Pedigree/Genetics of Champion: Ten Four X Freak of the Week.
Mother was the 3rd overall, Div. 4, Exposition 2019 that was purchased from Ralph and Jim Bowling and shown by Samuel Gardner.

We are proud of how the Frasch Family and the Hill Families have both done in the show ring with their littermates this summer.  Super job by all!

How did you get involved in the swine industry?
We grew up approx 10 minutes from one another.  Annie on her family's showpig farm and Justin with a deep love for livestock and competiting. The show industry is what not only brought us together but has thankfully been the industry we have chosen to raise our children in .. Super grateful to have "grown up" through generations of amazing breeders. We were fortunate to have lived amazing opportunities of listening/learning in the barn or.. sitting in a tac pen for hours at a show while breeders "talked hogs"...with Doug/Dad.  Forever grateful also for the forever friends who have become family through the show industry...  there is nothing better. ...  
We are both very thankful for the simple answer to how we got involved in the industry...which is "our parents and grandparents"... To our families.. we are forever grateful

With this being one of the major shows of the summer, how rewarding was it to capture a win?
It is incredibly rewarding for any victory but when one that you raise gets a Major banner for another the gratification is unexplainable.  As a breeder that is why the hard times become distant memories.. as a breeder the goal is to make better animals each and every time. Dedication, heart and a never give up attitude are focused on producing animals that will WORK for others. Therefore when they cross a finish line for a family... it is priceless!

With the pandemic, what struggles have you faced as a breeder and how do you think the show world will evolve with the problems we are facing?
We wish we had a crystal ball to share how we think the show world will evolve with the problems we are facing - but we do not.  We think this time of uncertainty needs to be met like any and all uncertain times and that is with daily faith over the fear of what ifs.. it is a dedication to making the situation better than how you found it and definitely a never give up attitude.  Our lens that we choose to see all problems is how we can control that problem and turn it into a positive.. Be wayfinders, and meeting problems with solutions instead of negative commentary.

It has been incredible to see livestock people take the issues and find solutions to KEEP GOING.  As a breeder it has allowed us a time that we often do not take in life.. a time to pause for a moment, evaluate, reconnect and refocus with even more determination on our road for the future.  We cannot say how the show world will evolve with the problems we are facing but one thing is for sure.. when passion shows up in tents, in back yards and church parking lots to show livestock we think it shows that true passion will continue to win.. and the livestock industry will continue to win.  Big high five for how the livestock world continues to march forward...  strong minded people continue to find new ways to make things happen. Pretty awesome!

What breeding decision are you most excited about for the next breeding/farrowing season?
We are very excited at our house to have reached one of our goals set... We will be having the largest #s and deepest set of females that we have ever had heading into breeding season.  We have used the last 4 years to select, and purchase high powered females from top firms and gentic lines with a goal of keeping their daughters to build from the ground up, to strengthen from them and the time is ... almost here.  It is rewording to have the females built by females that we know, that we trust and that are becoming our consistents.  Buying gilts is fun, buying gilts you fall in love with is exciting but to walk out to your sow lots filling with sows that you know, you trust and you look over to see pens of their offspring .. is beyond rewarding to us. So.. what are we most excited about for breeding season... Justin = finding the next boar to tie into and trust...and matching up genetics.. and having the largest #s we have ever had is exciting .. Annie = all of it! The winter babies in the farrowing house is her favorite time of the year. .