Pride Key Ingredient
By Trent Loos

Have you ever wondered why people get so wrapped up in sporting events? Since I live with a Nebraska football fan, I will tell you that if the Huskers don’t win, you might think the end of the world is near. Yet life is really not impacted at all. So why do Americans get so worked up over games? I would attribute this reaction to pride - the satisfaction of telling others, “Did you see those Huskers this week?”

While sitting in a lounge at the Denver Airport, an attractive, 20-something, blonde walked in and happened to sit by me. When I learned she was from California, I figured she was a runway model or TV personality. When I asked about her profession, her response surprised me, “I am a stay at home mom.” I am not sure what shocked me the most - the answer or the quick and proud way she delivered it.

When was the last time you stated in public, proudly and without hesitation, that you were a pig farmer? That is where I started in agriculture with two sows for my 4-H project. I know my teachers got tired of hearing me say that I didn’t need English or history because I was going to be a pig farmer and I was proud of that. Every day we walked beans, my Dad and I would discuss which boar we thought was going to win the County or State Fair.

When I graduated from high school, I decided I didn’t need to go to college to be a pig farmer. Within 10 years, I owned 1800 sows and created a network marketing Alliance that worked with 47 pork producers in seven states. As the person who marketed the pigs and analyzed all the carcass data, I can personally attest to the impact pride made from one producer to the next.

I witnessed an even more dramatic example of pride when, in 1998, I was hired by Rich Bell to assist in developing a hog farm as a joint venture with the Rosebud Sioux Indian tribe in South Dakota. I initially interviewed 130 tribal members and hired 14. Of those, none had ever really even seen a pig before.

I was told repeatedly about the problems we would face by hiring tribal members. The reservation has in excess of 80% unemployment but we did not see that kind of turnover in our operation. Why? Because we worked hard to foster pride, generate a sense of accomplishment and settle for nothing short of excellence. The production data from our system spoke for itself.

Today, as we all voice frustration about a disconnect between consumers and producers and we hear media reports about the evils of modern pork production, we continue to overlook our greatest asset - youth. The National Junior Swine Association reports a membership of nearly 7,000 young pig enthusiasts. I guarantee those kids are telling their teachers they want to grow up and be involved in the pork industry.

While we know how important these kids are for the future of production, what about the role of these swine enthusiasts as spokesmen for our industry? They can have a huge impact on the views that non-Ag kids have about how we treat our food animals. Kassandra Simpkins of Yerington, NV is a great example. One day Kassandra is exhibiting the Champion Market hog at the Lyons Country Fair and the next she is in New York City working as a model. She earned that opportunity by passing out coupons for free bacon at the Nevada State Fair. The young pork producer was approached by an agent and Kassandra told her she would model if the lady would try the bacon. Now this high schooler has a great deal of experience in a world that needs to know the facts about what really happens on today’s pig farms.

We produce 100 million market hogs in this country annually. As long as we have food animals, there will be a need for individuals who will proudly provide animal husbandry. Your niche might be raising show pigs, selling organic pork from your home or working for an existing pig farm. Regardless of your role, pride is the most important component for success, whether it be raising kids, having a successful football team or producing food. If you contribute to the motivation of one football player by putting a bumper sticker on your car, is that any different than contributing the world’s best supply of pork without actually owning a pig?

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