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It’s PORKtober! In honor of National Pork Month, the Showpig.com team is learning what #realpigfarming means to those in our industry. We caught up with Team Purebred President Jordan Monier to see how the swine industry has shaped his life.
What does #realpigfarming mean to you?
#realpigfarming to me is something a lot of people take pride in and how many even make their living. The care the animals get is second to none, because livelihoods depend on it.
Describe your involvement in the swine industry?
My involvement in the swine industry is raising Hampshire and Chester White showpigs in Walnut, Illinois. My nephew is 7 and my niece is 6, and I constantly think about how lucky I was to be a part of a great industry. I think it is a great way to raise the leaders of tomorrow.
How has your participation in youth swine organizations like Team Purebred shaped your career path?
Team Purebred and other swine organizations are a great way to meet people and network, whether it is a best friend or just a peer that may be your colleague one day. The thing that is great about the swine industry is there are plenty of people like myself that do it on the side, while also having a full-time job. You can share those stories at pig shows, and you will be surprised how many similarities you can find with people, if you just step out of your comfort zone and say, “Hello.”
What do you wish the public knew about the swine industry?
I wish the public knew how much the swine industry could change one’s life. You do not know who is going through what in their life, and the swine industry brings people together in a way that it is like your family. It is unique in terms of many my best friends are from outside the state of Illinois, and I find myself talking to them nightly about what is happening in the swine industry.
What do you feel is the biggest misconception about raising and showing swine?
The biggest misconception about raising and showing swine is the general public’s thoughts on the way the animals are treated. We need to do a better job of sharing the right way and the successes. Too many people are quick to magnify the negatives, and not enough people recognize the positives. People also think the swine industry is easy. I dare those people to try it for themselves. It is 24/7/365, and takes an army of people to be successful at it.
How do you think your life would be different if you didn’t get involved in the industry?
I constantly catch myself driving on the road from a show or from a customer’s house thinking to myself, what would I do if I was not in this industry? The only answer I can come up with is I would be bored not have the friends I do today.
What is the greatest lesson you’ve learned in the industry?
The greatest lesson I have learned in this industry is probably never get content, but never get too discouraged either. There is multiple ways to be successful in this industry, and you just have to focus on what works for you and your operation.
How would you encourage other young people to get involved?
I would just encourage the youth to get outside their comfort zone and run for a junior board position, volunteer at a show or do the other contests at shows besides just showing your pig. I would also encourage kids to go read my editorial in the June issue of Breeders Digest and reflect and relate it to themselves. Then, they should ask themselves what they can do to make themselves and the industry better as a whole.
How do you think people can “agvocate” for the swine industry?
The best way to advocate for the swine industry is to be knowledgeable, and not afraid to have the conversation. Whether it is someone at a show walking around with a camera and asking why we use a whip, or someone you are sitting next to on a plane. Take the time to have the conversation and protect what we love so much, because we cannot take it for granted.