The NJSA would like to recognize Megan Mench, 12, of Shirley, Indiana as a youth spotlight.  The daughter of Tom and Jessica Mench, Megan has one sister, Morgan.  Megan attends Eastern Hancock Middle School where she plays basketball and volleyball, and is a member of the livestock judging team.  Outside of school, she enjoys 4-H, livestock judging, and showing pigs.

Megan started showing pigs at the age of three when she exhibited a red spotted pig named SPOT at Lake County in Crown Point.  When asked why she shows pigs, Megan responded, “I enjoy the competition of showing pigs.  We show pigs as a family and get to travel together.  Plus, you can make life-long friends across the country.”  She enjoys showmanship the most, but also loves to meet new people and make new friends who love pigs just as much as she does.  Her favorite show is the World Pork Expo since her mom, sister and her travel together, making it a “girl trip.”

Megan has many accomplishments to prove that she lives up to her favorite quote, “You have to beat the best to be the best; working to show…showing to win…”  She was the Champion Showman at the 2009 NAILE, Reserve Champion Junior Showman at the Team Purebred Summer Show, and Reserve Champion Junior Showman at the National Junior Summer Spectacular.

When asked what she would tell a younger member about the NJSA, Megan answered, “Showing pigs is not always about winning, but the life-long friends and experiences you make along the way.  I know people all over the country.”  Megan’s most memorable moment in the NJSA was last fall when she won showmanship at the NAILE, beating her sister.  She also enjoyed the dance at the National Junior Summer Spectacular this past summer where she had a ton of fun.

In the coming years, Megan would like to help the NJSA by working with younger members and eventually serving on the Junior Board of Directors.  She plans to attend Purdue University to become a teacher, however, she would like to continue to be apart of the swine industry by taking pictures during the summer at hog shows like Steve Mapes, who inspired her to be a photographer. 

The NJSA would like to congratulate Megan on all of her accomplishments and wish her the best of luck with all of her future endeavors!