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market hog of the year - 2022
MARKET HOG OF THE YEAR
"GRAND :: INDIANA STATE FAIR" - SHOWN BY EMILY MYERS
BRED BY TRES AMIGOS- SIRED BY STAY IN YOUR LANE
Congratulations from all of us at thepigplanet.com!
market hog of the year - 2021
MARKET HOG OF THE YEAR
"GRAND :: INDIANA STATE FAIR" - SHOWN BY SHELBY MARTIN
BRED BY GOSS LIVESTOCK
Congratulations from all of us at thepigplanet.com!
market hog of the year - 2020
MARKET HOG OF THE YEAR
"GRAND :: SAN ANTONIO" - SHOWN BY SAMANTHA ISLET
BRED BY BERGER - SIRED BY CRUEL INTENTIONS
Congratulations from all of us at thepigplanet.com!
market hog of the year - 2019
WEISINGER FARMS:
Describe your operation?
Weisinger Farms runs about 175 show sows focusing on making winning livestock. We also run around 160 clubby cows and crop farm.
What are the goals of your showpig operation?
Some goals I have are to make livestock that will feed and turn out, and of course, I like to win.
Do you remember the litter that the Market Hog of the Year came from?
I do remember this litter. It was a litter of five out of a first-litter gilt that all turned out extremely well. The Hoge family had the only gilt, and she was 5th Overall at Louisville. This litter also included the boar “Special Delivery” and two other barrows that placed high at the Exposition.
Was this barrow a standout prospect?
He was good built, and good designed. I always liked him, but you never know how they will turn out. What I like about this barrow is he sold for $425 online, so never judge an animal by his price. Always come look at the animals and decide what animal is best for you.
What is most important to you when you’re planning matings?
Know your sows and what they need. Go look at boars.
What advice do you have to your fellow breeders?
Always aim high. Never give up. It takes time.
HOGE LIVESTOCK
Describe your operation?
We have a 30-sow showpig operation. Due to the fact that the boys have been very active showing multiple breeds at the Exposition, NJSA and Team Purebred events, we have gathered multiple breeds. Currently, we inventory Berkshire, Yorkshire, Spot, Duroc and Crossbred sows.
What are the goals of your showpig operation?
To generate consistent, quality pigs that can compete at the highest level. We try to sell pigs that we would also be proud to show. Often times, we feed pigs of ours that did not get a bid.
Do you remember the litter that the Market Hog of the Year came from?
Actually, we raised the mother in Good Hope. Due to an unfortunate barn fire in November of 2017, we had a few keeper gilts that survived and I sent her and a few others to Nathan.
Was this barrow a standout prospect?
Actually, I think the littermate gilt that we showed was the standout in the litter. The barrow was nice, but at 60 pounds he was not of unicorn status.
What made the pig/that litter special?
Nathan and I loved “Last Drop” when we saw him at Adam Beck’s and purchased a large semen contract. This was one of the first litters that hit the ground.
What is most important to you when you’re planning matings?
That the sow actually stands in heat when the semen shows up … I study the bottom side of every sire’s pedigree that we use. “Last Drop” is out of the best Duroc female that I have ever judged. In fact, I liked her so much my wife let me bid on her at Louisville about twice as long as I should have. Then, she told me that was enough, and I went behind the bleachers and bid two more time. Yes, I know I have a problem.
What advice do you have to your fellow breeders?
Keep an open mind. Take every opportunity you can to study hogs, whether that be at a show, a sow herd tour or a boar stud tour. When you go on boar tours don't try to breed anybody else's sows in the country, but your own. When I study boars, I am simply thinking of the sows we have to breed. And if you garner success, don't completely marry your own genetics. Always be willing to try something new that will continue to elevate you to the next level. Trends change - are you willing to adapt?
market hog of the year - 2019
What was special about your barrow?
My barrow was special, because he wasn’t always the best one in the barn. He was one of those pigs that got better every day, and eventually, he was able to obtain the title as the best barrow in our barn.
Did he have a special name of nickname?
My barrows special name was “Clyde.” We named him “Clyde,” because my Duroc gilt that also won The Exposition was named “Bonnie.” So the two went together great as a team – just like the famous robbers Bonnie and Clyde.
What all did he win?
My Duroc barrow, “Clyde,” only showed four times and two of those four times, he was fortunate enough to be named Grand Champion Barrow.
What is your favorite memory from showing last year?
My favorite memory from showing in 2019 was being fortunate enough to be the first person to ever win Grand Champion Barrow and Gilt at The Exposition. It is something I’ll never forget, and I’ll always be thankful for.
What was it like to be named champion?
Being named Champion was a feeling that I have never felt before. I was completely overwhelmed with happiness and gratitude. After I won, all I could do was thank God for blessing me with the opportunity to make my dreams come true.
Who has helped you along the way?
In my show career, I have had so many people that have helped me along the way, but here are ones that really stand out. My brother, Levi, he is always there by my side in the barn helping me get the chores done and always keeping me in line. My parents, because without my parents my brother and I would not be able to do what we love. We would not have been able to accomplish everything that we have without them by our side. The Platts have become like family to us, they always make sure we have the right pigs in our barn and are always there by our side supporting us at shows. And finally, Austin Thompson – Austin is always there helping us out at shows, and he is always giving us advice to help us make our livestock better.
What advice do you have for other exhibitors last year?
To any other exhibitor, I would tell them to never give up and keep working as hard as you can in the barn, because just when you think your dreams are never going to come true, you might just get surprised.
How did this prospect end up in your show barn?
This barrow ended up in our barn because my dad, Travis Platt and Austin Thompson took a trip out to Weisinger’s farm before the sale to look at pigs, and we were very blessed to end up buying my Duroc barrow and gilt that also won The Exposition out of the same sale. We picked them up at the Sweethearts Sale.
market hog of the year - 2018
Heimer Hampshires is an enterprise focused on raising pigs that can compete in the junior livestock program around the country. Our sow herd is comprised of multiple breeds and crosses that farrow year-round in an effort to produce mass quantities of pigs that are sold online and in select live sales. We strive to raise the kind that respond to feed, get better with attentive care, and ultimately, fit the targeted show. Aside from selling showpigs, we work continuously to improve the genetics we use in our program and share with others in the industry. We are proud to highlight the important role that showing livestock plays in the lives of young people and will continue to work to promote the positive influences this industry provides to ensure future generations will have opportunities to learn and compete.
“Shadow,” the 2018 Market Hog of the Year came out of a remarkable litter. From the start, it was clear there would be more than one competitive show barrow. We elected to sell three barrows from the litter at the Kings of the Hill Pig Sale in Decatur, Texas, and sold four more littermates in our online sale. When the show season was over, barrows from that litter were named Grand Overall at San Antonio (Shadow) for Weston Lackey, Reserve Grand Overall at Fort Worth for Tyleigh Price, Champion Cross Barrow at the NJSA SE Regional for Carson Page, and a 6th Place Hampshire at San Antonio for Garrett Matura. The other mate barrows were competitive in their respective classes, and the only gilt in the litter can be found in our sow herd.
It’s worth noting that the mother of Shadow is 225-6. Her sister, 225-5 was also bred to Dirty Secret at the same time, and that litter included the Reserve Grand Overall at Denver for Weston Lackey, and Dirty Deal, a popular sire at SGI. We elected to breed 225-6 to Dirty Secret again for her next litter and retained a pair of littermate boars that have seen heavy use at HH over the last 60 days and will be introduced soon, before the coming breeding season. And, for the third time in a row, we once again bred 225-6 to Dirty Secret for her August litter and sold the only male at Perfect Timing for $25,000 to Premium Blend Genetics – a white boar named “Ghost” they are excited.
Shadow was the smallest pig we sold at Kings of the Hill, but he certainly had plenty of friends. As he grew, it was always fun to get reports about him from the Lackeys and a few others that had the chance to see him along the way. Of all the amazing moments at San Antonio, the most memorable for me was the moment Shadow came through the sift gate. It was very clear he made quite an impression on the guys evaluating the show and to see their reaction and listen to them talk about him in the ring was something I’ll never forget.
I had the opportunity to witness the magnitude of the San Antonio barrow show in 1997, as a sophomore in high school. As a kid from Missouri, I was completely in awe of the Texas junior livestock scene and had I been a little younger, I’m pretty certain I would’ve begged my parents to move south. From that day forward, there was always a part of me that wanted to raise one good enough to compete at that show. When I reentered the pig business in 2006, I considered success in Texas as the ultimate measuring stick and from the start, our breeding focus was to raise barrows for that market. We had an incredible show at San Antonio in 2012, breeding the Champion and Reserve Hamps and the Reserve Other Cross that ended up Reserve Grand Overall. I will always remember how close we were that day, and yet, in the years that followed, success at that show felt further and further away. However, we stayed the course, worked harder to get better and finally raised one that got it done. Winning San Antonio was an incredible feeling, but the manner in which he won and the positive comments and consensus from friends and foes alike was a rare experience, especially in this business. It was an amazing win and a dream come true for this breeder and so many others.
The quote hanging beside my desk says, “Winners don’t wait for chances, they take risks”.
That quote, among many others, has served me well over the years in pursuit of my own dreams and goals, and in my effort to help other realize their own.
ROUNDING OUT THE TOP 5:
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