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With my third week as an intern complete, I cannot help but travel back to my first memories of what is now one of the largest hog shows in the country. I remember the days when my father, Mike, and I would drive down to Indianapolis on Wednesday because that was his day off. We walked around all of the trade show, and I would grab literally anything I thought was free. I have an old T-shirt from the last World Pork Expo in Indianapolis that will always be kept in my mom’s stash of sentimental items. Those were some neat times of transformation for the industry, and it has only been moving faster ever since. With record number of hogs expected at this year’s show it will be full of buzz and excitement as soon as the trailers start lining up in the infield!
On the road I traveled with [ … ]
It has been a great first two weeks as the field staff intern for the National Swine Registry (NSR). I have spent the majority of my time thus far traveling with the Northwest Field Representative, Michael Lackey, and the Eastern Field Representative, Blaine Evans. Traveling with them has allowed me to visit a variety of breeders who share their personal views on breeding hogs. My experiences on the road so far range from Tracy Lorenzen giving me a hard time while looking at young herd sire prospects to babysitting young Anders Baade while his dad, Kyle, showed Michael Lackey and me a group of powerhouse boars in stud. It has been an awesome time so far getting to interact with breeders and seeing some of their sow herds and keeper females. Although, each breeder may like a different style of hog, the one thing that you can tell within each herd is that [ … ]
NSR Weanling Extravaganza
Richmond, Ind. • April 20
Sifter: AJ Genter, Ohio
Grand Champion Overall & Champion Yorkshire Gilt Prospect
Tag 850 :: Shown by Real McCoy Genetics, Ohio
Reserve Grand Champion Overall & Champion Dark Crossbred Gilt Prospect
Tag 1761 :: Shown by Real McCoy Genetics, Ohio
Champion Berkshire Gilt Prospect
Tag 853 :: Shown by Brice Conover, Iowa
Reserve Champion Berkshire Gilt Prospect
Tag 851 :: Shown by Brice Conover, Iowa
Champion Duroc Gilt Prospect
Tag 700 :: Shown by Morgan Wade, WV
Reserve Champion Duroc Gilt Prospect
Tag 643 :: Shown by McGuire Show Team, Ind
Champion Hampshire Gilt Prospect
Tag 810 :: Shown by Jay Theobald, Ind.
Reserve Champion Hampshire Gilt Prospect
Tag 811 :: Shown by Jay Theobald, Ind.
Champion Landrace Gilt Prospect
Tag 849 :: Shown by Real McCoy Genetics, Ohio
Reserve Champion Landrace Gilt Prospect
Tag 683 :: Shown by Chasten McConn, Pa.
Champion Poland Gilt Prospect
Tag 716 :: Shown by L&C Polands
Reserve Champion Poland Gilt Prospect
Tag 721 :: Shown by L&C Polands
Champion Spot Gilt Prospect
Tag 760 :: Shown by Ron Pierce & Jeff O’dell, Ohio
Reserve Champion Spot Gilt Prospect
Tag 834 :: Shown by Schipper Purebreds, Ind.
Reserve Champion Yorkshire Gilt Prospect
Tag 763 :: Shown by Thompson Brothers Genetics, Ohio
Champion AOB Gilt Prospect
Tag 757 :: Shown by Shown by Don & Mary Quesenberry, Ohio
Reserve Champion AOB Gilt Prospect
Tag 797 [ … ]
NSR Weanling Extravaganza
Richmond, Ind. • April 20
Sifter: AJ Genter, Ohio
Grand Champion Overall & Champion Dark Crossbred Male Prospect
Tag 1584 :: Shown by Cason Craft, Okla.
Reserve Grand Champion Overall & Champion Duroc Male Prospect
Tag 675:: Shown by Carly Martin, Iowa
Champion Berkshire Male Prospect
Tag 852 :: Brice Conover, Iowa
Reserve Champion Berkshire Male Prospect
Tag 829 :: Schipper Purebreds, Ind.
Reserve Champion Duroc Male Prospect
Tag 749 :: Shane & Emily Sutherlin, Ind.
Champion Hampshire Male Prospect
Tag 842 :: Brown Show Pigs, Ind.
Reserve Champion Hampshire Male Prospect
Tag 634 :: McGuire Family Showpigs, Ind.
Champion Landrace Male Prospect
Tag 665 :: Shown by Lance & Mitchell Westcamp, Ohio
Reserve Champion Landrace Male Prospect
Tag 684 :: Chasten McConn, Pa.
Champion Poland Male Prospect
Tag 789 :: Ryan Brunk & Family, Ohio
Reserve Champion Poland Male Prospect
Tag 828 :: Kayla Schipper, Ind.
Champion Spot Male Prospect
Tag 848 :: Real McCoy Genetics, Ohio
Reserve Champion Spot Male Prospect
Tag 627 :: Gracie Robertson, Va.
Champion Yorkshire Male Prospect
Tag 689 :: Ifft Yorkshires, Ill.
Reserve [ … ]
The National Youth Leadership Conference of 2016 was truly one for the history books. We had several amazing speakers that touched our hearts. One unplanned speaker left a group of us in admiration.
We traveled through the horse capital of the world to a place that houses many champion racehorses. Upon arrival we took pictures at the magnificent bronze statue and gravesite of Man O’ War. A group of us headed toward the hall of champions. What we found was so much more. We met a man by the name of David McMillan. Mr. McMillan shared his wealth of knowledge about several champions housed at Kentucky Park.
He then began to tell us the story of an incredible man named Gene Carter. Gene was one of only three men to ever throw a leg over Man O’ War. He grew up in a small town where Man O’ War’s caretaker, Will Harbut, [ … ]
During the second weekend in April, the 2016 NJSA National Youth Leadership Conference (NYLC) was held in Louisville, Kentucky, in conjunction with The University of Kentucky. NJSA members from all across the country were in attendance. As a junior board member who has attended the last three consecutive NYLCs, this conference certainly ranked as one of the top ones, for me. I thought the speakers we had this year were unmatched. The three presentations that specifically stand out to me were those done by Brian Arnold, NSR Vice President of Youth Development and Member Outreach, Warren Beeler, Director of Ag Policy in Kentucky, and Dr. Brett Kaysen, dairy production specialist with Zoetis. All three of these men did an outstanding job of motivating the youth (and adults) that attended the conference, and their words of encouragement inspired attendees to always do what is right, even when it may not be [ … ]
“If every showpig raised annually was harvested in one day, they would be harvested in less than two hours with total shackles available nationwide.” – Ed Tice, Tyson Fresh Meats
This quote was presented to the youth on the first day of the National Youth Leadership Conference (NYLC). When Brian Arnold told us this, my jaw dropped. Two hours? That’s it? Wow. His next question didn’t disappoint.
“Would the pork industry know if we disappeared?” Brian Arnold, National Swine Registry (NSR) Vice President of Member Outreach and Youth Development, asked.
The answer is absolutely! It’s not because of the pounds of meat the show industry helps produce. Absolutely is the answer because of the youth developed in our industry that are crafted to become great leaders throughout their lives! Youth as young as 13 years of age attended the 2016 NYLC in Kentucky, this past weekend. The conference consisted of tremendous speakers including [ … ]
The National Youth Leadership Conference (NYLC) is one of the most rewarding and unique events the NJSA puts on. As a retiring Junior Board member, this was my last NYLC, which might have made it the most unique, for me. Knowing my reign as a Junior Board member is close to an end helped me appreciate and take in more than I have at any other NYLC.
The unique aspect of the conference is that we did not talk about showing livestock once. NYLC focuses on leadership and the characteristics of being a good leader. I’m sure every person has a different set of criteria when it comes to making a great leader, and the conference will definitely help you narrow these attributes down to help develop you as a leader. Becoming a leader is not something you can be given; it is something that you earn by showing others what [ … ]
Enjoy every moment in life and never take anything for granted. The weekend in Kentucky at the National Youth Leadership Conference (NYLC) was memorable for many reasons, but I had a few special moments that stick out to me the most.
I was tasked with thanking Dr. Brett Kaysen, dairy production specialist with Zoetis, after his talk on Sunday, near the end of the conference. I began by thanking him, and then, since he was our last speaker, I trailed off into talking about my view of the weekend. I spoke specifically about three talks we had. The first was Brian Arnold’s (known by many as Arnie). I spoke about how awesome it was to be able to listen to him speak to us on Friday, because he is a mentor of mine, and more importantly, someone I consider a friend. We share a love of many of the same things, [ … ]
People who know me well enough know I am always the first to talk about the next hottest sire or which breeder has had the last big sale. One weekend when I put that all to the side has always been the National Youth Leadership Conference (NYLC). NYLC never ceases to amaze me, whether it is the tours where we see different sides of agriculture or the speakers who continue to deliver powerful messages. No matter what age you are, you can always take away so many impactful philosophies from NYLC to help you become a better leader.
The 2016 NYLC was no exception. We listened to a variety of speakers talking about different things within our industry, learned what the FDA is going to do to make our product safe for the consumer and held breakout sessions with the Junior Board Members about having safe, effective social media accounts.
With this [ … ]