Mr. Kyle Mendes will be sorting the Novice & Intermediate Swine Showmanship at The 2023 Exposition - Get to know a little about Kyle in the below interview, brought to you by YGB Livestock Camps!

Who got you involved in the livestock industry and how?
My parents got me involved in the livestock industry. Showing livestock has been a part of our family for generations

Where are you from and what brought you to where you currently live?
I am originally from Modesto, CA. I moved to Gainesville, FL to obtain my Master’s Degree from The University of Florida. I currently live in Lake Butler, FL and am a Meat Science Professor at UF

Biggest pet peeve in showmanship ring?
My biggest pet peeve is when an exhibitor turns their pig too quickly, especially when on a rear view

One of your favorite memories with your brother?
The opportunity to judge livestock at Fresno State for my brother

Favorite past Expo memory?
My first Expo I was working in the ring and Dan Hoge told me I was a great representative of the NJSA

What's something you enjoy that doesn't involve livestock?
I enjoy going to baseball games with my family, cooking, and meat judging

Mr. Brad Mendes will be sorting the Junior & Senior Swine Showmanship at The 2023 Exposition - Get to know a little about Kyle in the below interview, brought to you by YGB Livestock Camps!

Who got you involved in the livestock industry and how?
My parents got us all involved in the livestock industry. Both of my parents grew up raising pigs and I guess that passed down to us boys. Other big influences in my life were Ryan Watje and MC Gomes along with many other livestock industry leaders that helped shape how I see stock and made me who I am today

Where are you from and what brought you to where you currently live?
I grew up in Modesto CA. After high school I attended Modesto junior college and went on to attend Texas A&M where I earned my animal science degree. I then continued my education and earned my masters at Fresno State University. I stayed at Fresno and coached the livestock judging team and taught animal science classes. I met my wife at the CA Ag teacher conference and we settled down outside of Fresno in the town of Del Rey to raise our daughters and start our own show pig operation, BK Livestock.

Biggest pet peeve in showmanship ring?
My biggest pet peeve is honestly dependent on each individual showman. I want each showman and their stock to find a pace that is comfortable and be smooth in the ring.

One of your favorite memories with your brother?
I will never forget the time we left behind my brother Kyle at State Fair. Every year our show group of families went to lunch at a local Chinese restaurant. We were thirty minutes into lunch when another kid in our group said, "Hey where is Kyle?" My moms face went white as she says, "ohhhh," and realized we left him behind at the barn. Of course.... we finished lunch and eventually found Kyle holding down the fort by our pigs in the barn.

Favorite past Expo memory?
As an exhibitor my favorite memories were hanging out in the barn with friends and meeting people from all over the country. As an adult my favorite memories are helping young exhibitors have the same experiences at Expo that I did while trying not to die getting a trailer spot during trailer wars.

What's something you enjoy that doesn't involve livestock?
Golf, San Fransisco Giants baseball, and watching my daughters work in our barn. If I can do all three of those things in a weekend thats time well spent.

Where are you the teacher?
Hartshorne High School – Hartshorne, OK

How many kids do you teach?
There are 93 students enrolled in Ag at Hartshorne. I’m fortunate to have a great teaching partner, Mr. Edmond to share the load with.

Favorite thing about being a teacher?
The relationships that you develop with students and watching them grow and accomplish goals they set as 8th and 9th graders.

Hardest thing you have had to accept in the last 10 years?
Not everyone is going to like you…

Favorite part of your community?
My favorite part about the community I live and work in is everyone’s willingness to come together to accomplish whatever is necessary. Wether it’s helping someone out in need or getting ready for the big show, I know I can count on my community to support my program and students.

Biggest accomplishment?
The first thing that comes to mind is all the students that have stopped by or called to visit after they graduate and tell me how much of an impact the ag program has had on their lives. I don’t know if anything could trump that.

Favorite time of the year and why?
My favorite time of the year is from the middle of January through April. I love to compete and that is when things really get serious in Oklahoma. We start out with area, regional, and county shows and wrap up the show season at OYE. After OYE we finish out March and April with CDE’s. It’s extremely busy and tiring but so worth it to see my students hard work pay off!

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Who was selected as the 2022 Man of the Year?
Next Intention
Tricked Out
Roll Call
Hero

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