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July 2005 Issue
A whole new world
by Kade Hummel
This spring has been exciting –working with youth, studying hogs and learning about the purebred industry from breeders and fellow employees.
My trip to California for the NJSA Western Regional in mid-March put me on my way with the National Junior Swine Association. This show opened my eyes to a whole new world of NJSA.
Watching the members help run the show and then turn around and participate was amazing. In the many different youth programs with which I’ve been involved, I have never seen fellow participants help each other to the extent that I saw at this show. The people were helpful, and the show was a great success.
This show gave me a better understanding of what goes on behind the scenes and all the work that is put into making a show go smoothly.
The NJSA National Youth Leadership Conference was the next adventure in my NJSA travels. This year’s conference was held in Champaign, Ill. – close to home for me. I had a chance to visit with many members and get their thoughts on the workshops and tours. I used this time to listen to their ideas about how to improve the conference and the keys to making the conference a success. The NJSA board was impressive to watch, as their contributions were vital in making the conference a positive event.
Juniors, I highly recommend going to next year’s conference, not only to meet peers from across the country, but also to take advantage of the many learning opportunities available.
Ralph and Sam are trying to teach me the ropes in the field staff department. I’m honored to have the two of them take me under their wings and give me guidance in my rookie season.
I have already had the opportunity to work with many people who have been patient with me and allowed me to learn from them. This has helped with all of my pre-sale jitters before the sale season started.
The sales this spring have given me a chance to see many familiar faces that I’ve missed in the past few years. And working with NJSA has given me the opportunity to meet people that I’ve looked up to for so long. The different philosophies and challenges that the breeders share with me are interesting to hear. I look forward to meeting more great people who will take the time to share their wisdom with me.
Farm visits have been enjoyable and are a great chance to talk to producers one-on-one. This is not only with the established producers, but also with NJSA members who are preparing for their next show. This is another opportunity to talk to members about what they would like to see different with the NJSA and what they find to be the most-valuable parts of the association.
These visits allow breeders to show their next generation of purebreds and any upcoming entries they might have. We can also discuss other pigs that I’ve seen in my travels. This can prove to be valuable for breeders, as I am able to suggest bringing new lines in or using a particular boar that would positively affect their breeding program when combined with their current genetic base.
I’m excited to be part of this industry where we all share the common interest in raising purebred pigs and helping the youth reach their potential.
The time I’ve had with NJSA has been enjoyable, to say the least. I hope to see as many of you as possible at future shows.
The fieldman side of my position has been as educational and enjoyable as the show side. I have had a chance to learn from the best and meet some of the people that I idolized growing up in the showpig industry.
Please feel free to call me or stop me at a show, as I would love to talk to you.
