CommunicationsSeedstock EDGE | “For the Record” | “The Pinnacle” | |
| Seedstock EDGE Seedstock EDGE main | Seedstock EDGE archives Advertising rates/deadlines | Mail dates Subscribe today! | Seedstock EDGE staff |
Following Through on Leadership
by Daryl Real
Another year has passed, and as an industry, we have seen a great deal of change. In the Southwest, we continue to become more and more focused on the showpig industry, and for 4-H and FFA projects. This has certainly brought about some changes in how we approach the hog business in our part of the country, with some exceptions. Many would agree that this is happening all across the country. These continuous changes bring new challenges for us to face as breeders, advisors, parents and juniors.
Each of us, as members of our industry, are obligated to a certain amount of responsibility to maintain our place in the big picture.
The key, then, becomes grasping this responsibility and putting it to good use. Just knowing the right thing to do is one thing – getting it done is another.
It’s like when I watch the PGA Tour on television: I can envision the next shot, and could possibly pull the next club. but without the practice, I could never stroke the ball the way the guys on the PGA Tour can. Because I can’t swing the club, talking about it doesn’t get anything done.
In May, the National Junior Swine Association held its second-annual National Youth Leadership Conference in Oklahoma City, Okla., entitled “Stepping up to the Challenge.” What a great event it was, not only for the participants, but also for the speakers, chaperones and parents.
“Stepping up to the Challenge,” was a great foundation for the conference to build on. Participants had the opportunity to gain insight from breeders and industry professionals on jobs available in the swine industry. Participants also learned how to apply leadership skills professionally and socially.
But we all benefited when Kim Brock, Grant Grebner and Barbara Wood took the floor on ethics in the youth show ring.
Their presentation began with a video of past events that have taken place in the show ring and at youth livestock events.
It was a captivating video that highlighted negative events that sometimes accompany some individuals in our industry.
After a brief introduction of our speakers, the participants were given six scenarios to evaluate. Each scenario tested the participants’ honesty and integrity about the following issues, which can become concerns in the seedstock and showpig business.
1) Misrepresenting farrowing dates on registration papers to make animals eligible or more desirable for a show
2) Hiring professional fitters for junior projects
3) Falsifying pedigrees on crossbred pigs so they can be shown in purebred classes
4) Feeding “specialty feeds” to pigs and providing extra care to promote growth and development
5) “Doctoring” photos of boars to promote semen sales
6) Feeding Paylean TM (off label) to young pigs at sale time to give them more “muscle shape and pop”
It was inspiring to witness the participants as they answered questions about these scenarios and posed solutions to them as consumers in our industry.
Arguably, each of these scenarios has a “right” answer. Sometimes, the quest for the almighty dollar changes a few minds. But the participants all came up with the “right” answers, and many were adamant about their stance on such issues.
Sometimes, it pays to listen to our youth, as many times a young person can offer a true evaluation of such situations. The challenge for the adults in our industry is to listen to what these young people have to say about some of the integrity issues in our own daily decisions.
And the challenge for all young members of the swine industry is to take the club and swing through the ball. You’ll be amazed at how straight and far you can drive a tiny little golf ball when you use the best club for the lie and swing accordingly.
