

Somewhere in the Middle’s Just Fine

Wed, 02 Jul 2025 11:34:15 GMT

My wife and I are naturally very competitive people. Our daughters Ella and Rose have tried a wide variety of activities throughout elementary and middle school, but the two they are the most excited about are 4-H and softball. Our evenings and weekends are packed with meetings, practices, games and working with show pigs.

Both girls play softball, and Ella joined her first travel team a year ago. Ella has shown pigs for about eight years and Rose has had the chance to exhibit some of those in showmanship. Currently, Rose is preparing the first barrow of her own for the Florida National Barrow Show in September. Soon, she will be picking out pigs for the Florida State Fair and our county fair in Spring 2026. Playing softball and showing pigs are activities that our girls enjoy, and my wife and I are excited to help them pursue their interests.

Ella joined her first travel softball team last fall as a 12-year-old playing on a 14-and-under team. Her inexperience playing at this level combined with being one of the youngest players on the team meant she was drinking from a firehose. Ella worked hard, learned to take critique and direction, and was a starting player this past spring. Most of her teammates complemented travel softball with school softball and a few other interests.

Both my wife and I exhibited pigs, and both of our dads raised pigs while we were growing up. Our girls have been showing pigs since 2018 with modest success, but we have not won a class at a national show or even had the county fair grand champion. We have more swine experience and knowledge than most county fair families, but we don’t have a 12-pen trailer and we work within a defined budget.

This spring our older daughter played 44 softball games, nine of which were lost by eight or more runs and eight of which were won by eight or more runs, analogous to playing college teams or marginal rec league teams. A good friend pointed out that there is no longer a middle ground -- today’s culture is all or nothing. I see this in the college students I teach. Parents have children specialize in extracurricular activities at a very young age, to such a level they minimize the well-rounded, jack-of-all-trades, master of none, ideology.

It is unlikely that my daughters will become Division I athletes or win a national swine show. However, my wife and I aim to raise winners both on and off the field and in and outside the ring. Softball and showing pigs serve as awesome opportunities to improve grit, confidence, work ethic, problem solving and leadership skills. In the last year, we’ve seen these skills in action as our girls have chased their interests and strived to improve every day. While winning a game or the county fair would be great, we are acutely aware of the long-term benefits that our daughters will develop through striving to improve every day.

My wife and I want to compete at a high level, but within reason (even though I’m still trying to convince my wife to purchase a nicer trailer!). Parenting is obviously a hard job, but it is absolutely one of the greatest joys in life. By supporting our girls’ interests in the middle while keeping the focus on life skills, we can raise exceptional young leaders that will make an impact on whatever careers they pursue.

Carr is a meat scientist at the University of Florida.

Here’s What Hofschulte Genetics Did When Facebook Shut Down Their Business Page

Wed, 18 Jun 2025 14:10:54 GMT

In 2019, Facebook unexpectedly shut down Hofschulte Genetics’ business page. In one second, years of audience-building and customer relationships were lost for Chris and Kaitlyn Hofschulte, showpig breeders in Miami, Okla.

“We soon realized we weren’t alone,” Kaitlyn Hofschulte says. “Breeders and farmers across the country were being censored or losing access to their communities due to Facebook’s policies prohibiting the sale of animals, especially live ones, on Marketplace and business pages.”

(Provided by Chris and Kaitlyn Hofschulte)

Instead of giving up on the idea of building community and increasing the reach of their business on a social platform, the Hofschultes developed an ag-friendly alternative app, StockLink, that lets producers sell livestock and genetics without fear of pages or posts being removed.

“The livestock industry needs an app like StockLink because we do not have a social media platform that is safe to market our livestock and products,” she says. “Most platforms are anti-ag and do not want to see us succeed – making it against their rules for us to speak freely on selling livestock and any animal product.”

StockLink will be available in Apple and Google stores mid/late July.

(StockLink)

During The Exposition in Indianapolis on June 9-12, the Hofschultes launched a preview of StockLink for the show pig industry.

“The response was unbelievable at the Exposition,” Hofschulte says. “We had tons of people and businesses reaching out to us asking how they could be one of the first to access the app.”

StockLink will be available in Apple and Google stores mid/late July. While general users of StockLink can browse, buy and connect for free, if you are a breeder, ranch/farm, ag business, etc., Hofschulte says you’ll be able to download and upgrade to a StockLink Pro account for $21.99/a month.

“With the pro account you will be able to have a visible business profile that you can customize, create general and marketplace posts and connect with potential customers,” Hofschulte explains. “If you’re a buyer or interested in the industry you will have a free general account that is hidden that lets you follow businesses, favorite posts to go back to see later, publicly comment and like, and message.”

StockLink is for everyone who is interested in cattle, sheep, goats, pigs and other businesses that help make the stock show industry what it is today, Hofschulte adds.

“This is an app designed for livestock producers, by livestock producers,” she says. “Let’s get away from anti-ag platforms that do not want us to succeed and switch to an app that will link our livestock industry together.”

Your Next Read: Show Pig Exhibitors: Future Talent the U.S. Pork Industry Needs

Show Pig Exhibitors: Future Talent the U.S. Pork Industry Needs

Fri, 13 Jun 2025 18:46:44 GMT

From nutrition to genetics to hog equipment, youth exhibitors at The Exposition in Indianapolis, Ind., had the opportunity to learn more about careers in the swine industry and the paths people took to secure them.

“The pork industry is full of businesses, companies and pork operations looking for people to fill important roles,” says Clay Zwilling, National Swine Registry CEO.

The National Swine Registry partnered with the National Pork Board and Keystone Cooperative to help elevate career opportunities in the industry during The Exposition. Zwilling says the show already has great industry representation of career opportunities in its trade show. The career fair served as a way to introduce young people to careers they could find in the pork industry while shining a light on those who are stepping up to support the future of agriculture.

A Talent Pool Worth Your Investment
“While there are so many great skills, experiences and competencies developed in the showring, we know that inevitably the junior show experience will end,” Zwilling adds. “Taking those skills like hard work, commitment and communication, amongst so many others, and translating them to the pork industry create endless opportunity for talent acquisition and the next generation of pork producers.”

Makayla Spray visits with Garry Childs of Kane Manufacturing at The Exposition.

(Jennifer Shike)

Makayla Spray, 18, of Lafayette, Ind., appreciates the support of companies coming in and sponsoring events and opportunities at these shows for young people.

“Growing up in this industry, you meet so many people,” Spray says. “But taking that a step further to really learn what they do for a living gives you insight into possible careers down the road. It helps provide a more well-rounded approach to the agriculture industry.”

Garry Childs, Kane Manufacturing Southeast Region sales manager, says the reason their company thinks it’s important to invest in the National Junior Swine Association and other junior swine programs is because they want to help educate the future leaders of not just the swine industry, but agriculture.

“You don’t have to spend very much time around one of these events and associate with the young people and the families involved in it, before you quickly realize these are some of the most outstanding young people in the world,” Childs says. “And we think that it’s a very good investment.”

There are many valuable lessons we can learn from each other, Zwilling says. Here’s a little career advice shared this week.

Keep Your Options Open
Vincent Osborn, sales representative for Genepro, encourages youth to gain as much business experience as possible.

“If you are majoring in animal science, consider a minor in business or a related field,” Osborn says. “My plan was to go into production, but I found my way into a career in sales. I believe business knowledge is valuable for every career.”

Vincent Osborn, sales representative for Genepro, shows off a new technology turning heads in Europe.

(Jennifer Shike)

Osborn, a 2017 graduate of Purdue in animal science, says he wishes he would have taken some classes in business and marketing.

“For me, it’s not about selling products,” Osborn says. “It’s about helping people and improving their quality of life.”

College Isn’t the Path for Everyone
Josh Couch grew up showing pigs in Texas. After attending auctioneer school, he went to work on a commercial sow farm and managed a multiplier. He also worked for a hog equipment company before coming to ADA Enterprises, Inc., where he serves as a sales manager for swine equipment.

Josh Couch, sales manager for swine equipment, at ADA Enterprises, Inc., says the swine industry is full of career opportunities.

(Jennifer Shike)

“The swine industry is full of opportunities,” Couch says. “I didn’t go to college – I went to work in the commercial swine industry right away. College may not be the path for everyone and that’s o.k. There are so many great careers that pay well in the swine industry that don’t require a college degree.”

In addition, he believes working in the commercial swine industry is valuable for people who want to raise show pigs someday.

“If you want to produce good show pigs, go work in the commercial swine industry for five years,” Couch says. “Learn how to do heat detection better and tips on how to best set up a barn. There’s so much knowledge and experience to be gained that will make you a better hog producer.”

Think Bigger
Don’t limit yourself, advises Greg Lear with Purple Pursuit Show Feeds. He is a former president of the Iowa Pork Producers Association.

“Find something you love to do, and you’ll never work a day in your life,” Lear says. “I get up and get to go to work – that’s the way to do it.”

Your Next Read: The Power of a Mentor: How You Can Inspire the Next Generation

The Power of a Mentor: How You Can Inspire the Next Generation

Thu, 12 Jun 2025 17:12:45 GMT

I learned an important lesson early in life – find someone to look up to and help someone find a reason to look up to you. I know this is easier said than done. In theory, it is a great idea. But in reality, how do you put this into practice?

I spend a lot of time thinking about the next generation and ways to connect bright, promising young people to a life-giving future in agriculture. Over the years, a few things have become apparent to me when it comes to building connections between generations.

1. Make the first move.
Who cares if you get a cold shoulder? All too often we fail to make the first move because we let our doubts have more power than they deserve in our lives. I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve heard farmers and other agricultural leaders express their desire to have young people reach out to them with questions. People want to be needed. The next generation will be more successful if they are armed with valuable lessons learned by today’s agricultural leaders.

It reminds me of the day I met Angie Denton at the National Western Stock Show in Denver. Admittedly, she tells the story with more drama than I recall. She says, “I was at the pen and carload show taking photos and this firecracker of a college girl came up and said she wanted to be my intern. I’ll never forget the passion and drive in her voice and her sincere desire to want to learn and grow as a livestock communicator.”

This makes me laugh because I was shaking in my boots – literally. But I also knew that if I wanted to intern with Angie, I needed to create a connection. Email wouldn’t do (and no, we didn’t have social media so don’t even joke about that). Most importantly, that quick conversation was a starting point for a lifelong friendship. But in the short term, it helped me land one of the greatest mentoring experiences of my life at the Angus Journal.

Fast forward a couple decades and it was my honor to encourage my mentor to apply for the Drovers editorial position. I’m excited Angie and I have the privilege of working together at Farm Journal as we seek innovative ways to serve America’s cattle and swine producers.

2. Listen more than you speak.
As one of the youngest executive directors of a state swine organization, Seth Mitchell’s path is one that’s turning heads. He is the first person selected for the Pork Industry Immersion Program, a two-year deep dive into organizational leadership in the swine industry. I’ll never forget my husband telling me Seth was one to watch when he was a student at the University of Illinois. I try not to admit this too much, but my husband was right.

Seth Mitchell on the stage at the National Pork Industry Forum.

(Jennifer Shike)

To say I was fascinated with Seth’s journey in the Pork Industry Immersion Program is an understatement. The forward-thinking approach of the industry leaders who helped create this program reminds me why the pork industry is so special. While other agricultural industries are finding it challenging to engage Generation Z, the pork industry has a different story to tell.

“I’m a firm believer that the pork industry’s greatest asset is its people,” Mitchell told me during a recent conversation we had on The PORK Podcas t. “Some of our tremendous leaders in the industry are starting to age out and we need a bench of good folks to come in and fill those potential vacancies coming down the road.”

Seth learned many valuable lessons during the immersion experience, but I couldn’t agree more with the perspective he gained on listening.

“When you understand that producers drive most of what we do as state and national pork organizations, you understand the value of sitting across the table and listening to what they have to say,” he says. “I believe there is more value in listening than speaking in those circumstances. I like to use the adage, ‘be interested, not interesting.’”

3. Feedback is a gift.
My experiences in FFA and 4-H helped me discover the blessing behind constructive guidance. We’ll never be so smart that we can’t benefit from someone else’s viewpoint.

Seth discovered this early and it’s serving him well in his new role as executive director of the Nebraska Pork Producers Association.

“One thing I’ve tried to be cognizant of is welcoming feedback,” he says. “Lean into it. Be curious and ask good questions. There are a lot of things I can’t fix unless someone makes me aware of it, so being receptive to feedback is helpful.”

Oftentimes the best thing we can do is invest in someone else. How will you accept the challenge to mentor the next generation? Don’t forget that it may be equally important to give someone else the opportunity to help you along in your journey. This is an industry that wouldn’t work without people. An investment in people always pays off in the end.

Your next read: In the Foxhole with Army Veteran and Pig Farmer Scott Hays

It’s Almost Show Time! Take These Steps to Protect Your Show Pigs

Tue, 03 Jun 2025 13:46:54 GMT

It’s almost time for one of the show pig industry’s biggest events of the year. Families are making their checklists, packing their trailers and preparing to leave for The Exposition in Indianapolis, Ind., hosted by the National Swine Registry.

“We’re really excited for the Exposition and have over 2,900 head entered from almost 1,000 exhibitors. We’re going to utilize the new swine barn for most of our shows this year,” says Clay Zwilling, CEO of the National Swine Registry. “The other exciting change we’ve implemented is an abridged schedule.”

One of the main reasons for this shorter schedule is to minimize the number of days pigs are commingled at a show. Researchers at The Ohio State University conducted research studies and discovered that limiting swine exhibitions to 72 hours or less reduces the risk of influenza because there is a decreased overall viral burden in the environment.

Although influenza levels are low in the show pig population now, Daniel Hendrickson, DVM, with Four Star Veterinary Service, expects that to change as more shows and fairs kick off around the country. Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) continues to be the No. 1 diagnosis in show pigs and commercial pigs right now.

More virulent PRRS strains are striking herds, noting that the April PRRS virus activity reported in the Swine Disease Reporting System (SDRS) monitoring program for finishing sites, compared to previous years, was the highest since 2018, explains Lisa Becton, assistant director of the Swine Health Information Center.

With these higher levels, it’s more important than ever to make sure that pigs are healthy before they get on the trailer and to do everything possible to keep pigs healthy when they come back home after a stock show.

Before You Load Up for the Show
Daniel Hendrickson, DVM, with Four Star Veterinary Service, says the most important thing exhibitors should do is leave sick animals at home. Never take an animal that has a fever or doesn’t seem 100% healthy, he says.

“I know none of us want to do that,” Hendrickson says. “My kids work hard. The last thing we want to do is leave an animal that we’ve worked on for the last few months at home. But not only is it going to be a risk for that animal, but it also puts the other animals you are taking at risk because they’re in closer proximity and every other animal in the barn.”

He also recommends that exhibitors vaccinate their pigs, a practice that has been increasingly adopted among show pig producers recently. The National Swine Registry requires all breeding swine be vaccinated against erysipelas and leptospirosis (6-way), including L. bratislava. NSR highly recommends that all animals, including market animals, are vaccinated against swine influenza.

“Remember that all the vaccines we use today are built for the commercial swine industry with durations of immunity for five months,” Hendrickson says. “In today’s show pig world, even though the pigs that are being sold and purchased have all likely been vaccinated for circovirus, mycoplasma vaccine, influenza and PRRS, by the time some of these pigs get to the show they may be five to six months old.”

By this time, the pig’s immunity curve is starting to fall off on some of those vaccines, he adds. Boosting those vaccines can make a big impact and help get their immunity as high as possible before being around other pigs. Hendrickson recommends giving a booster at least two weeks prior to the show.

“As that immunity trails off, those animals become more susceptible,” he says. “Just like human flu vaccines, no vaccine is perfect. But, they will diminish overall severity of the illness and how much an animal will reshed virus back into the environment.”

Minimize Exposure at the Show
Hendrickson believes one of the beneficial practices people have done recently is lining their pens with divider boards, basically creating a barrier between the pigs.

“This helps minimize nose-to-nose contact,” he says. “When the pigs are going to the washrack or the show ring, exhibitors have control of those animals, so they are not getting that nose-to-nose contact like they were if they were just in the pens.”

Hendrickson also says the trend for people to show off their trailer at jackpot shows also has helped minimize contact between pigs at the shows.

“Just keeping those animals in their own environment as long as possible, going to the ring show and then coming back to their trailer diminishes the time they’re in contact with everyone else,” he adds.

Don’t share equipment, especially water buckets and equipment that are coming into contact with the pig’s snout.

After the Show
Isolating animals that have been at a show from animals still at home in the barn that have not been at a show is critical. Seven days’ downtime at home is necessary for pigs to get over shedding influenza virus.

“I know a lot of people have one barn, so it makes a little hard to completely isolate pigs that were at a show,” he says. “But, you can make a difference by moving the set of animals that stays home to the far end of the barn or group their pens together. Then, when you bring home the other set of pigs, keep them on opposite sides the best you can. It’s not perfect, but you are still creating a barrier.

Remember to power wash and disinfect everything when you get home, Hendrickson says.

It’s a good idea to shower, change clothes and wear different shoes to your barn than the ones you wore at the show. The more layers of biosecurity you implement, the more you will protect your show pigs, he says.

Your Next Read: No, Showing Livestock Isn’t Always Supposed to Be Fun

Don’t Underestimate the Power of a Livestock-Lovin’ Mama

Thu, 08 May 2025 20:43:42 GMT

When you find yourself in a jam, she’s the first one you call. She’s the glue of your family, the wiper of tears and the one who keeps everyone going. Her love is a love that fiercely protects, wisely counsels and lasts forever. From fixing your boo-boos to reminding you of your worth, there’s nothing like the love of a mother.

But enter in the ‘livestock’ mom and you get just a little more. She’s not afraid to make you work because she knows the hard work and extra responsibility will make you more prepared for life. Her sensitivity and perspective extend beyond others because she knows the heartaches that only livestock production can provide. She knows just when to celebrate the wins and when to push you just a little more.

Here’s a look at six moms through the eyes of their sons and daughters. They share how their moms helped inspire a life-changing love for agriculture and livestock.

Jodi Sterle is mother to two and undergraduate teaching coordinator and professor of animal science at Iowa State University.

(Sterle Family)

Jodi Sterle
By Jake Sterle, her son
Growing up on a family farm, my passion for animal agriculture developed naturally at a young age. But the official beginning came when my parents decided to get a few pigs for my brother Jackson and me to show at the 2005 National Junior Swine Association (NJSA) Summer Type Conference in Louisville, Ky. At the time, Mom was serving on the NJSA Youth Advisory Board, and one of her responsibilities was to attend the Summer Type Conference. Since she was going anyway, she figured why not bring the family and a few pigs? This was the foundation for my passion for the swine industry. Fast forward 20 years. Both Jackson and I are still actively involved in the industry. Jackson is beginning a master’s program at Iowa State University in swine production data management, and I continue to remain active in my role at NPPC. Our mom has supported and encouraged us every step of the way and I truly believe there’s no better industry my parents could have raised us in.

For as long as I can remember, she has gone above and beyond. She continues to serve and give back her time on advisory boards, county fair boards, and even serving as the 4-H swine show superintendent at the Iowa State Fair. She comes from a rich pedigree of servant leaders, and that mindset has been instilled into me. Service can be demanding and often thankless, but, at the end of the day, service is all about one life positively impacting another, and this, my mother is no stranger to.

Jake Sterle serves as director of industry resource development for the National Pork Producers Council.

Kim Caldwell is mother to three, wife to Todd, and owner of The LulaBarn.

(Caldwell Family)

Kim Caldwell
By Maddison Caldwell, her daughter
My mom grew up on a row crop operation and showed Angus cattle, so agriculture was part of her DNA. But she never forced it on us. Instead, she gave us the tools and space to figure out what we loved, and it just so happened that agriculture kept showing up in the most meaningful ways. I don’t think that was by accident. My parents’ love story was rooted in agriculture—they met through the livestock industry and built a life around it. They never had to tell us to pursue this industry; they showed us what it meant to live and love in it. Watching them pour their hearts into something bigger than themselves, something that brought people together — that’s what made us fall in love with agriculture.

My mom has truly done it all — not in terms of careers, but in the number of lives she’s touched. She started as a NICU nurse, taking care of babies every day — some of whom she held as they took their final breaths, all while quietly walking through her own journey with infertility. Today, she does something completely different. She runs The LulaBarn, selling clothing out of a machine shed in our backyard — and she’s one of the top five sellers in her company nationwide. That might sound like a huge shift, but the heart of it is the same: she continues to serve, to care, to bring joy to others in her own unique way. No matter what chapter she’s in, my mom shows up for people, and that’s what makes her unforgettable.

Maddie Caldwell is the Inside Sales Team lead for Compeer Financial.

Dorthy Jean Stateler was mother to two and wife to Merrill.

(Stateler Family)

Dorthy Jean Stateler
By Duane Stateler, her son
When I was about 5 years old, we had an International 300 utility tractor that I could drive. Mom could not find me one day and when she came looking, she found me behind the barn. I had hooked up an old three-bottom plow with a rope trip behind the tractor to help dad plow. But I couldn’t figure out how to trip the rope because it was too short for me to reach. She went and got a blanket, put it on the toolbox behind the seat and told me, ‘Let’s go find your dad in the field.’ When we got back to the lane, we pulled over to where dad was and he got off the tractor and exclaimed “What are you two doing? That hasn’t been used in years. Mom replied ‘Now Merrill, I will pull the rope at the end of the field if you help set the plow.’ Dad’s irritation turned into a smile and mom rode back there for two hours as we helped Dad finish the field. Need I say any more?

My mom touched so many individuals and families in our community through her music. She was an organist at church since high school. I have no idea how many weddings and funerals she played for over her 70 years of playing. I am frequently reminded by community members thanking me for mom’s contribution to their memories.

Duane Stateler is an Ohio pig farmer and president of the National Pork Producers Council.

Mary Bloomberg is mother to three and an ICU nurse.

(Bloomberg Family)

Mary Bloomberg
By Blake Bloomberg, her son
Mom instilled in her children the values of responsibility, attention to detail and resilience – traits essential in both medicine and livestock work. But beyond that, she encouraged our early curiosity by bringing us to the barn before or after shifts, supporting 4-H or FFA involvement, and simply treating our passion like it mattered. She never said no!

She is extremely resilient and does not know a stranger. She is wonderful with people and leaves a lasting impact on all those that come in contact with her. She has dealt with a lot over the last three years since dad’s tragic accident, but I am proud of her resiliency and of being her son.

Blake Bloomberg is a professor at Black Hawk College – East Campus.

Hannah Miller is a senior at Prairie Central High School in Illinois.

(Miller Family)

Tammy Miller
By Hannah Miller, her daughter
From the second I was born, my mom has surrounded me with the agricultural world. As a sixth- generation purebred swine producer, my mom helped me grow my love for the industry. I remember some of the first times I started helping her in the farrowing house. That’s where I truly started growing a love for production agriculture. She is always the first person I know to advocate and use her voice to positively promote agriculture. She utilizes every opportunity to educate others about agriculture and I aspire to do the same.

I wish people knew how hard she works and how much time she puts into things while still having a servant’s heart and being there for others. In my life, I truly hope I can be half the woman that my mom is. She is constantly working and getting things done for her jobs as well as our family while still helping me with anything I ask for and having time to help others.

Hannah Miller is a senior at Prairie Central High School in Illinois.

Jeantee Keppy is mother to two, wife to Loren, friend to many and most importantly MiMi to her grandkids.

(Keppy Family)

Jeantee Keppy
By Kaylee Keppy-McDonnell, her daughter
For someone that moved to a farm in eastern Iowa after getting married and grew up a city girl, I can only imagine the adjustment. I’m thankful my mom is a strong woman who has encouraged us all to embrace the farm. She has always allowed my dad to dig deep into his farm roots and has stood right by his side in every new ag adventure they get into. From pork producers’ meetings to running meals to the field, she has certainly embraced the lifestyle that ag brings. I love how she has always supported our love showing and judging livestock in the ways she knew she could help, like collecting ribbons, taking pictures, ironing clothes, having food prepped and cheering us on from the sidelines. You know, the things behind the scene you don’t really take time to appreciate until you’re a parent yourself!

She’s seriously the best cook around, you think you don’t have any food in the house and the next thing you know you have the best meal you’ve ever had and she made something out of nothing. To know Tee Keppy is to love her, her genuine heart makes her one of the good ones. And we still don’t know how she ages backwards but we love the fact she is ours.

Kaylee Keppy-McDonnell is director of retail business at United Animal Health.

Your Next Read: What Makes a Good Mom?

What’s in Your Show Animal Feed? 4 Things You Should Know

Tue, 06 May 2025 19:44:27 GMT

Show animals require special diets. Regardless of whether you are feeding cattle, pigs, goats or sheep, all animals need some of the same basic nutrients. These include proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals. The animal species, weight and desired endpoint will determine how much of each your animal needs.

When it comes time to balance your livestock feed rations, you will want ingredients from a trusted feed manufacturer or mill. Here are four things to look for when reading the tags on your show animal feed:

1. Product Name
The product name seems like a no-brainer until you start mixing feed for several animals and each bag has a similar name, with just different numbers on it. Then, the confusion sets in! Use a sharpie to write on each bag your “barn name” for the products so there is no confusion. A simple number or medicated vs. non-medicated or meal vs pellets can make a difference in the animals’ diets.

2. Medication Withdrawal or Residue Instruction
This information tells you if any medication is in the feed and the withdrawal length for that medication. With VFD or Veterinary Feed Directives, these are less common than they used to be, but they do still exist. This is the most important information on the tag. You must pay close attention to this information, especially if feeding an animal for a show or one that is ultimately going into the food supply chain.

3. Guaranteed Analysis
The guaranteed analysis breaks down the amounts of nutrients in each feed. However, each company lists their analyses differently, and the feeder needs to pay careful attention. For example, some companies list minimums, and others list maximums. Read the tag closely to be sure you are getting the proper amount of a nutrient such as protein, fat or fiber to reach your animal’s optimal potential. A more in-depth guaranteed analysis will also list vitamin and mineral content.

4. Ingredient Profile
This lists the actual ingredients in the bag of feed, starting with the highest volume ingredient down to the lowest volume. It is important to realize that all feedstuffs are not created equally. Feed A with 20% protein may not be the same quality as Feed B, which is also listed with 20% protein. Both companies might use ingredients that total up to 20% protein, but the chances are that one of them will use higher-quality resources that will benefit your animal.

Learn more.

Your next read: I’ll Never Regret Giving Them the Stock Show Life

Dan Hoge Opens Up About 55-Year Career Training Future Stock Show Judges

Fri, 11 Apr 2025 13:12:53 GMT

What will the champions in the show ring look like in five years? That’s a question Dan Hoge, one of the winningest livestock judging coaches in history, thinks about constantly. Trends come and trends go. It’s not easy to stay relevant while being nimble enough to see what’s coming and evolve to get there.

But Hoge’s ability to do just that as a coach, judge and breeder for decades is what sets him apart from others, says Blake Bloomberg, professor and head livestock judging team coach at Black Hawk College East Campus.

“Dan has been at the top of his profession for over 50 years, and is still sought after for his input,” Bloomberg adds. “His impact on his students and his influence beyond the classroom is undeniable.”

Hoge says his interest and passion in the livestock industry keeps him constantly learning and searching for what’s next. He’s an avid scholar – always reading about livestock, studying photos of champions and talking about trends in the industry with people he admires.

“The miles never made any difference to me,” Hoge says. “If there was a symposium going on or if Dr. Harlan Ritchie was speaking about the cattle industry, I found a way to be there. I pay attention to what legendary breeders like Chuck Olson and Earl Cain are doing in the swine industry. Of course, there are always new breeders coming along who are going to dictate, to a necessary extent, where the industry will go next.”

At the end of the day, good livestock will always be in vogue, he says. There will be changes in priorities. Trends will shift. But the best stockmen are open-minded and always looking to see what is coming in the future. He believes the ability to evaluate livestock and read differences in phenotype is essential to it all.

What Coaching Is and What It’s Not
That’s why coaching young adults in livestock judging has been Hoge’s passion .What’s the secret to his coaching success? He says there’s no curriculum to teach you how to be a livestock judging coach, it’s a lot of learning as you go and caring about who you coach.

“Coaching is 80% what’s in your heart and 20% what’s in your mind,” Hoge says. “It’s really believing in the young people who are involved in your program. It’s reaching out and knowing their goals, interests and expectations.”

Dan Hoge’s ability to connect with every audience is one of greatest strengths.

(Jennifer Shike)

Livestock judging is a very inexact art, he points out. It is not a science, it’s a skill developed over time that is subject to the opinion of someone else.

“It’s important the student feels good about themselves at every step of their development,” he says. “It’s about inching along and making progress.”

When it comes to coaching kids to excel in livestock judging competitions, Hoge believes in helping young people finish strong.

“It’s not a question of where you start, it’s a question of where you finish,” Hoge says. “That has always been the mindset I have instilled in our student judges over the years. It’s one of the real values you can take with you in life.”

When You Step Out into the Ring
There’s no shortage of ways to use the skills developed judging livestock and describing them, Hoge adds. For many young people he mentors, their end goal is to judge a livestock show.

Dan Hoge at the Oklahoma Youth Expo

(Oklahoma Youth Expo)

“I remind young judges that every show is important, regardless of how small it may be,” Hoge says. “If there are two head of livestock at an event, that’s a livestock show. Go give it your best.”

As livestock judging has grown in popularity and more contests have popped up across the country, the level of talent has grown, too.

“I often tell our younger judging generation that, believe me, no one is interested in how smart you are and how poor their livestock are,” Hoge says. “They’re interested in your positivity, how you work with the youth, and how you make sure every youth involved in that show felt they had a fair look and an opportunity to feel good about their project and themselves. I don’t know if we have enough of that today.”

He reminds young judges to stop and take a breath before they step out of their vehicle when they arrive at a show.

“Ask yourself, ‘Why am I here?’” Hoge says. “The smartest thing you can do as a show judge at a county fair, and I’ve judged many, is study the atmosphere as you walk to the show ring. When you walk into that ring and meet the superintendents for the first time, that awareness of the atmosphere will provide a pretty good handle on what the show is going to be like.”

The most important thing a show judge brings to any event is their opinion and comfort in knowing what they are looking for in a champion. Although judges can only use what’s brought to them to evaluate, knowing where you want to finish is necessary, Hoge adds.

The little things matter, he says, from how you speak to people working in the ring to how you connect with the crowd. Judges have the opportunity to serve as another bridge between the showmen and their projects and the spectators.

“You can’t expect the urban sector to understand the care and management people put into their livestock or how great of a life their show livestock have,” Hoge says. “When you judge or show livestock, make a commitment to do things right and always be a voice of positivity in the industry. Be proud of what we do.”

Go watch The PORK Podcast Episode 17 with Dan Hoge to learn more about his perspective on the misconceptions people have about the stock show industry today, what he’s most proud of in his life, teaching students for 55 years and counting, and how he anticipates the livestock industry changing in the future.

Your Next Read: Thank You Mr. Hoge