National Junior Swine Association

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 [ … ]