Young Farmers
Caitlyn Wileman, an Iowa State University Ph.D. student, is studying the changes in the microbiome of the pig and its manure when fed different levels of soybean meal. Here’s why she’s an up-and-coming leader to know.
“Is this a buffalo?” asked a young 20-ish fairgoer as he stood before the Grand Champion Market Steer in the Hall of Champions at the Illinois State Fair. He looked at me – dead serious – awaiting my response.
From consumer preferences to labor, the challenges are stacked for the next generation of swine enthusiasts entering the pork industry. Despite the obstacles, five Ph.D. students share their optimism and viewpoints.
Dalton Obermier works to develop novel phenotypes available for genetic selection in hopes of speeding up genetic progress towards feed efficiency and conversion by utilizing the NUtrack livestock monitoring system.
Missouri youth had the opportunity to show off their swine knowledge and evaluation skills on Aug. 10-11 during the Missouri State Fair in Sedalia, Mo.
We try to be good parents by setting boundaries for our kids. We want to raise decent humans who are kind, make good choices and respect others. But let’s be real. During fair week, that all goes out the window.
Just in time for school to start, in the midst of the Illinois State Fair, students across the state will no longer be penalized for participating in a 4-H or FFA event.
If we are being honest, showing livestock is for crazy people. Late nights, early mornings and little time for social lives. But I think most stock show families would agree they live for summer to do just that.
A wheelchair didn’t stop Joel from showing a pig at the state fair. He was one of many kids with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities who made a debut in the show ring during the “Breaking Boundaries” Pig Show.
A heat wave that’s smashed records in the Southwest is spreading into the Midwest and Northeast this week. Unfortunately, it’s the peak of county fair season for many and the daunting forecast has exhibitors concerned.
“I want you to know the importance of the people you allow into your life,” Ray Perryman said. “The company you keep has absolutely everything to do with where you end up. Be careful who you allow into your life.”
2023 FFAR Vet Fellow Lauren Nicole Cromwell of the University of Wisconsin-Madison will be studying swine pain management.
The U.S. pork industry has a plan to help keep foreign animal diseases like African swine fever (ASF) out of the country, but it requires everyone in the pork industry to do their part.
Bridging the gap between the youth show ring experience and production ag is crucial for creating a pipeline of skilled and knowledgeable individuals who can contribute to the ag industry, says Rebecca Keel Stack.
An adequate labor force will be the biggest challenge facing ag for the foreseeable future. We need to instill the things into youth we have learned from previous generations, but we can’t be the “grumpy old man.”
Summer Hardin burst into tears when lot number 22 brought in a shocking $111,000 at the Parker County Stock Show Sale of Champions. Although one could say the Champion Berkshire was a great one, it wasn’t about the pig.
Why did those three young people choose the swine industry? I think it starts with people they met, network they developed and opportunity they had to tie a career to an industry they benefited from as a kid.
A pig showman, golfer and FFA officer, Paizlee Hardin was a happy high school sophomore. But on March 15, her life as she knew it changed when she began experiencing “crazy symptoms” and lost her ability to walk.
It’s one thing to tell students about livestock production; it’s another thing to show them. Here’s why one Iowa school is turning heads and opening people’s eyes to the opportunities in livestock production.
When you’re a storyteller, you often get to hang behind the scenes to tell someone else’s story. It’s a safe place because it’s not about you — it’s about them. It’s less risky and more predictable.
As exhibitors prepare for show season, it’s important to develop a plan for how to handle livestock emergencies. Having a plan in place prior to the show ensures quick action and timely care should an emergency happen.
Show season is a busy time for many youth exhibitors and their families. In preparation, exhibitors need to know the importance of a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection, more commonly known as a health certificate.
Liz Hayden, a freshman at Lincoln Land Community College and a former Section 12 Illinois FFA president, recently voiced her opinion on Senate Bill 2132 during a testimony in front of an Illinois Senate committee.
When the going seems tough, don’t give up. Be brave, even when milk prices drop, feed prices rise and the next chapter of your farm seems like an uphill battle. Remember, the younger generation is watching.
When Bobbie Vowell threw together a TikTok video of her 16-year-old daughter Madison showing a pig, she never imagined it would go viral. The video has already surpassed 12.2 million views.
It doesn’t have to be eloquent. It doesn’t need to be deep. It doesn’t even have to be properly written to make an impact. But, you do have to speak up. Here’s why my daughter’s “opinion piece” struck a chord.
Matthew Rooda, co-founder and CEO of SwineTech, was born to think outside of the box.
As farm shows and meetings portray a crowd that seems to be aging, is there a shortage of young farmers threatening the future of ag? John Phipps explains why an abundance of young farmers may not be on the farm today.
There’s nothing like the love of an animal to get you through hard times. Miriam King, 16, learned this lesson in the past year as her family battled not one, but two wars in the midst of a global pandemic.
Expanding on the successful Bacon Buddies swine shows at the Iowa State Fair, the Iowa Pork Producers Association encourages groups across the state to organize their own shows through ‘Bucks for Bacon Buddies.’