In a move that is poised to take strides towards bridging the gap between diverse stakeholders within the pork industry, Jesse Heimer—a recognized figure within the show pig community—has been recently appointed to the National Pork Board (NPB). This pivotal appointment marks a significant step toward a greater alignment and understanding between the show pig and commercial segments of the industry. Read more about the process and the impact Heimer will have in the fight to bridge the gap between all facets of our swine industry.

“I got my start in the show pig industry when I was 9 years old after my Dad bought me a few sows, whose offspring I competed with at the county fair. When I first started in this industry, my main goal was to win my county fair and produce boars. As I've grown older, my goals have evolved. While I still aim to win as much as possible, I now also focus on targeting and succeeding at different shows across the country.” A perfect blend of competitive spirit with a love for the show pig industry, our latest #HowTheyWork article comes from Seth Keplinger, of Keplinger Farms.

At Showpig, we understand the ever-evolving landscape of the show pig industry. In response to your needs and requests, we are thrilled to introduce our new Sales Advisor Team. This dedicated team is here to provide you with expert guidance and customized solutions to help grow your business. We look forward to partnering with you and enhancing our services to support your success. At Showpig, your best interests as a business owner are always at the heart of what we do.

“Our goal since day one still remains the same… we want to see families united, and families reach their goals together.” Fueled by faith, show pigs and a commitment to the youth industry, we sat down with the family members of Danner Livestock to learn more about #HowTheyWork. Dive into the day to day, the achievements, the struggles and the goals of a prolific show pig operation.

Showmanship. As an exhibitor, it is the one time you will step into the ring where the only thing that matters is your talent and your ability. So what makes a good showman? Showmanship judge Emily Miller was kind enough to give us a rundown of her personal Showmanship Do's for the next time you step into the ring. Whether you are just starting out or the most seasoned showman, find helpful showmanship reminders from a nationally recognized evaluator.

Contrary to much noise you may hear in the marketplace, Showpig.com hosted the first-ever online livestock auction on March 21, 2004. In the 20 years since that first auction, we have seen many different styles and types of sellers succeed, and some struggle to gain footing. We’ve studied the best so you don’t have to, and here are 20 of their most common behaviors.

For many Americans, the Fourth of July means early afternoon BBQs with friends and family that turn into watching fireworks light up the sky much past their bedtime. But in our industry, it is common that the Fourth of July is accompanied by the sound of gates closing and pigs squealing, while the smell of sawdust is stronger than the smell of any hotdog. We know those celebrating the holiday from the NJSA National Junior Summer Spectacular (NJSS) may be too busy to think about where to catch some fireworks after the show is over, so we compiled 5 local firework shows that are a short distance from the fairgrounds. Take a look!

Have you ever wondered what it takes to pull off the national and regional shows we all love to attend? A big part of the success can be accredited to the junior board members who serve the National Junior Swine Association and Team Purebred! Showpig.com had the privilege to sit down and talk with NJSA Junior Board President, Paige Vierra, and Team Purebred Junior Board President, Grayson Tedrow, to learn more about the amazing work both junior organizations put into our youth and youth events. Learn more about the day in the life of a junior board member here!

Do you need help packing for your next show? If you're getting ready to leave for The Exposition, or any other show this summer, but struggling with what all to pack for the week, this blog is just for you! We know that packing for a national show can be a daunting task, especially when preparing for the whole family. Having traveled the country showing pigs for 15 years, the Sponcil family from Greenfield, Ohio, has some great tips so you don’t forget a thing!

Join the Showpig team in welcoming our 2024 summer interns! We are proud to have Abi Lilliard of Abilene, Kansas, Kiley Allen of Le Mars, Iowa, and Grace Ahrens of Canal Winchester, Ohio, serving the Showpig.com Marketing & Events team.

It’s that time of the year. You have spent hours searching, traveling, and bidding on show pigs in the hopes of finding “The One” and now your set is in your barn, and the real fun begins. You want to give your new show projects the best chance to succeed you can. We sat down with Travis Platt of Platt Showpigs to get his top 10 tips on what to do when you get your new show pigs home. Read below to set yourself up for success this show season!

As show pig producers and exhibitors, loading the trailer and driving to a show is natural. Thousands of pigs are transported daily across the country and even worldwide. While husbandry and health are top of mind when these animals are in motion, the word ‘traceability’ is probably not.

Selling online gives an operation more visibility and access to a customer base that is almost impossible to reach otherwise. Selling online, especially to those just starting out, can be daunting. Sometimes an operation wants to learn the ropes of selling online before diving in, or they may simply just have a few pigs they want to sell and don’t want to host an online auction, so Showpig.com found a solution.   

Buying livestock online can be daunting and somewhat overwhelming if it’s not something you have a lot of experience doing. Follow these tips to avoid making these common mistakes and make the best of buying online.

Interning with Showpig.com as the summer events and marketing intern, I was pushed creatively and grew both personally and professionally. If you want to be the best, you have to surround yourself with the best, and the staff at Showpig.com is the BEST. 

TKO Genetics, a prominent face in the show pig industry, faced the expected challenge of optimizing their marketing strategies in efforts to increase sales revenue. This case study will dive into the collaboration of TKO Genetics and the Showpig.com online platform, showcasing the implementation of innovative marketing tactics that resulted in great success.

On this month’s edition of #HowTheyWork, we caught up with Ben Bobell, owner and operator of Bobell Farms from Lincoln, Illinois. Ben gives an inside look at his operation and even shares some fun facts.

Have you ever wondered what would happen in the event of a foreign animal disease outbreak? To be honest, it is not an often thought among producers and consumers. At least for Brody Nemecek, a fourth-year student at Kansas State University majoring in animal sciences and industry, he admits it was not something he was particularly worried about.

Upon learning about the impact of Prop 12 on show pig producers, you might find yourself overwhelmed with a wealth of information. To ensure that you, as a producer, stay well-informed and educated, we have recently engaged in a conversation with an established show pig operation regarding their recent experience with the auditing/certification process.

County fairs are an American tradition, offering a blend of community spirit, agriculture exhibition, and youth engagement. One of the longstanding traditions within these fairs is the livestock auction, where young exhibitors have the opportunity to sell their livestock projects. In the case of Scurry County, Texas, what was once a modest auction that merely covered exhibitor costs underwent an extraordinary transformation, raising over $750,000 for their exhibitors.

In a universe bustling with noise and ceaseless clamoring for attention, crafting a personal brand that not only stands out but harmonizes deeply with your audience has become the holy grail of distinction. Amidst this whirlwind, an Instagram post from a dear friend and loyal customer of Lackey Livestock, described the brand as "MAGNETIC."