NJSASpotlight

Name: Elim Higbie

Age: 11

Hometown: Quenemo, KS

Parents: Ryan & Jenny Higbie

School: I’m homeschooled and in 6th grade.

Siblings: Lane, 20; Calla 17; Anah 14

Hobbies: Showing pigs, Livestock judging, Public Speaking, Hunting & Fishing

How long have you been showing pigs: 6 years

When did you start showing pigs and where: My first show was as a Novice at the NJSA SW Regionals in Woodward when I was 5.

How did you get started showing pigs: My brother Lane started raising pigs when I was just a baby, so I grew up wanting to be just like him.

Why do you show pigs: Well, we raise pigs, so the showing part is the reward for all the hard work of raising them. I love picking them out when they are little and then building a trust with them. I also love meeting other people from across the nation that love pigs as much as I do.

What do you enjoy the most about showing pigs: Showmanship is my favorite event. I love building relationships with my showmanship pigs.

Favorite Livestock Show and Why: The Kansas State Fair, because I love getting to see all my friends from across the state.

How long have you been an NJSA member: 7 years

How did you get involved with NJSA: My siblings were all involved, so I just followed suit. I love being a part of it!

NJSA Shows and Events you have participated in: The Exposition, National Junior Summer Spectacular, SW Regionals, Eastern Regionals, Fall Exposition.

Favorite NJSA Event and Why: National Junior Summer Spectacular because I love giving speeches and livestock judging there.

Favorite NJSA Contest and Why: I love showmanship, because it gives me a chance to set goals and work with my pig to accomplish them.

Most memorable moment in NJSA: Winning Showmanship at SW Regionals in 2023, because to do so, I beat my sister, Anah!!

What would you tell a younger member about NJSA: If you love showing pigs, this is the organization to be in! You’ll learn new skills, go on all kinds of trips across the United States and meet the best people!

Most recent accomplishments:
2023 – SW Regionals: Champion Junior Showman, Top 5 Sweepstakes; National Junior Summer Spectacular: 2nd High Individual Junior Public Speaking
2024 – The Exposition: Top 10 in showmanship; Fall Exposition: Champion Junior Showman, 2nd High Sweepstakes, Reserve Champion Landrace Barrow
Have also had many other top 10 finishes in NJSA showmanship, livestock judging and sweepstakes events throughout the years.

Accomplishments other than NJSA: I am always actively participating in pig shows at local, state and national levels, winning many showmanships and breed champion awards. I am also love being involved in livestock judging events and livestock speaking events. I have received many awards throughout my years for these activities. I’m also a very active member in my local 4-H club as well as mentoring younger or new swine exhibitors throughout the state who purchase pigs from my family. Helping showmanship train younger exhibitors is a favorite activity of mine. One of my favorite accomplishments in Kansas, was making Top 5 in showmanship at the Kansas State Fair when I was only 10 years old.

Favorite Quote: Joshua 1: 9 – Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.

Future plans: to be a collegiate livestock judger

What do you want to be some day: I’m not really sure what my future career plans are, but I trust God will show me the way when the time comes.

Anything else: My family has traditionally raised Yorks and Berks, but I have taken on a recent passion for the Landrace breed. I’m in the process of building up a Landrace program and I’m very excited about it.

NJSA Youth Spotlight Bio Worksheet

Name: Acen Earp

Age: 10

Hometown: Quapaw, Oklahoma

Parents Names: Jennifer & Scott Earp

School & Grade: 5th grade

Siblings Names & Ages: Riley, Chris, Taryn, and Ty

Hobbies out of school: Acen enjoys working with is show pigs outside of school!

How long have you been showing pigs? Acen has been showing pigs for 3 years.

When did you start showing pigs? Where? 3 years ago, in Oklahoma!

How did you get started showing pigs? Acen began showing pigs because of his dad’s interest in it! Showing pigs is something Acen enjoys doing with his dad.

Why do you show pigs? Acen says it is fun to show pigs and gives him something to do during the summer!

What do you enjoy most about showing pigs? Being in the ring, after all his hard work! Favorite livestock shows and why: Kansas City is Acen’s favorite show. He enjoys the high quality of show pigs that show has to offer!

How long have you been an NJSA member? 1 year

How did you get involved in the NJSA? Coming to Duncan to sell weanlings.

NJSA shows and events you have participated in and years: Fall Exposition was Acen’s first NJSA show, however, he had a blast and is excited to come to more in the future!

Favorite NJSA event and why: The mentor program

Favorite NJSA contest and why: Skillathon

Most memorable moment in the NJSA: Making slime with the NJSA jr board and other NJSA members during the mentor program.

What would you tell a younger member about NJSA? Come to NJSA events and shows, and talk to the NJSA Jr Board!

Accomplishments within the NJSA: 5th place Junior Sweepstakes at Fall Exposition, 5th place Junior Skillathon at Fall Exposition

Favorite quote: Work Hard!

Future Plans: Acen wants to continue to raise show pigs with his dad in the future! Raising durocs, Hampshire’s, spots, and crossbreds.

What do you want to be someday (career)? Acen wants to be an ag teacher when he grows up. Anything else you would like us to know/include in your bio?

Name: Mason Forkner

Age: 19

Hometown: Richards, MO

Parents Names: Nathan and Ashley Forkner

School and Grade: Butler Community College-Sophomore

Siblings Names and Ages: Rhett Forkner (16 years old)

Hobbies:

I enjoy livestock judging and am currently a member of the Butler Community College Livestock Judging team. GO GRIZZLIES! I am also an avid sports fan and enjoy watching and following all sports. But I am pretty diehard when it comes to cheering on the Kansas City Chiefs!

How long have you been showing pigs?

I showed my first pigs at the Missouri State Fair when I was 2 years old and have been a member of the NJSA ever since.Together, my brother Rhett and I own and operate M&R Genetics where we raise and sell all breeds of show pigs to fellow junior livestock exhibitors.

Most Memorable moment in the NJSA.

Without a doubt, my most memorable moment in the NJSA would be being named Champion Intermediate Showman at the 2020 National Western Stock Show and then Champion Senior Showman this past year in 2024. Showmanship is something that my family has always placed emphasis on and being named Champion twice in my show career on that stage, and at a place like the National Western, is something that I am very proud of and will never forget!

What would you tell a younger member about NJSA?

As my time as junior member is nearing a close, I would tell younger members to take it all in and enjoy every minute! There are so many benefits to taking advantage of all the opportunities that the NJSA has to offer, even if it means you have to step outside of your comfort zone. The people you meet through the NJSA all have similar interests and the same passion for the swine industry as you. They will likely become lifelong mentors and friends.

Favorite Quote

"Whether you think you can, or you think you can't... You're right."-Henry Ford

Future Plans

After graduating from Butler Community College, I hope to further my livestock judging career at a four-year university and graduate with a degree in Agriculture Business. I plan to obtain a lifelong career in the agriculture industry. I would also like to continue to grow and strengthen my sow herd and show pig operation in the years to come.

Name: Cooper Dougherty

Age: 16 Years Old

Hometown: Hollister, California

Parents Name: Christine Dougherty

School: Hollister High School

Grade: Junior

Siblings: Cade and Carson Dougherty, and they are 15 years old

Hobbies in School:

One of my hobbies in school is that I’m currently a part of the Hollister FFA Chapter where I am heavily involved in our chapter's dealings, and I am also serving as the FFA Santa Clara Sectional Reporter!

Hobbies out of school:

My hobbies out of school include going to livestock shows across the nation and spending time with my friends!

How long have you been showing pigs?

I have been showing pigs for the past nine years. When did you start showing pigs? Where? How did you get started showing pigs? I started showing pigs in 2016. My mom had bought me three show pigs, and said let us give this a try and see how it turns out. If you like it, great we can continue to do it, if not you don’t have to do it. My very first show was NJSA where I showed the Champion Landrace barrow, and ever since then, it has been a life changing experience. One that I would choose a thousand times over and over again.

Why do you show pigs? What do you enjoy the most about showing pigs?

I show pigs because there is something for me to learn every day. Whether it be the most needed reality checks, the reminder that not everything is handed to you, or learning the morals that I will need in everyday life to succeed. There are so many qualities that I have acquired, but some of the most important to me are patience, communication, and work ethic. Patience is one that I have learned over the years with breaking my show pigs. It takes time to get pigs broke, but it's patience that matters because you have to remember that we as humans take time to master a skill, and same goes for the livestock we care for. Some will come naturally, but others are not as likely to. Learning how to be patient can help me become successful in everyday life whether it be for a job or dealing with hard situations. Now, communication is one of the key aspects in life. You can put it into any situation, and by showing livestock, communicating is one of the most essential qualities to have. For me, it's making sure that I’m sending videos of pigs consistently. Yes, I will admit that it's my least favorite thing to do, but it isn’t hard to get it done. Making sure that I am communicating on how the pigs are doing is key in promoting their health, and making sure they stay on track. Communication can be hard for some, but if you have that skill, it will help you immensely in life. My personal favorite, work ethic. Showing livestock isn't easy, and it doesn’t come overnight, coming from someone who knows from personal experience. Working and making sure your livestock are looking the best they could be is one of the hardest things you can achieve inside of the barn. Countless hours are put in, and sometimes it doesn’t do the trick. This year I’ve truly learned that putting 100% in the livestock truly isn't enough. You need to make sure that there is 200% going in, and you are doing the extra because at the end of the day, it will only benefit you in the best way.

Favorite livestock shows and why:

My favorite livestock show to go to is the American Royal, and the Exposition. The level of competition, atmosphere, and presence of being in the ring always makes me feel alive. These are the shows where the best of the best competes, and it makes me feel accomplished and grateful because making it to these shows and winning from time to time really changes my perspective of how far along, I have come in my career, and what it truly takes to get there.

How long have you been an NJSA Member? 9 Years

How did you get involved in the NJSA:

Since my first show was the NJSA Western Regional, I had the opportunity to experience all the awesome events put on including the Livestock Judging Contest, Skillathon, and one of my favorites, the Barnyard Olympics. The NJSA board was always welcoming, and the passion I had slowly started to ignite, and it has always been such an awesome experience that I am fortunate to be a part of.

NJSA Shows and Events you have participated in over the years:

North Carolina NYLC
The Exposition 2018, 2019, 2021, 2023
The Recovery - Des Moines - 2021
The World Tour - Illinois 2021
NJSS - 2021
Western Regional 2016-2023

Favorite NJSA Show and Why?

The Exposition is my favorite show because I have had some success over the years, and I always love the experience that I have. I take away many lessons while I am there, and always have an awesome time with my friends and family. One thing I would have to say that tops it all is the Shrimp Boil!

Most Memorable Moment in the NJSA?

My favorite moment that happened inside of the NJSA was winning Champion Intermediate Swine Showman at the 2023 Exposition.

What would you tell a younger member about the NJSA?

One piece of advice that I would give a younger member about the NJSA is that this is an organization that has helped me grow, not just as a person, but helped me see what the industry truly has to offer. Make sure to give your best effort, and try to pursue different contests, and experiences because the NJSA is a key to a door that could one day build on your future. The NJSA is full of opportunities and has truly been an eye-opening experience for me.

Accomplishments within the NJSA:

Champion Intermediate Swine Showman - Exposition 2023
Reserve Champion Junior Swine Showman - Exposition 2021
Champion Landrace Gilt - Western Regional 2021
Champion Landrace Barrow - Western Regional 2016

Accomplishments Other than NJSA:

Supreme Champion Breeding Gilt - Cow Palace
Grand Champion Market Barrow - CYE
Champion OPB - National Western Stock Show
Grand Champion 4-H Barrow - California State Fair

Favorite Quote:

The Difference is in the Details - Jace Tarbell

Future Plans:

I want to attend Black Hawk Community College and pursue Livestock Judging, and transfer to K-State and have a major in Ag Business, and Animal Science

What do you want to be someday?

One day I would like to be a part of the NJSA Board of Directors, and advocate for the youth and promote Agriculture. I would also like to help the youth with their Livestock, just how Jace Tarbell has for me over the years. Jace has been a major inspiration, and I hope one day I can make an impact on someone's life, just how he has for me.

Anything else to include:

I would like to thank all my family and friends that have helped me continue my passion for the Swine Industry. Without the support, I wouldn’t have become the person I am today. It truly takes a village to accomplish your goals, and I wouldn’t have it any other way with the people I have beside me!