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Measuring Success!
by Darrell Anderson
Somewhere in the New Testament there is a verse that goes something like this: “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul.” The past few days have been a roller coaster ride for me, as I’ve seen the smiles and excitement created by winning a purple ribbon, but also have seen and heard the frustration that can be stirred by not doing as well as you planned. Couple that with the mountain-top experience of the birth of my first grandson, and the deep valley of uncertainty created by the discovery of cancer in one of my friends, and you understand the range of emotions I’ve experienced in the past couple weeks.
We have just completed another very successful fair season, and many exhibitors, young and old, have achieved goals that they had set early in the year, or maybe at the end of last year’s fair season. The vast majority have followed the rules and played the game fair and square. Others have decided to cut corners in an attempt to “win at all costs,” have initiated vicious rumors regarding the exhibitors that beat them, or have accused the judges and show officials of playing politics. I know these are problems that we have dealt with since Biblical days, but maybe as a result of my age, I think they have gotten worse in recent years.
Maybe at least a portion of the blame can be placed on the perception that “dollars” are the ultimate measure of success. If we don’t set a new record price at one of our conferences, there are those that want to call it a disaster. We’ve had some of the best conferences in the history of our breeds in the past year and have had several sales where we’ve sold 60-70 gilts and averaged over $800, but some are not satisfied with that. We’ve all witnessed some incredible accomplishments by young breeders that have purchased outstanding gilts and bred them to the boar of their choice. The Grand Champion Duroc boar at the STC and the Grand boar at the Indiana State Fair Yorkshire show are both examples that could impact the future direction of their respective breeds.
Please notice what I just said – I didn’t talk about the fact that those two boars sold for 6 figures, but rather I believe they are genetically capable of moving the breeds in a positive direction. We need more folks today that are willing to breed hogs in an effort to affect positive change in the areas that need improvement, rather than worrying about capturing that elusive first place ribbon. Someone once told me that “trends, like horses, are easier to ride in the direction they are already going.” We are in need of more young breeders that are willing to commit to breed improvement, rather than worrying about the “trendy” look.
When it’s all said and done, life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away. Please try to enjoy the blessings and beauty that will be available for everyone as we head into the harvest season. If you focus on the important things in life, the fact that the hog market is in the tank, and feed prices are going to be higher than normal, won’t seem nearly as crippling. However, if dollars are the only measure of your success, it could be a disappointing few months. For those that can see through the fog, there will be a brighter time ahead!
