NJSA would like to recognize Bailey Farrer, 19, of Royal Center, Indiana as a youth spotlight. Bailey is the daughter of Tom and Lisa Farrer and has two older brothers, Payton and Taylor. Bailey is currently a freshman at Purdue University where she is an Animal Science Major. In high school, Bailey was involved with cross country, basketball, and track along with being both class and student council president. At Purdue, Bailey is a member of PASE which is an agriculture leadership group along with being involved with other agriculture related organizations. Outside of school Bailey was a 4-H member, on the United Way Youth Council, an Indiana Beef Cattle Association Junior Board Member, as well as being involved with the NJSA MVP program.
Bailey has been involved with the swine industry her whole life, raising all of her own animals, and has thus been showing since she was three years old. Her first show was the NAILE in Louisville, Kentucky and her show schedule has been growing ever since. She has been an NJSA member since the organization began, which has been about 11 years. As an NJSA member, Bailey has taken part in many of our shows and events, including Eastern Regional, World Pork Expo, National Junior Summer Spectacular, American Royal, National Western Stockshow, as well as numerous Leadership Conferences. Of those, the Leadership Conferences are Bailey’s favorite event. She enjoys getting to meet all of the new people and listening to the speakers of the different parts of the industry. The opportunity to travel to different parts of the country is also a great aspect of the Leadership Conferences that Bailey likes. But when asked about just the shows she attends during the year, her favorite was a tossup between NJSS and the National Western. She loves NJSS for all that goes on saying “there is always something happening, the best of the best come out, andit’s a week packed full.” Of the National Western, Bailey loves the uniqueness of the area and the atmosphere.
When asked about what it is about showing pigs that she enjoys so much, Bailey says, “Not only getting to know the animals and spend time with them, but also the time with the family. For most people going to the beach is their vacation, but for us it’s going to the different shows during the year.” Bailey continued on to talk about all of the opportunities to make new, life-long industry friends through showing pigs. In fact, her roommate at Purdue, Taylor Borwn, is a fellow showman that she met at the Indiana State Fair. Aside from simply showing at the different shows, Bailey also takes part in the different contests, with her favorites being Skillathon and Showmanship. She enjoys how the Skillathon tests how much homework you do about your hogs and the swine industry and how much you really know about the industry. But it’s the competitiveness of the Showmanship area that draws her there, saying “it’s competitiveness at its highest.”
Since being in NJSA, Bailey has been Reserve Overall Showman at the American Royal, won Sweepstakes at WPX, Reserve Champion Premier Exhibitor at the National Western, 2nd Sweepstakes at Eastern Regional, and the recipient of the Darrell Anderson Leadership Award at one of her Leadership Conferences. Outside of NJSA, Bailey was Salutatorian of her graduating class, a Lilly Finalist, has had Grand Champion Steer and Barrow at her county fair, and has been Reserve Supreme Champion Showman at her 4-H State Fair.
As aforementioned, Bailey has had many memorable moments in NJSA, but one that really stuck out to her was at an Ice Cream Social with her protégé and the Board of Directors. She appreciated the line of succession, starting with herself looking up to the Board member, and then her protégé looking up to her. With this in mind Bailey would like younger NJSA members to know to “get involved with as many different shows and activities that you can, the opportunities are limitless, so make friends and learn new things, it can change your life.”
As a word of parting, Bailey wants to thank her family, but especially her father Tom, for all he has done. Their farm started with two spot gilts that were given to her grandparents as a wedding present, and the farm has since grown exponentially, with her father taking it over and continuing the legacy her grandparents started. For this, and all of the knowledge and advice he has given her, she would like to give him a big thanks. To her Mother and brothers, a similar thanks goes out for all they do, from keeping thing running smoothly and efficiently, along with also passing on advice and experience.
The NJSA would like to congratulate Bailey on being such an outstanding role model and NSJA member, and wish her the best of luck at all of her future endeavors and shows!
Submitted by Cassie Holloway, 2011 NJSA Intern