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August 2004 Issue
Speak out
by Jennifer Shike
Well, it happened. After four years, the National Junior Swine Association has crossed the 6,000-member mark. As I prepare to enter into my fifth year at the National Swine Registry, I am excited and encouraged by the growth and continued improvements occurring in the NJSA.
My excitement is not over the numbers alone – it’s about the lives that are being touched by this program including NJSA members, parents, breeders, industry representatives and boar stud owners to name a few.
It’s a fact that youth play a critical role in the swine industry. Their dollars create business for purebred operations, boar studs, feed companies, show supply companies, pharmaceutical companies and others. In addition, the sheer enthusiasm and interest youth have been creating at NSR shows and sales throughout the past four years has made a significant impact on NSR’s ability to sustain and develop more shows throughout the country.
As we enter into our fifth year of formal organization as a junior association, I encourage all NJSA members to look into attending one new NJSA event or activity in the upcoming year. The most significant contribution you can make in our organization is to be present at our events!
I believe our events offer something for everyone – from showpig producers to commercial producers, NJSA continues to create opportunities for all of our members.
Sept. 10-11: NJSA Barrow Classic at the National Barrow Show® in Austin, Minn. (purebred barrow show and showmanship)
Sept. 17-19: NJSA Southwest Regional in Lawton, Okla. (purebred gilt show, purebred barrow show, judging contest and showmanship)
Oct. 1-3: NJSA Eastern Regional in Harrisburg, Pa. (purebred gilt show, skillathon and showmanship)
Oct. 19-21: American Royal in Kansas City, Mo. (purebred gilt show, purebred market hog show, skillathon and showmanship)
Nov. 6-8: North American International Livestock Exposition in Louisville, Ky. (purebred market hog show, showmanship and NJSA Barnyard Olympics)
Mar. 18-20, 2005: NJSA Western Regional in Bakersfield, Calif. (purebred gilt show, purebred barrow show, skillathon, showmanship and NJSA Barnyard Olympics)
May 2005: NJSA National Youth Leadership Conference (date and location to be announced)
June 8-10, 2005: World Pork Expo Junior Event in Des Moines, Iowa (purebred gilt show, purebred barrow show, judging contest and showmanship)
July 5-9, 2005: National Junior Summer Spectacular in Louisville, Ky. (purebred gilt show, showmanship, skillathon, judging contest, speech contest, extemporaneous speaking contest, state display contest, photography contest)
In order to gain the most you can from your membership in the NJSA, I encourage you to get involved so you can make a difference in our organization. I know many families who have traveled hundreds of miles and flown out to some of our events – not one of them has regretted their decision to participate in an NJSA event.
As the NJSA continues to grow and expand, we plan to look into new ways to support and/or create new shows to help provide more opportunities for our members in all 46 states where NJSA members reside. As you can see from the list above, we have added many new events to the schedule this year.
Some of these new events have been a result of kids from that area requesting more shows in their state. So, if you want the NJSA to have a presence at your state, I invite you to try out one of our current shows and let us know that your state would love to have NJSA activities, too!
Of course, these shows and events would not be possible without the help and support of hundreds of parents, breeders and industry leaders who freely give of their time and energy to help run activities at the shows, judge contests, speak at our events, organize fundraisers, donate money to support individual shows, spread the word about NJSA and most importantly, encourage and support the NJSA staff, board of directors and youth advisory board on a daily basis.
Thanks for making these first four years of my job a wonderful, yet challenging, journey. I look forward to an exciting year of NJSA activities – be sure you make plans today to be a part of the year ahead.
