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Meet the 2022 NSR Interns
Brittney Barnett, Marketing & Communications Intern
Regan Fringer, Events & Education Intern
Jada Johnson, Field Staff Intern
Where are you from?
BB: Thatcher, Arizona but I also spent summers and a lot of time in Pie Town, New Mexico growing up!
RF: Madera, California
JJ: I am from a small town with a population of 1,100 people called Warren, Indiana.
What are you looking forward to the most about your internship?
BB: I’m most looking forward to getting more involved in the swine industry, making connections and being able to increase my marketing skills in an industry I’m passionate about!
RF: I am looking forward to furthering the relationships with the people I already know, as well as meeting new people from all over the country; especially the NJSA Junior Board and all the members! I am not only excited for these connections, but also looking forward to enhancing my skill set under [ … ]
Written by Cassie Godwin
“I may not be able to control it, but I can make it better and that’s what I’m going to do.”
Bret Vickrey can tell you the exact moment and exactly what he was doing when he got the phone call informing him that his then 13-month-old daughter, Dalaney, had been diagnosed with cystic fibrosis (CF). “I was pulling into the farm to feed sows and had to pull off to the side to process what I had just been told.”
The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation® website states that cystic fibrosis is a progressive, genetic disease that causes persistent lung infections and limits the ability to breath over time. More than 30,000 children and adults in the United States have CF, and 70,000 worldwide. In people with CF, mutations in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene cause the CFTR protein to become dysfunctional, ultimately causing the mucus [ … ]
Written by DeShea Wallace
Goal setting is not a new idea to those junior members involved in the NJSA. For some, their goal is to win showmanship, while others have their sights set on winning a national show. However, several make it their goal to one day own and operate their very own showpig operation. This was the goal cousins, Jared and Erik Trogdon, had in junior high.
Originally, Trogdon Show Pigs was founded to raise showpigs for the cousins to compete at a county fair level. Since then, they have found success at shows such as OYE and the Illinois State Fair. They now have their sights set on a Grand Champion Barrow banner at a national event.
“We started raising pigs for ourselves for 4-H. With us both being involved in sports growing up, it wasn’t to travel the countryside showing pigs,” Jared recalls. “But nevertheless, it was something we did [ … ]
Written by Cassie Godwin
Livestock helps kids thrive. Young people hone work ethic, responsibility, relationships, communication, critical thinking and countless other skills while feeding pigs and cleaning pens. For special-needs youth, the benefits found in livestock projects are tenfold. What happens when caring for show animals brings you peace, but the show ring overwhelms your anxiety and emotions? The Seedstock EDGE Media team spoke with volunteers in two different programs whose goal is to ensure the show ring is for everyone.
Home. The word itself brings to mind a specific place and often evokes a sense of calm and peace. For youth with special needs, livestock and animals often bring that sense of home. However, livestock projects are meant to be exhibited. When a child lives with a disability, stepping into the show ring can trigger a sensory overload, feelings of entrapment and overwhelming information. The Indiana State Fair Special [ … ]
Written by DeShea Wallace
The barn is full to the brim with excited prospective pig buyers. Some faces in the crowd have been around since the first pig sale 14 years ago, while there are other countless new faces anxiously hoping to buy some of the most talked about genetics. Old or new, everyone has one thing in common, they are valued customers to Will Hilty and his family. Whether they have their sights set on winning their county fair or competing at The Exposition, Will is going to help each customer work toward achieving their goals.
Will Hilty, Hilty Showpigs, has some of the most successful genetics in the swine business. Today, people from all over are buying barrows in hopes of winning a show, but Will had a humble beginning.
Will, his wife, Callie and their two girls Kinley (3) and Kenna (8 months) live on the [ … ]
Meet the Staff
Bailey Craft, Events & Education Manager
What is your favorite aspect of your role with the NSR?
Well, I haven’t really gotten my feet wet yet – but something that I believe will be my favorite aspect is being able to meet new people and create a lot of great relationships through the industry. Our folks in the industry often time becomes family, and that is truly irreplaceable.
What is one thing that makes you excited about your job?
I am super excited to have the chance to work with our youth and see everyone grow and develop professionally overtime. One of the greatest things about working with our youth/interns etc. is seeing how they grow personally and professionally. Knowing one day, these kids will be our peers and run this industry is amazing, and something we should continue to elevate.
What was your involvement in the swine industry before your time [ … ]
Meet the Staff
Shelby Garcia, Duroc Secretary
What is your favorite aspect of your role with the NSR?
I’m not sure yet, but so far, I have enjoyed getting to meet everyone and learn about the pedigree process!
What is one thing that makes you excited about your job?
I’m excited to learn the role and meet all the members!
What was your involvement in the swine industry before your time with the NSR?
I showed swine in 4-H for 10 years. I also used to attend shows and sales with my grandma, Robin.
Please list your spouse and children (fur children included).
Henry (6-month-old Golden Retriever)
Where did you go to college and what was your major?
Purdue University – Animal Sciences
What do you enjoy doing outside of the office?
I enjoy playing golf, tennis, horse-back riding, baking/cooking, and spending time with my dog, Henry.
Where is your favorite place to visit or where is your dream vacation?
My dream vacation [ … ]
Meet the Staff
Jessica Jordan, Hampshire & Landrace Secretary
What is your favorite aspect of your role with the NSR?
My favorite aspect of the role is being able to truly pursue my passion. This role allows me to meet a variety of breeders and really learn the pedigree for each animal.
What is one thing that makes you excited about your job?
Something that makes me excited about being the Hampshire & Landrace Secretary is the opportunities I will have to travel to shows and being able to meet the families and exhibitors!
What was your involvement in the swine industry before your time with the NSR?
I got involved with 4-H when I was 15 years old and that’s when it all started. I chose to do swine because my dad grew up showing hogs. My favorite hog that we had was a Hampshire gilt but I also raised Spots and Chesters. [ … ]
Meet the Staff
Matt Fouts, Technology Manager
How many years have you worked for the NSR?
I have worked for the NSR for two years.
What is your favorite aspect of your role with the NSR?
Getting to work with and improve all the different technologies that we use here at the NSR.
What is one thing you wish members knew about your job?
The amount of work it takes to keep all the different systems we have communicating properly.
What is your favorite NSR memory?
Visiting Fair Oaks farms with our whole staff.
What was your involvement in the swine industry before your time with the NSR?
I was not involved with the swine industry before this job.
Please list your spouse and children (fur children included).
I have two cats: Tyrion and Lyanna.
Where did you go to college and what was your major?
I went to Wabash College, where I majored in physics, and Purdue University, where I majored in computer science.
What [ … ]
Meet the Staff
Mick Bellamy, Southwest Field Representative
How many years have you worked for the NSR?
It will be 5 years in May.
What is your favorite aspect of your role with the NSR?
Getting to work with all the different breeders and seeing how they all do things on their respective farms.
What is the one thing you wish members knew about your job?
In a normal year just how many days and hours we spend away from our family. I love working with the members, but we spend thousands of hours on the road and away from home.
What is your favorite NSR memory?
I come from a Duroc background, so breaking the Duroc boar and gilt records at my first Summer Type Conference in 2016 was something I will never forget. We also broke the all-time Duroc Sale that day.
What was your involvement in the swine industry before your time with the NSR?
My [ … ]