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Prep like a Pro
By: Lindsey Robinson
Like any sport, preparing your animal for the show ring takes time, patience, and a lot of dedication. Throughout my show career, I’ve found Robert Collier’s quote to be true when it comes to show preparation, “Success is the sum of small efforts repeated day in and day out.” There is no magic show stick, only a lot of practice.
Missouri summers aren’t known for their cool breezes so walking and feeding during the morning when its cool is important to maximize feed efficiency. At my house, pig showing is a family affair, which means I have four siblings to wake up before heading outside for morning chores. After years of this routine, we’ve learned not to speak to one another before either 1) they had coffee before heading out the door or 2) we’ve been outside for at least a half hour. Generally, we start [ … ]
2018 NSR Interns
Payton Dahmer, Missouri
Growing up Payton was very involved in his 4-H club and FFA chapter, specifically the livestock judging team, while showing both pigs and sheep at the state and national level. He has also enjoyed being a member of the NJSA over the years and meeting new people at NJSA events. Payton is a 2017 graduate of Butler Community College where I received an associate’s degree in agriculture and was on a very competitive livestock judging team. Currently, he is a junior at Kansas State University majoring in animal science and industry with a business option. At K-State, Payton is a member of the livestock judging team and involved with K-State’s Block and Bridle and the Swine Interest Group. Upon completing his undergraduate studies, Payton plans to get a master’s degree in swine nutrition and ultimately obtain a career in the swine industry.
Payton is most excited to [ … ]
NJSA Junior Board Feature :: Taylor Conley
What is your favorite aspect of being on the Junior Board?
My favorite aspect of being on the Junior Board is the interaction with the youth. Growing up in the NJSA, I was influenced a lot by junior board members. It is my goal to provide that same influence on the youth of organization. I hope to be a mentor to younger members the way past junior board members were to me.
What is a fun fact about yourself?
In 2018, I will live in three states within the year. I am spending my spring semester at Oklahoma State University on National Student Exchange, I will live in Pennsylvania (at home) over the summer, and I will be back at Iowa State University in the fall.
What is your favorite stock show memory?
My favorite memory is winning the sweepstakes at the National Junior Summer Spectacular.
How do you hope [ … ]
The Pork Checkoff awarded scholarships to college students throughout the U.S. with an interest in the swine industry. Of the 22 students recognized for their scholastic merit, leadership activities, industry involvement and plans for a future career in the industry, seven were members of the National Junior Swine Association (NJSA). NJSA Junior Board President and past National Swine Registry Fieldstaff Intern Corey Carpenter of Red Bluff, Calif., was the top candidate, and will receive a $5,000 scholarship. Corey will start working toward a master’s in swine nutrition at Oklahoma State University this summer.Other NJSA recipients receiving $2,000 scholarships include:
NJSA Junior Board member David Ammann of Highland, Ill. David is studying swine nutrition at the University of Illinois.
Past NJSA Intern Cassie Holloway of Darlington, Md. Cassie is studying swine nutrition at Texas A&M University
Denise Beam of Elverson, Pa. Denise is studying ag business at the Pennsylvania State University.
Vance Brown of [ … ]
Everyone is guilty of it – skimming ads for pictures. But have you ever noticed an ad because of a clever headline? Chances are, if you did, you read it in its entirety. Wouldn’t it be nice if your ads could pack such a punch that they would stop readers in their tracks? With these quick headline writing tricks, your ad can have “stopping power.”
Name a benefit – Bigger litters. Bigger profits.
Tell them how sorry they’ll be if they don’t use your genetics, product or service – “I wonder what the champion drive is like,” said someone who didn’t buy from ACME Showpigs.
Make like Snapple, and throw out some facts – Over the last decade, we’ve farrowed more than 500 litters, and this is our best one yet.
Call-out to your target audience – No place is as nerve-wracking as ringside – buy your kids the best.
Make it newsworthy – At [ … ]
So you want to advertise – great! Now, the next question is where. There where can be a tricky decision, especially when you have a limited budget. This month in “Stock Marketing,” we’re going to talk about some advertising options and ways to mix up your marketing.
Put it in print – Regardless of the rumors you may have heard about print advertisement being dead, rest assured print media is very much alive and well. In fact, I would argue it is still one of the very best venues to advertise your livestock. Not only do livestock publications provide a way to get your message to a very specific group of livestock enthusiasts, but they also have a long “life.” How many of you still have the last Seedstock EDGE Showpig issue riding around with you in your truck or sitting on your coffee table? Print publications can’t be deleted from [ … ]
There is no doubt – it’s an election year. Even if you wanted to, it would be nearly impossible to escape the seemingly endless political propaganda making its way into every media channel out there. But, even as the presidential race heats up, there is another debate going on – one that has an effect on pork producers across the U.S. – the crate debate.
In recent months, major retailers and restaurants, including McDonalds, ConAgra Foods and Kroger, have announced plans to move toward sourcing their pork products from suppliers who raise their pigs without the use of gestation crates. This push for crate-free pork is a major concern for producers, who must not only decide if a shift to group housing is the right decision for their animals, but if it is even economically feasible for their operation.
Like any good debate, there are two sides to consider. Animal rights activists, among [ … ]