Morgan Kennedy

Perry, Mich.

 

The NJSA would like to recognize Morgan Kennedy of Perry, Michigan as a youth spotlight. She is the daughter of Jim and Robin Kennedy. Morgan has three older brothers, Justin, Zach and Jordan. She is in 11th grade at Teenworks of Lansing. Her hobbies in school include Student Council, drama, speech and forensics, but out of school it’s all about ballet, as she dances with a traveling dance repertory company.

Morgan has been showing pigs for 8 years and started showing just at her county fair. All of her siblings showed pigs and after always helping them she knew it was her calling to follow in their footsteps. Morgan loves to show pigs because it is just something that she can enjoy. She has learned life lessons through raising and showing hogs including time management, responsibility, determination and hard work. She also has been given countless leadership opportunities to work with young kids.

Her favorite livestock shows are the National Junior Summer Spectacular and the Michigan Livestock Expo, because everybody gets to hang out and have a great time, while at the same time, they are competitive in the ring. You also get to meet people from all over the country who have the same passion that you do. It is also a great opportunity to for people to meet and get to know different breeders as well as influential people in the swine industry. She got involved with the NJSA when she worked with a breeder who helped her family get started in the swine project area. He directed her siblings to join the program, and when she was older, she eventually joined as well. Bailey Albright really sparked her interest in going to national shows, and she has been going ever since!

She has exhibited swine at the North American International Livestock Expo in 2009, World Pork Expo in 2011, and National Junior Summer Spectacular in 2010-2011, but her favorite is the National Junior Summer Spectacular. Her favorite contest is definitely showmanship. She works hard and trains with her pigs all summer, and constantly tries to increase her knowledge of the swine industry and her individual project so she will be prepared for this contest. She loves showmanship because no matter what, she learns something every time she shows.

What would you tell a younger NJSA member?  “I would tell them that it’s a lot of fun, and that you get to meet new friends! It gives you great opportunities to improve your skills by participating in the skillathon and judging contest. You get to watch older kids and learn from them in all the contests, especially showmanship. It gives you the opportunity to meet different breeders, and other influential people in the swine industry. Also, it gives you the opportunity to show at a higher level of competition, which enables you to make yourself even better at showing.”