More Than Just An Industry

Call me crazy, but I love pigs…well most days!

Show pigs, where does a person even start!? Since sixth grade I have spent my summers in the barn with the pigs. Looking back, I can remember the first year we had pigs in the barn, when we only showed at the county fair. Today between Brielle and I, we travel to 10+ Jackpots across the state of Iowa, and participate in the county fair and State Fair. Which sounds like a lot, but in reality is a very minimal about compared to others involved in the show industry!

Over the years I have met incredible people throughout the show industry, and for the past two years I have been involved in the Iowa Swine Jackpot Series. ISJS is a swine jackpot series that allows youth to take advantage of opportunities and create friendships throughout the state of Iowa and other surrounding states, while also competing for points in different categories.

I won’t lie and say that the Jackpot series isn’t about winning and trying to get the most points, because it is, but in between competing for points there is always time for building friendships that will end up lasting longer than the grand champion hog payout!

The opportunities within the world of agriculture seem endless for our youth today. As young agriculturalists we are learning how to become leaders to the younger members of ISJS and also how to advocate and educate the public on today’s agricultural world.

Now, as a student at Iowa State University I have been able to make so many more connections, because I have been involved with ISJS. The amount of familiar faces that are at shows each weekends never ceases to amaze me.

This year has been the first year that Brielle and I have gotten very involved in the jackpot series, and we couldn’t have done it without papa Todd helping us load up the trailer full of pigs and driving three hours at 3 and 4 in the morning every weekend.

As I sit and take in the past two months and the past years that were filled with hours of driving and showing, it’s becoming a reality that the years I have left to enjoy this amazing organization are rapidly getting less and less. 


I am extremely grateful for all of the opportunities and friendships that I have been given through showing, and wouldn’t change those memories for anything. 

“Be the change that you wish to see in the world.” 

― Gandhi