Livestock Across Nebraska: Swine

Hello everyone! This blog is part of a five-part series in which each blog is about a different species of livestock. I have collected testimonies from five different people who have experience showing and raising that species of livestock. Each testimony talks about how the livestock are cared for, best memories of showing, a piece of advice for a younger showman, and more! This week one of my greatest friends, Emma Hoffschneider, is sharing her wisdom about swine!

Hello everyone! My name is Emma. I am going to be a freshman in college attending Chadron State majoring in public relations with a minor in rural development. I live on about 5 acres of land five miles outside of Burwell. My dad works for a farmers business network as a grain marketer and my mom owns her own commercial catering business. I have one older sibling who will graduate from Nebraska Wesleyan this year and have a non-traditional background in agriculture.

I have been showing livestock since I was a clover kid with a small year break before my freshman year of high school due to moving and transferring schools. 4-H, FFA and agriculture have been critical parts of my life from and early age. My dad and all of my uncles showed livestock, so when my brother and I were old enough it was a way we could bond and strengthen our relationship with our dad.

The greatest obstacle I have with showing livestock is after the fair is all done and letting go of my animals. I develop a strong bond with each and every one of my projects. Continuing the production cycle is always emotionally challenging for me personally. The best part of showing is the friendships you make along the way, and having the opportunity to educate people on the agricultural industry as well as being an advocate for our way of life!

A typical day caring for my animals would include waking up around 6:45-7:00 every morning, going outside to feed them, and while they are eating cleaning out their stalls. Then after they have finished eating, I wash and condition them. I also walk them and practice driving them so they are used to following my commands by the time country fair rolls around! After their morning exercise, I return them to their pen where they are given a fan and plenty of fresh water until it is time to turn them out at night and feed.

On the day of the show, I make sure my animals have been clipped and their skin is in the best condition possible. I feed them and make sure they are eating and drinking plenty of water so they look their best in the ring. To get them ready for the ring, I take them to the wash rack where I give them a last minute cleaning and water them down so they are shiny. (Pro tip: always show pigs wet). In fact, my favorite memory of showing livestock would have to be all of the water fights my older brother and I got into while we were washing our animals! We would always take the blower and dry ourselves off so that mom wouldn’t find out and we wouldn’t get in trouble!

The best lesson I learned from showing is the fact that you can’t control other people around you. You can’t control what the judges opinion will be but you can always control your effort and attitude. I know that is a valuable lesson that I will take with me as I continue my adult life.

The piece of advice I would give a younger showman is to not sweat the small things. Enjoy every moment in the ring even if your animal is not cooperating because believe it or not, those moments go by fast. Most importantly, always put your best foot forward because in the end that’s all you can do!