The NJSA would like to recognize Corey Carpenter, 20, of Red Bluff, Calif., as a youth spotlight.  The son of David and Mary Carpenter, Corey has one 24-year-old brother, Josh.    Corey will be a junior at California State University Chico this fall in Chico, Calif., where he will major in animal science with a minor in agricultural science.  He is currently a herdsman at the Chico State Swine Unit.  Outside of school and raising pigs Corey enjoys working out, spending time with his family and friends, and travelling.

Thanks to the influence of his dad and grandfather, Dale, Corey began showing as soon as he could walk and hold a show stick.  He has been an NJSA member since the organization began.  Since then, Corey has attended NJSA events such as NYLC, Western Regional and World Pork Expo.  Of these events his favorite is the NYLC.  “I like leadership conference because you get to travel to different parts of the country and socialize with members in a relaxed setting while seeing different aspects of the industry,” he says.  Corey attended the 2011 NYLC in Minneapolis, Minn., and wanted to share a quote that he got from leadership presenter, Mark Jewel, “tough times don’t last, tough people do.”

His most memorable NJSA moment took place at his first Western Regional when he was 12.  Corey says he went into the ring for showmanship chewing a huge piece of bubble gum.  While being excused from the ring, judge, Mike McCoy commented on the mic he was being excused because of the gum.  Corey says he will never forget that moment which taught him an important lesson needless to say he never chewed gum in the ring again.

Corey’s favorite contest is the skillathon.  “I like the skillathon because I think it is important that you are not only familiar with showmanship and showring aspects, but you are also familiar with what it takes to raise pigs and what is behind the scenes of showing pigs,” he says.

Corey would like to let younger members know that, “It is a positive experience that you make of it what you want,” he says.  “You can be as involved or as uninvolved as you like, the choice is yours.”  However, he encourages younger members to take advantage of the organization and be as involved as possible.

In the future Corey plans to receive a bachelor’s degree from Chico State and attend graduate school at Oklahoma State University where he will obtain a master’s degree in animal science.  He would then like to receive a doctorate degree in either ruminant nutrition or reproductive physiology with an ultimate goal of teaching at the college level.

The NJSA would like to thank Corey for his dedication to NJSA and the swine industry, and wish him the best of luck on all his future goals and endeavors.