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Meet the Showpig.com All-Star Team: Part 1

Wednesday, June 8, 2016

Breeder Central Showpig News

Tristan Morgan 
Secondcreek, West Virginia

Something not many people know about you:
I am a very emotional person. Every year when it comes time to sell my project pig, after the sale I have to go to the vehicle and gather my thoughts!

Favorite Quote:
To make the best better

What is something you would tell someone who isn’t associated with the livestock industry about what we do?
I would explain to them that the agriculture industry practices correct and safe animal husbandry and medical treatment, if needed, to ensure safe food products.  I would explain why an animal may need to be treated with antibiotics but also explain the harvest withdraw period so they could understand that an animal is not treated with medications then shipped to harvest.  I would explain to them that the livestock are cared for daily with proper housing or pasture to ensure the safety and health of the animal.

What has been your biggest accomplishment so far?
My biggest accomplishment so far is being selected for a spot on the 2014 inaugural Showpig.com All-star Team. It has opened up so many doors in life for me. I had chosen to apply and was selected to serve as an intern for the 2015 team and now I will be serving a second internship for the team in 2016.

 

Baleigh Oliver
Deland, FL

Something not many people know about you:
I’m deathly afraid of the dark.

Favorite Quote:
“Talent is God-given. Be humble. Fame is man-given. Be grateful. Conceit is self-given. Be careful.” -Unknown

What do you believe is the most important obstacle you have had to overcome?
My greatest challenge has been not growing up with a production agriculture background. My older siblings and I were the first in our family to get involved in the industry and therefore, had to learn quickly in order to expand our operation at the pace we wanted. My passion and knowledge for this industry was obtained quickly and I look forward to growing in both of those areas this summer at camp!

What do you think is the biggest challenge the livestock industry faces today?
In my opinion, the biggest issue facing the agriculture and swine industry is the “outsiders” perception of modern agriculture and the raising/production of livestock. Animal activist groups like PETA are constantly attacking the livestock industry and successfully spreading their inaccurate beliefs to the uneducated public through media outlets. I continuously try to advocate for the swine industry by constantly going out into the public and educating others about the real American farmer and the care taken in every avenue of livestock production.

 

Brody Morrison
Leslie, Arkansas
Something not many people know about you:
I’m an open book, so there’s not really much that people don’t know about me!

Favorite Quote:
If you can do what you do with what you have, you will always be successful.

What is the biggest lesson you have taken away from showing and raising pigs?
The biggest lessons I have learned from showing is hard work and dedication. Hard work because you constantly have to be active with you pig. People who don’t show have no idea how much time and effort we as showman put into our show animals. Dedication because you have to be dedicated to what you do. I have friends who go on vacations to the beach while my family and I go on vacations to pig shows. I have a younger sister and brother who also show, and who are watching and learning from me. I want to show them that with hard work and dedication, they can be the best at what they do!

What is your favorite memory so far from showing and/or raising livestock?
My favorite memory is not a specific one. I look back on the past 7 years that I’ve shown and see all the time that my family and I have spent together getting hogs ready to show and traveling to show. These times are what I remember. With my brother and sister just now starting to show, I know that as I get ready to leave for college out of state, those times where we are all together are limited.

 

Marlena Long
Paris, Missouri

Something not many people know about you:
I am raising Australian Shepherds, and my dog Cookie is going to have puppies June 13th.

Favorite Quote:
Some people say you can’t buy happiness, but you can buy pigs and that’s pretty much the same thing!

What do you believe is the most important obstacle you have had to overcome?
Last summer I moved up to the oldest division for showmanship at the Missouri State Fair. I worked very hard on my showmanship skills all summer. I did not win showmanship, but I was lucky enough be mentioned in the top five.

What is your favorite memory so far from showing and/or raising livestock?
My favorite memory is from the 2011 Missouri State Fair. That year I won Reserve Grand Champion Youth Barrow. I participated in the Sale of Champions and all of the activities that come with that amazing experience.

 

Cody Toth
North Liberty, Indiana

Something not many people know about you:
That I grew up in a town that I would have never had the chance to raise livestock and that I did not want to move houses but I am glad I did.

Favorite Quote:
“Never make excuses! Always wake up with a smile on your face know that today was not guaranteed and that today you are going to have fun accomplishing what others are too afraid to do!” -Unknown

What tips would you give someone new to showing?
Something I would tell someone new to showing is it’s not always easy but it’s the tough days that make you a better person inside and outside the ring. So never give up if you want to show livestock; do not let anything stop you.

What is something you would tell someone who isn’t associated with the livestock industry about what we do?
I would tell them that we do not keep livestock in inhumane places. Almost all livestock that are within the livestock industry get taken care of very well. I know for myself and for many others that I show with that almost always the animals come before yourself. Most of our livestock live the best lives that they could have while they are in livestock family’s care.

 

Dori Kralj
Emlenton, Pennsylvania

Something not many people know about you:
I have won at national competitions for my sewing

Favorite Quote:
“Don’t walk behind me; I may not lead. Don’t walk in front of me; I may not follow. Just walk beside me and be my friend”

What is your next big goal?
My next goal in life would be to get accepted into college at Penn State where I will hopefully study in the Ag Program and major in Animal Science/ Food Science.

What has been your biggest accomplishment so far?
My biggest accomplishment so far in my life happened in the fall of 2015. I was able to raise enough money through my 4-H market hog to send me on a mission trip to Jamaica. This trip through Showpig helped me to see how I can influence my world. It was definitely an eye opening experience.

What is the biggest lesson you have taken away from showing and raising pigs?
Throughout my 12 years of raising and showing pigs I have learned that hard work and dedication are very important. When combined with compassion, respect, responsibility, and communication skills, success is eminent. Not only does it apply here, but also applies to the rest of my life.

 

Kloie Nation 
Sapulpa, Oklahoma

Something not many people know about you:
I’m able to memorize song lyrics but don’t ask me to sing

Favorite Quote:
“I never dreamed about success, I worked for it”-Estrée Lauder

What has been your biggest accomplishment so far?
My biggest accomplishment so far has been winning our county show with a Yorkshire in 2012

What is your next big goal?
My next big goal is to win Intermediate showmanship at our county show I’ve yet to accomplish this goal that I’ve been chasing for two years.

 

Rhett Newby
Caney, Kansas

Something not many people know about you:
Both of my parents are teachers at the same high school

Favorite Quote:
Hard work beats talent when talent fails to work hard

What is the biggest thing you have taken away from showing and raising pigs?
Never give up just try harder

What is your next big goal?
Win my county fair and/or win showmanship outside of the county

 

Robert Scholl
Marysville, Ohio

Something not many people know about you:
I like getting my picture taken

Favorite Quote:
“Luck for me is lots of determination, hard work, faith in myself and in God” -Lane Frost

What is the biggest thing you have taken away from showing and raising pigs?
I have learned responsibility and hard work pays off in the end.

What is your next big goal?
My next big goal is to graduate from Black Hawk and work or own my own production operation in the Midwest.

 

Jake Sterle
Roland, Iowa

What is the biggest thing you have taken away from showing and raising pigs?
Showing pigs has taught me many different things from leadership to hard work and dedication to caring for an animal.  It is really hard to choose just one of these lessons to be the most valuable. All of these lessons have made me a better person and will prepare me for a future career.

What tips would you give someone new to showing?
There are two tips that I would give to someone new to showing. The first is to never give up.  There will be dozens of good times and dozens of bad times.  You just have to keep going and never give up. The other tip I would like to give out is just to have fun.  Your showing career won’t last forever so, live in the moment and just have all the fun you can.

 


Tanner Ashley
Valrico, FL

Something not many people know about you:
I have harvested 4 Record Book Whitetail Deer.

Favorite Quote:
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me

What tips would you give someone new to showing?
Work hard on your project and make sure to start walking the pigs young and every day. If you don’t work with your project every day then the pig won’t do what you want it to when it comes to show time.

What is your next big goal?
I think my next big goal is continue to perfect Showmanship so I can compete at a high level at National Shows. I would like to compete at NJSA National Show in Georgia and the Pork Expo in Iowa.

 

Courtney Conine
Camilla, GA

What is the biggest lesson you have taken away from showing and raising pigs?
My parents have always had high expectations of me and that didn’t waver once I began showing pigs. I am responsible for feeding my pigs before school, walking my pigs after school, and feeding them later in the evening. I am very involved with my high school and extracurricular activities there, but I am still held accountable for my responsibilities in the barn. In order to be successful in all of my involvements, I have to remain disciplined. I believe that this is not only beneficial to me now but will continue to be an asset to any success in my future.

What tips would you give someone new to showing?
As a youngster when I started showing, my father encouraged me to stand ringside and watch my fellow exhibitors compete in showmanship. From this perspective, I gained the building blocks for my success in the show ring.

I cannot stress enough just how important networking is within the junior livestock industry. People that I have met at shows across the country have become friends and mentors that I can call on for advice or a helping hand.

“The will to win is useless without the will to prepare.” I love this quote because it is truly indicative of the success in the show ring. You don’t get beat in the ring, you get beat at home. Working pigs everyday may be very time consuming especially as a high schooler, but it is has direct correlation to your success at the show.

 

Rebecca Scholl
Marysville, Ohio

Something not many people know about you:
I played softball for 6 years and golf for 4 years.

Favorite Quote:
“She who leaves a trail of glitter is never forgotten.”

What tips would you give someone new to showing?
It is really good to ask for advice. You can get the greatest advice from the greatest people in the world but in the long run, it’s up to you on what you do with that advice. Always ask for advice and never be scared to ask for help. Most importantly, have fun and enjoy it. Never forget to say thank you to anyone that helps you.

What is your next big goal?
I really want to get my state degree. I think the biggest goal I have is to make a difference and help people around the world.

 

Jadra McGuire
Wyandotte, OK

Favorite Quote:
“Winning is not a sometime thing; it’s an all the time thing. You don’t win once in a while. You don’t do things right once in a while. You do them right all the time. Winning is habit.”

What do you believe is the most important obstacle you have had to overcome?
My fear of public speaking! When I joined FFA my 8th grade year I was an extreme introvert. After giving multiple sets of reasons, speeches, and after attending camp last year it has really made me become more of an extrovert!

What is the biggest lesson you have taken away from showing and raising pigs?
That bad luck occurs, not all your shows will turn out like you expect. You win and you lose. Just like life there will always be hard times. It taught me to never quit trying, that sooner or later your hard work will pay off.

Jacob Barr
Ripley, WV

Something not many people know about you:

Worlds Best Procrastinator

Favorite Quote:
“Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard.”

What do you believe is the most important obstacle you have had to overcome?
Being a first generation showman and breeder has definitely been the biggest obstacle, but the support I have received from my family in helping me follow my passion has pushed me through it.

What is something you would tell someone who isn’t associated with the livestock industry about what we do?
No words themselves can describe what this industry is about without experiencing it first hand, but in a simple sentence, our industry is about developing kids by teaching them life lessons, while making the next generation of pigs better at the same time.

Shambree Hagan
Princeton, MO

Something not many people know about you:

I am 4 foot 8 inches tall.

Favorite Quote:
“Every morning in Africa, a gazelle wakes up, it knows it must outrun the fastest lion or it will be killed. Every morning in Africa, a lion wakes up. It knows it must run faster than the slowest gazelle, or it will starve. It doesn’t matter whether you’re the lion or a gazelle-when the sun comes up, you’d better be running.”

What has been your biggest accomplishment so far?
Most people would probably think that my National Barrow Show win is my biggest accomplishment.  But that actually pales in comparison to two major accomplishments in my life.  The first is my Missouri State Fair Grand Champion Showman win in 2014.  This represented many years of hard work, and my own realization that even though I may not be able to afford the best pigs, and may have bad luck in terms of feeding and health I was in control of how I trained and exhibited my animals.  The second major accomplishment is my team’s Missouri State Champion Livestock Team win.  Again, many hours of hard work and dedication paid off and even though there were many bumps in the road, we accomplished our goals in the end.

What is the biggest lesson you have taken away from showing and raising pigs?
I have learned that there is an element of luck.  Sometimes, you work hard and do everything you can, but today is someone else’s day to succeed.  When that happens, you can either feel bad and give up, or you can work even harder to succeed next time.

 

Maddi Nation
Sapulpa, OK

What has been your biggest accomplishment so far?
This show season I was blessed to have an incredible set of show pigs; it was an incredible way to end my high school career of showing livestock. In Oklahoma we have the World’s Largest Youth Expo or OYE.  This year my family and I won Reserve Champion Chester White with a hog that we had raised. It was one of my biggest accomplishments because out of the 10,000 hogs exhibited we were in the top 16.

What is your next big goal?
This year I was given the incredible opportunity to run for Oklahoma FFA’s Northeast District Vice-President. Unfortunately I did not win, but since then many opportunities have presented themselves. I have been offered two different scholarships to livestock judge at junior colleges. My next big goal is to become competitive on the collegiate livestock judging circuit.

What do you think is one of the biggest challenges the livestock industry faces?
The biggest challenge the livestock industry and the agriculture industry faces is the misconceptions consumers believe about this industry. Today Chipotle, Subway and other restaurants have misled the public into thinking the products they consume are harmful. The agriculture industry, as a whole, needs to do a better job of informing the public about the misconceptions consumers believe about the industry.