Hampshire Landrace Duroc Yorkshire

From the Outside - A Tribute to Our Supporters
by Jennifer Shike

She watches every move her son makes from across the arena. Her stomach is twisted up into knots. She is trying not to let nerves get the best of her. Is the judge watching my son? Is my son paying attention? With video camera rolling, she captures every moment of the class to show him later…

He grabs the extra brush and rag and helps bring his daughter’s gilt to the holding pen. As he waits on the other side, he is mentally checking off lists of what needs to be done. Number on her back? Yes. Brush in her pocket? Yes. Did I remind her not to be nervous? Yes. Did I remember …

He watches the young boy carefully from the sidelines, noting a few things to tell the boy when he leaves the ring. This is only the boy’s second time in a showmanship class and he wants to help him do the best he can. The boy needs to remember to not get too close to the judge. He needs to anticipate his gilt’s movement better. Maybe I need to show him how to stay out of the crowd…

Her granddaughter is her pride and joy. She can’t believe how far she has come and how much she has learned from her gilt project. It reminds her of her own daughter showing gilts years ago. Their family tradition of raising and showing purebred seedstock has been an interesting journey. She wouldn’t trade it for the world as she watches her granddaughter leave with her first ribbon…

I believe there are many reasons why the National Junior Swine Association is a success today. But one of the main reasons is the support our NJSA members receive from their parents, grandparents, mentors, breeders and friends. Throughout the next few pages, you’ll see photographs of a few of our NJSA supporters and hear from our NJSA members about the people who have helped them achieve their goals in the swine industry. These pages are devoted to letting you know how much we appreciate all you do for our greatest resource - our kids.

We Won’t Forget You Were There

Thanks for...
• Providing strength that enables us to go back into the ring when we had a bad “go” in showmanship.

• Giving us confidence to enter a speech.

• Encouraging us to run for the NJSA Board.

• Reminding us to tuck in our shirts before entering the ring.

• Helping us study for the skillathon .

• Instilling ethics into our lives and helping us determine right from wrong.

• Running and getting us a drink between classes.

• Wiping away our tears.

• Helping us walk (or run) our gilt to the ring.

• Teaching us how to read and understand a pedigree.

• Showing us how to stop our gilt in the ring.

• Taking picture after picture of uncooperative pigs.

• Helping us wash pigs in the wee hours of morning.

• Explaining what we need when we check in our gilt.

• Loving us and giving us the opportunity to raise, exhibit , and sell swine projects. 

What the Kids Have to Say . . .

My dad, Tom ,  gives me a lot of advice on how to raise and show my pigs. He tells me what the right things in life really are. He’s supported me in the swine industry ever since I was a little boy begging to go outside with him.

Taylor Farrer, 15
Royal Center, IN

Suzie, my mom, makes the long drives to the shows more fun. I love knowing my mom is watching me show my pigs. She encourages me and tells me that I did a good job.

Jordan Malcolm, 10
Huntertown, IN

My mom, Cindy, is one of the most competitive people I know. But, she never told me I needed to go out there and win. No matter what the situation was, she would tell me, “Have fun.” She always knew I was hard enough on myself and the important thing for me to keep in mind was that I was showing pigs because it was fun.

Katrina Waters, 22
Flower Mound, TX

My parents, Curt and Sue, are so important because they truly believe that showing is not about winning. We go to shows because we want to spend time together as a family. Sure, my parents want us to achieve success, but they want us to have fun and develop close relationships with each other and our friends. They put the responsibility in our hands – they show us and teach us what it is to be a responsible person and to do a job 100 percent. My parents have instilled in us a desire to do our best in whatever we are doing.

Seth Heimer, 17
Colfax, IL

I got closer to my Grandpa Jack when he lost some of his eyesight. I help him see pigs and read ear notches now. Then he takes me and my pigs to the shows. He helps me get my pig ready. When I go into showmanship, he encourages me to do my best. If I don’t do my best, he helps me figure out how to do better the next time.

Tonya Fender, 10
Lynchburg, OH

My mom, Tammy, cheers me on and takes my pictures. Then, I watch the videotapes when I am done showing. I like to show my pig and be with my family. My favorite part of shows are when my dad tells me I did a good job of keeping my pig off the gates and out of the corners.

Will Robinson, 4
Wellsville, MO