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“The Pinnacle” Archives
The newsletter of the National Junior Swine Association
Winter 2001 Highlights
ARTICLES
Welcome to The Pinnacle
by Jennifer Shike
Be Aware of Where You Are
by Katrina Waters
Building for the Future
by Katrina Waters
It's A Red Light
by Grant Grebner
Miller's Top 10 Web Sites
by Marcus Miller
Molding the Future: Kim Brock
by Terrell Buck
Thoughts from the Word
by Ray Perryman
Welcome to the first edition of The Pinnacle, the newsletter of the National Junior Swine Association. If you want to find out more about NJSA activities and programs, this is the new place to look!
My name is Jennifer Shike. I am the junior coordinator for the National Swine Registry. After graduating from Kansas State University in May 2000, I came back to work full-time for NSR. In 1998, I interned with NSR and helped organize the first-ever National Junior Summer Spectacular (NJSS) in West Lafayette, Ind.
After witnessing the growth and excitement about the National Junior Swine Association since the first NJSS, I was anxious to come back and help turn that excitement into a solid program.
I’ve been blessed to have the opportunity to work side by side with seven very talented youth from across the country. These seven youth are the NJSA Board of Directors. Together, we’ve set many goals for the NJSA.
One of our goals was to create a newsletter to help us keep touch with our membership, and provide them with pertinent information about NJSA activities. Four times per year, we will do our best to give you the information and feature stories you want in a newsletter.
In each issue of The Pinnacle, you will find a column written by a swine judge. In this month’s edition, you will find a column titled, “It’s A Red Light” by Grant Grebner. Grebner manages a 100-sow farrow-to-finish operation on his family farm, and operates his own freelance advertising agency, The Advertising Edge, with his wife, Susan. He judges many shows each year on a nationwide basis. Grant has judged in sixteen states including the Southwestern Exposition and Livestock Show in Ft. Worth, TX; the National Western Livestock Show and Rodeo in Denver, CO; Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo and the American Royal and Oklahoma City.
In addition, we will also feature a “breeder success story” each issue. This story will highlight the life of a purebred breeder that was active in youth organizations at one time or is active in promoting youth activities today to show members what they can do with their talents. This month we will profile the life of Kim Brock, a very instrumental person in the organization of the NJSA.
As well, Ray Perryman, Short Round Ministries, will be writing a short column each month. Perryman was a hit at last fall when he conducted a Church on the Circuit service during our Southwest Junior Fall Spectacular in Lawton, Okla.
Each issue we will have important dates and information about our junior activities, and will keep you posted about the growth of our organization. We will also share tips about showmanship, breeding, choosing a show pig, transferring a pig, and just about any topic that we think will help you grow as a junior swine exhibitor.
We want this newsletter to be about you and what interests you. So, give me a call or e-mail me and let me know what you like, don’t like, or would like to see in our newsletter. Your input is valuable, as this is a new venture for us all.
Sincerely,
Jennifer Shike
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Be Aware of Where You Are
The Characteristics of a Good Showman
by Katrina Waters
Showmanship can make the difference between winning your class or finishing second. If you wish to succeed in the show ring, you must incorporate the qualities of good showmanship at all times. I do not claim to be a showmanship guru by any means, but I have spent countless hours pondering exactly what makes a good showman. Here are a few lessons I’ve learned over the years.
My Mom is a three-time Women's World Champion Team Roper. Before she would rope, her dad would always remind her, "Be aware of where you are." This principle holds true to just about anything, and appropriately describes the number one principle that makes a good showman.
Showmanship is all about reacting to what is going on around you-- not only with your pig, but in the entire ring as well. A good showman can anticipate what his pig will do next, and knows how to keep his pig out of a bad situation such as getting in a corner, getting in a crowd, or even getting near a hog you need to avoid. Of course, bad situations are sometimes unavoidable, and when they occur you must know how to get out of them as soon as possible in order to regain proper ring positioning. If you find your hog is in a corner, use your hand or knee or whatever it takes to get him out of the corner and back in the center of the ring. On the other hand, if your pig is one of those who always tend to stay in a crowd of hogs, there is a simple way to correct this. I have noticed that that crowd of hogs that is always present in a show ring will tend to be moving in the same direction. To get out of the crowd, you can turn your hog and drive him or her in the opposite direction, which will help you to get in a more visible area once again. Positioning in the ring is half the battle!
A good showman is calm and collected in the ring. A good showman maintains eye contact with the judge at all times, while simultaneously watching his pig and the other exhibitors and their pigs. As well, a competitive showman drives his pig at a steady, even pace about 10-15 feet from the judge.
A good showman also has to be a strategic planner. A showman must go into the ring knowing which of the pig's faults to conceal and which positive traits to accentuate. If you are not positive which attributes are positive and which are negative, don’t be afraid to ask someone that you respect, like a 4-H or FFA leader or the person who bred your show pig. Also, every time you show your animal, be sure to listen to the judge’s comments. If you remember one of the places that he criticized your pig, you can work on concealing that fault the next time you show the same pig to another judge and it just might help your final placing.
However, since no plan is foolproof, a good showman must be a quick thinker and be able to react appropriately in any situation. He or she must be able to decide, depending on the situation, when to be laid back and when to be aggressive. Generally, a judge’s first impression of your animal is an important one, so you will want to be aggressive and get your hog where he needs to be right off the bat. Later on, when a judge is looking at the whole class, you can be a little more relaxed to prevent your pig from tiring as quickly.
Above all, a good showman knows that the work begins at home, and works with his pigs daily. I usually start out slowly with a show pig, first by simply getting it accustomed to me and to its new home, and work up to a short walk. Once the pig is getting used to the whole concept, I lengthen the walks and really focus on gaining total control. I also incorporate daily brushing and washing to not only calm the pig, but also to give it a more attractive appearance and to get it used to what will go on at its first show.
As you prepare for the upcoming shows in the Southwest or the National Junior Summer Spectacular in July, remember to be courteous to your fellow exhibitors, and have fun as a junior exhibitor. Work hard at home with your pig. Remain calm and collected in the show ring. And most importantly, be aware of where you are.
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Building for the Future
by Katrina Waters
A national junior organization just doesn’t happen overnight. A national junior organization takes time, patience and hard work to build up right. Everybody likes to be a part of a group, especially a growing national organization full of kids with the same interests. When I became a member of the National Junior Swine Association Board of Directors in July, I was very excited and inspired to help our junior program grow.
However, I had many questions about this task. Exactly, how do you reach out to as many junior purebred swine enthusiasts as possible? How do we not only find potential members and get them interested in our association, but hold their interest as well? And finally, how do we maintain the core kids that have been a part of our organization since it began three years ago?
I concluded that the best way to find answers to my questions was to consult an expert, someone who had once been in our shoes. I decided to call upon Sonya Smith, chairman of the largest national junior breed association in the country -- the National Junior Angus Association. Smith is a 22-year-old college graduate with plans to attend law school from Lebanon, Tenn. She has been an active member of the NJAA since 1994.
Smith said that the NJAA taught her responsibility and other qualities that have helped her in school and in life. One of the biggest things she said that she learned was time management.
“When you know you have to get up in time to feed your cattle and take care of them before going to school, and then have to fit in homework and afternoon feedings after returning from school, you really have to be a good planner and time manager,” Sonya said.
In order to make a junior organization grow, Smith said enthusiasm was a necessity.
“Enthusiasm always attracts people and our board members are a very enthusiastic team,” she said. “We have recently started the monthly tradition of e-mailing each other with updates of what is going on in our lives. This allows us to know when each other has a big test coming up or a family problem or something that requires some support from their friends, the fellow board members.”
Adult leaders and parent involvement is a must to get an organization off the ground. Sonya reiterated this by giving me a few examples of how adults and parents have helped with their junior events. Since the National Junior Angus events include around fifteen contests, parents and other adults are called upon to judge these various competitions. By giving the adults plenty of notice, they become excited about the event and end up getting more juniors to enter the contests.
State organizations have also contributed a great amount toward the success of the NJAA, Smith said. Junior members are more likely to drive a couple of hours to a show or event than ten hours to the same event. Once the member gets involved on a state level, they are more likely to become involved nationally. In the National Junior Angus Association, each state also has assigned adult advisors who can help juniors within their respective state, and do their best to promote the organization at different shows they attend throughout the year. Upon being chosen an Adult Advisor, the leader receives an advisor packet with all they need to know about the organization and how to put that knowledge to use.
As NJSA members, we can take this advice and make it work for our program. I challenge you, as a member of our organization, to stay enthusiastic, get adults involved, and work hard to get others from your state to attend regional events like the shows planned in the Southwest, Eastern, and Western regions.
Just remember, as Sonya said, “Dedication and hard work pay off…eventually.” Stay focused on the goal ahead and I am positive that we cannot only continue to grow in numbers, but we can grow as people as well.
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It's A Red Light
by Grant Grebner
At minutes before midnight you are on the way home, hoping to beat your curfew. You approach an intersection where the traffic light is red. You stop. No one is coming from any direction. Do you ignore the red light in hopes of beating curfew and avoid being grounded? Or, do you impatiently wait for the light to turn green? Not an easy choice.
Would your choice be influenced if a policeman were waiting at the same light? Or would your choice be different at noon when the intersection is busy with traffic? Clearly, driving through a red light is against the law, but sometimes we’re placed in situations when the line between “right” and “wrong” isn’t easy to see.
Consider this…You’ve just completed a test in algebra. You have studied hard and done your best on the exam. Your test is turned over on your desk, and you are waiting for the teacher to pick up the tests. Suddenly, the teacher leaves the room and your best friend asks to see your test to copy your answers. Do you show him or her your work? What if the person asking for help is not your best friend, but is instead a classmate who you don’t know very well or one you don’t like? Again, not an easy decision. Would you regret your decision if your help enabled the classmate to obtain a better grade than you?
Red lights, algebra tests…we are all faced with ethical decisions everyday. Choosing “right over wrong” is something we have been taught since childhood. We all have rules we are expected to follow. Some are society’s rules. Some are the law. But, sometimes, those decisions aren’t as simple as “black and white”.
Perhaps even more important than the decisions themselves are the consequences of those decisions. Consequences might range from a traffic ticket and fine to expulsion from school. In addition to those consequences, we should also consider the impact on our personal integrity and reputation.
In the purebred livestock industry, we, too, have ethical decisions. Consider each of these scenarios…
• You have a barrow that has breed characteristics of a Hampshire, but you know that he is a crossbred. Is it acceptable to show him in the purebred class where the classes are smaller and you have a better opportunity to make the premium sale?
• You are showing a Duroc gilt born on your farm on January 16th, but you have chosen to register and show her as born on February 6th. Is it acceptable to alter the birthdate by 21 days in order for your gilt to be more competitive in the February class?
• You farrowed a Yorkshire litter on your farm, but the sow only had 4 pigs with a low 21-day litter weight. Is it acceptable to increase the litter size and 21-day litter weight when you record the litter so the EPDs are more favorable for number born alive and litter weight?
Ethically speaking, the above scenarios are not acceptable. In each case, the action represents dishonesty. Your reputation as a purebred livestock exhibitor is on the line. When others learn of your dishonest action, fellow exhibitors, prospective buyers and show officials may never trust you or believe what you say. Your reputation as a trustworthy person is at stake. You have a moral obligation to conduct yourself with honesty and not jeopardize the regard that others have for you. Are you willing to sacrifice your long-term integrity and suffer the resulting consequences for possible short-term gain?
We must all do our part to protect the longevity of livestock shows by accurately representing ourselves and the livestock we exhibit. If not, we are doing irreparable damage to ourselves, our industry and our future.
When you face an “ethical red light”, stop and consider your reputation and the result of your decision. Make sure the light is green before you proceed.
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Miller's Top 10 Web Sites
by Grant Grebner
1. www.nationalswine.com
You can use the NSR's Web site to find current show results. As well, you can look up a friend’s profile, see who the junior members are in your state, or read stories about topics you enjoy. You can also get to know your NJSA junior board a little bit better!
2. www.showpigs.com
This is the Web site of Prairie State Semen. Along with the various links of a breeders’ forum and boars at the stud, Jon has put up a earnotching tutorial. This is very informative to help juniors who are just starting in 4-H learn how to read ear notches!
3. www.nppc.org
This very eye-appealing Web site is the home of the National Pork Producers. Like their Web site says, "This is the place for pork lovers, pork producers and anyone who wants to learn more about pigs and pork. “
4. www.breedersworld.com
This Web site helps you find all the show results and answers to any of your questions about breeding, raising and showing pigs. These questions may range from how to show a pig to what boar to breed to your gilt to the latest show results.
5. www.theshowbox.com
This Web site is for all you Southwest kids who want the update on press releases, breeders directories, show results and points standings.
6. www.thepigpage.com
This page, which changes with the seasons, is a great site to find the well-known boar studs and breeders. This site will help you find that boar needed to breed your gilt to and make your future champions for next year.
7. www.theshowcircuit.com
Did you miss the latest Show Circuit magazine issue? Never fear, go to this Web site and find all the issues of the magazine.
8. www.hipointgenetics.com
Hi Point Swine Genetics is the home of the famous boar, Bocephus. Also, use this Web site to find the boar to breed to your gilt for your next year's 4-H champion.
9. www.midwestshowpigs.com
This Web site will help you locate the Midwest club pig breeders as well as when and where the next show will be.
10. www.millershowpigs.com
Free Advertisement for the Miller crew! We have been in the business of raising purebred Yorks and Hamps and Crossbred show pigs for the last forty years.
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Molding the Future
by Terrell Buck
It could have been you sitting on the front row of the dusty auction barn back in the ‘70s watching the young boy help his family at their Hampshire sale. You probably wouldn’t have predicted it. Not even Butch Young, the auctioneer at those production sales, would have dreamed this high school boy helping with his family’s purebred Hampshire operation would become one of the most influential men in the swine industry.
But now, few would argue that Kim Brock, that very same young high school boy from Anderson, Mo., is one of the most influential people in the swine industry today. After Brock graduated from high school in 1975, he left the purebred Hampshire sow herd behind and began his judging career on the Northeastern Oklahoma (NEO) Junior College’s livestock judging team. Two years later, Brock transferred to Oklahoma State University (OSU) on a livestock judging scholarship and pursued a degree in Animal Science.
Upon graduation from OSU in 1979, he immediately took a job as the OSU Swine Herd Manager. "I was very fortunate that this unique job was open at OSU, which is the best university in the nation for caring about the purebred industry -- not only for swine, but in all species of animals," Brock said.
Over the past 20 years, many things have made Brock’s job challenging and rewarding such as watching the students progress and helping students realize their potential while working at the swine farm.
In addition to his career at OSU, Brock is well respected as a livestock judge. Judging approximately 30 shows per year on the county, state, and national levels, Brock said that the most enjoyable shows he judges are the junior shows. He looks forward to clarifying and discussing his placings at these shows.
"Talking about the closeness of a judgment call and justifying the placing with confidence makes the junior shows educational,” Brock said. “As well, it makes it clear to the people that I am judging the pigs -- not anything else.”
Similarly, the most challenging part of judging junior shows is appealing to the competitive, supportive parents, Brock added. This is one of the reasons that he enjoys discussing his placings of classes at junior shows.
He also enjoys judging showmanship contests. "Showmanship contests offer outstanding learning opportunities for 4-H and FFA members,” Brock said.
In addition to holding the position of swine herd manager at OSU and judging numerous shows per year, Brock still finds time to serve on various boards and committees. Some of these include the National Swine Registry Executive Committee, the Yorkshire Board and the Youth Advisory Board. He currently serves as chairman of the Youth Advisory Board and was a member of the Long-Range Strategic Planning committee that revealed the need for a national junior swine program.
Brock is one of the reasons that the National Junior Swine Association is a reality. The NJSA wishes to recognize Kim for his unique ability to impact the youth he comes in contact with while helping each individual create a better image for themselves. He not only molds youth of all ages into better people, but he helps them become more educated livestock people as well.
The entire NJSA thanks Kim Brock for his hard work and dedication to make the future of the NJSA and the entire swine industry better for everyone.
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