WIU Connections Past and Present.

Since I started here at Western Illinois University in the fall of 2018 I have met so many new people. Meeting these people has also helped me meet former students and understand just how much Western Illinois University has meant to so many people. It seems like I can’t go anywhere anymore without meeting someone who went to WIU or meeting a parent of a current student.

Alpha Gamma Rho

I joined the Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity in the fall of 2018 as soon as I came to Western. It has been a large part of my life ever since and has been one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. Joining this fraternity has really helped me make new connections with students involved in Greek life and meet alumni who have come before me. Every year we have Founder’s day where alumni come back and meet the current members of AGR. It’s always very interesting to hear stories about their glory days and realize just how similar we really are. These men also knew just about any name i threw out there. One of my distant relatives, Jeff Adkisson, was also a part of the Alpha Tau chapter of Alpha Gamma Rho at WIU. I think it’s pretty cool to have someone in your family be a part of something that means a lot to you.

A picture of Cyle Lafollett, Cody Chandler, Ryan Shortness, And myself taken in front of the AGR house.

Family involvement

I have also had other Family members attend Western Illinois University. Two of my aunts, Sandra and Linda went to WIU in the early 80’s where they met their husbands Tom and Tom. They have told me stories about WIU and what it was like back in the 80’s. It’s also really cool to be able to relate to someone that is older than you and be able to know exactly what the other person is talking about no matter how much things have changed. My great grandmother Zola also came to WIU in the early 1900’s when the only building on campus was Sherman Hall. She later became a school teacher after graduating from WIU. I thought that was very interesting because I’ve had class in 7 or 8 different buildings over my time here at Western.

Sherman Hall during its construction.

surrounding communities

living only 20 minutes from Macomb I have had teachers and student teachers that have went to WIU. Probably over 10 that i can think of from kindergarten until senior year of high school. Also When you live close like I do a lot of employers especially in Ag industry graduated from WIU. I think that is another cool aspect because you both have that pride and fondness for WIU. Its also a good way to connect with them too. I hope someday my boss is a WIU alum so I know I will be in good hands.

Leatherneck pride

I have met so many new people and made so many new friends during my time here at WIU. Some of these people I have met also introduce me to Alum that they know too. So overall western has just been one big connection. Coming here has definitely been one the best decisions i have ever made. No matter what background you come from or where you’re from, students that have graduated from western or are current students all have a love for this university. This really shows you the atmosphere and sense of community at WIU. I am truly blessed to have a school as great as WIU in my life and i will always cherish the time I have spent here and all of the connections I have made. Next year I will be a senior and will have to grow up and make some big decisions. But until then I will do my best to enjoy my time here Like I’ve always done and like so many have done before me. Neck-up.

“If the lights go out, we’ll grab some glow sticks and keep going”.

Mark Hoge.

About the Author

Hi Everyone! My name is Joe Adkisson. I am a junior at Western Illinois University studying Ag science. I am from La Harpe Illinois and one day hope to pursue a Career in the Beef cattle Industry. Thank you for reading my blog!

The Importance of Agriculture Education

Agriculture is a main part of a lot of people’s lives in the midwest regions, either a row crop farmer, livestock manager, truck driver, seed salesman, or even an agriculture constructionist; but we are all associated with ag by being consumers. One disconnect we have with each other is understanding the process and the education required to reach our end goals. For many, the education process started working with dad or grandpa, but for some it was motivation in a classroom.

To those who don’t see agriculture education on the roster this coming school year, here are some reasons to jump in! The reasons are limitless if you come from an agriculture background, but even if you aren’t it will be the class you find friends not just to do your homework with but having countless inside jokes and memories that will last a lifetime.

After reflection of my own experiences within the ag classroom, three reasons why everybody should consider enrolling in your school’s ag department rose to the top of my list.

I. The Shop Skills

The first thing to consider when jumping into a vocational ag class is probably the shop. Growing up in a classroom sitting in a desk chair for 45 minutes will drive you crazy! Now getting your hands dirty was part of my reasons to get into the shop, South Hamilton High School was able to restore multiple tractors that were either brought in by students or donated by older generation farmers. The start to finish program involves a lot of time but also effort, consistency, responsibility, and many more characteristics to complete a project.

• 

Here is a photo of a senior at my high school painting his restored tractor in the Shop Independence block styled class.

II. FFA

For me FFA served as a melting pot where a wide variety of people, ideas, and beliefs were welcome. Coming together to either eat food, talk business and science, or have countless laughs were common in many FFA settings. The advantages are countless when coming into FFA, so I thought I’d propose a couple that resonated with me.

• Leadership: There are many segments of leadership through your involvement in FFA. Becoming an officer can bring parliamentary procedure knowledge to the table. Some skills from parliamentary procedure include: running a meeting efficiently, the ability to focus on one item at a time, and recognizing the time when the majority are acknowledged and also protecting the rights of the minority.
• Education: According to the National FFA Organization there are over 11,000 agriculture educators that work to deliver a modern application of many facets within agriculture. Helping to provide students with innovative and leading-edge education and enabling them to grow into competent leaders.
• Career Development: When looking into the abilities for leadership you come to think about the possibilities after: college, jobs, and what to do for the rest of your life. The offers that line up after being involved in FFA come together. Students involved in Supervised Agricultural Experiences and Career Development Events have job offers presented to them after managers and CEOs look over resumes and record books. FFA members showing the time, money, and labor put into each entrepreneurship and or placement opens the door for future job endeavors within a company to grow upon. Often members put their SAE’s or CDE’s up for review to be looked upon for awards either at different levels listed as: Chapter, Section, State, and National. 

Here is my chapter having a meeting after school taking role after fruit sales are done. The chapter this year sold a total of $35,647 worth of fruit, cheese, and meat to fund the National FFA Convention trip

III. Courses

When you look deeply into an ag classroom you might not notice all the tools, bolts, and other accessories; but coming into a full class in the middle of the semester you’ll find a different story full of chapters and characters telling their own story. When walking into that math class you’ll see algebra books or statistics trying to find either a variable missing or the answer to the equation. Coming into a vocational ag classroom you’ll see some FFA projects but looking deeper you’ll see students learning:

• Animal Science, the study of animal life including swine, cattle, poultry, and many more in a domestic ag setting for the production of food for the world or domestic animals as pets. The study of digestion in ruminants and monogastrics and different breeds between species of cattle in the U.S. and the United Kingdom. Animal science can also relate to the ecology and ethology of different animals. PETA and HSUS are two organizations fighting for rights of animals and their well being.
• Ag Mechanics, the design and practice of safe maintenance of technicians that may work on agriculture transportation and equipment. Having the ability to troubleshoot and fix problems with machinery in agriculture that wouldn’t be known as much by the farmer or consumer. Abilities including welding, wiring, and in times, troubleshooting complex systems of technology in equipment.

“Farming looks mighty easy when your plow is a pencil, and you’re a thousand miles from the corn field.” — President Dwight D. Eisenhower

• Horticulture, the study and practice of diversity in agriculture specifying with garden crops, generally fruits and vegetables, and ornamental plants. This difference falls between large row crop field agriculture and smaller domestic gardening, also tying in cultivation and soil loss or compaction in sub-soil levels or horizons. Horticulture can also intertwine with different soil sciences or fields of Agronomy, including nutrient levels and the different types of soils including sand, clay, and silt.
• Many More include Ag Business, Ag economics, and Introduction to Agriculture.

Being in an agriculture class is an opportunity no one should miss out on! You never know what opportunities will present itself either in FFA, or different contests that include Ag mechanics or animal science livestock judging.

Meet the Author

I am Jamie Hildreth from Jewell, Iowa. I am a Junior at Western. Illinois University getting a Bachelor’s Degree in Education specializing in Agriculture. I was raised showing horses and switched to swine. After helping younger kids in high school and after graduating I plan on becoming an Agriculture Education major and minoring in animal science.

As an international student at the WIU College of Agriculture

In the spring of 2017, I got a recommendation from an uncle and had the opportunity to come to the United States as a transfer student. So I came to the United States. After studying language courses for one semester, I officially became an undergraduate student at WIU Agricultural College. I met so many interesting people and had interesting class time during my four years studying abroad.

What I know about agriculture

Unlike most of my classmates, I knew little about agriculture before I chose agriculture as my major. I used to know that my country was largely agricultural, and my country had a large agricultural population. Besides, the income of farmers in my country was very low, and the loss of the agricultural population was serious. That may also have been the reason why I chose to major in agriculture.

Photo by Mengtao Wang

Agricultural courses at WIU

I was very excited to get up close and personal with crops and livestocks in my lab classes. Gradually, I came to know the special growth rules of various plants and animals. It was important for me to learn about some of the misconceptions about agriculture. In particular, I learned about the pros and cons of GMOs and how GMOs work. And, drugs might not be as scary as I thought, especially from a farmer’s perspective. These misconceptions may be harmful to farmers’ economy and production.

Photo by Manping Li

The agricultural business is fragile and strong. Agricultural commerce is closely related to all walks of life, so agriculture is susceptible to a variety of factors. But agriculture is also an indispensable part of everyone’s life. After learning these, I believe more and more that I need to work in this field and make achievements. After graduation, I plan to return to my country and have interviews with several agricultural trading companies and seed companies. In the future, I look forward to continuing my study as a master of Agriculture.

About me

Hello everyone! My name is Jinhui Wu, and I am a senior majoring in Agriculture Business. I was born and raised in Taiyuan City, China. I don’t have a history of growing up in Agriculture, but I try to learn more about agriculture every day. Thank you for taking the time to read my blog!

The Best Memories are Made in the Barn

Although I can’t say that I was born in a barn, I can certainly say that I was raised in one. Growing up showing cattle, I have spent a fair amount of my life in the barn. Not only were my first memories made there, but also some of my favorite ones. I can remember being so excited to take my favorite two heifers to the Macon County Fair in Decatur, Illinois, for the very first time. I remember my dad telling me to keep my heifer’s head up as I was walking her around the ring, but struggling because I had to hold her head above my shoulder. As time has gone on, I am just as excited to take cattle to a show today as I was all those years ago.

2006 Macon County Fair. Photo by Brenda Wisdom.

When I was younger, getting show calves ready was always a summer activity I looked forward to doing with my dad. The summers were a time where I learned about caring for cattle and other countless and priceless life lessons. It was the best feeling in the world to take my cattle off the trailer when getting to the fair and feeling the sense of accomplishment I got from my hours of work in the barn. Throughout the years, I have seen the number of cattle at the fairs steadily decrease. It saddens me to think kids today will not be able to have some of the same experiences I have had. There were many lessons to be learned at the fair, like being a good sport, respecting others opinions and methods of showmanship. I believe these are all important qualities that are applicable to everyone’s daily life and future careers.

Many of my best memories are those of my dad teaching me how to properly work with the calf’s hair, how to set their feet just right, or him teasing me for turning the calves into “big dogs”. Aside from all the things I learned from showing cattle, there were a lot of other things I also learned in the barn. Since my mom is a veterinarian, she has shown me how to do many things at a young age. She has taught me to always be observant and to double and triple check doses of vaccines and medications. Once, we had a bull that had a watery eye that first seemed like it had nothing in it, but upon closer inspection, he had a burr under his third eyelid that my mom had to remove with her surgical equipment. At this time, I was unaware that third eyelids existed. I found this discovery to be amazing and it is something I will never forget.

“I do not believe there was ever a life more attractive than life on a cattle farm.”

-Theodore Roosevelt

I have been incredibly fortunate to have two amazing parents who are always willing to help and teach me things at all times, while making the lessons into something fun and memorable. Although I have been to many places and gotten to see many things, my favorite place will always be the barn. The barn is the place where I grew up and go to whenever I have the opportunity. From the countless hours spent working on show cattle in the scorching heat to bringing new calves into the world in the bitter cold winters, I wouldn’t trade any of those memories, both good and bad, for the world.

About the Author:

My name is Lauren Bafford, I am from Blue Mound, Illinois. I am currently a junior at Western Illinois University majoring in Agribusiness with a Minor in Animal Science. Here at WIU, I am a member of Collegiate Farm Bureau, and serve as the treasurer for Sigma Alpha Professional Sorority. I have always had a passion for agriculture and livestock and hope to continue to pursue my passion after graduation. Thank you for taking time to read my blog.

Dreadlocks and Cowboy Boots: My Journey to the Agriculture Industry

Photo taken by me at Glacier National Park

When I was in kindergarten and my teacher asked the class what we wanted to be when we grew up, I said I wanted to be an animal cop, like the people from the T.V. show, Animal Cops: Houston. My favorite television channels at the time were Animal Planet and the Discovery Channel. Shark Week always falls around the time of my twin sister and I’s birthday, so we always joked that it was Discovery Channel’s birthday present to us. Year after year, we spent almost the entire week glued to the T.V. Soon, I decided that my dream job was to hang out with sharks all day like the marine biologists on Shark Week.

As I got older, that idea began to seem a little far fetched, as everyone around me had more standard aspirations. My friends wanted to be a veterinarian, a teacher, a construction worker, and I wanted to be on Shark Week? I live in central Illinois, and the only two people I know with degrees in marine biology now work as food inspectors for the Health Department. So, I decided maybe I would become a nurse. In hindsight, nursing was only appealing because that’s what most other people said they wanted to do, and those people seemed to have their lives figured out. I didn’t. I really didn’t want to be a nurse; I just wanted a plan.

I’ve considered so many different career options in my 23 years – a dietician, a personal trainer, a veterinarian technician, a dog trainer, a business owner, a zoo keeper, an entomologist, the list keeps going. Even the thought of joining the National Guard lingered in my mind for a short period of time. I wouldn’t gain the notorious freshman-15, and I’d have more time to figure out what I wanted to do with my life. Plus, my college would be paid for. In time, I realized I either didn’t have the passion, or the stomach, or would lack job security for any career I was considering. I started looking at trade schools. The programs were shorter, and I’d be guaranteed a good-paying job with benefits. It all sounded reasonable if I was content with settling as a plumber. I wasn’t. I needed to find my passion.

“Find something you’re passionate about and keep tremendously interested in it.”

Julia Child

Taking full loads of general education courses at a community college only added stress to my career hunt. I was only there because I knew I needed a degree if I wanted to find any kind of success, especially as a woman. Then, I finally thought I had it all figured out when I took my first zoology class. I loved everything about it – the content, the teacher, my classmates. During a class discussion, my instructor mentioned how pursuing a career in zoology wasn’t the best idea because once there was no work, there was no job. Both her and her husband worked as zoologists until they weren’t needed anymore. Now, she’s a teacher and he’s an electrician. It hurt me to scratch that option off the list.

After graduating with an Associate Degree, I took the next semester off. I needed a break from school and more time to find my interests. Physical sciences were the only studies that intrigued me enough to pursue more years of education. If animal sciences weren’t an option, maybe plant sciences were. Then I started thinking, “what industry offers employment opportunities, job stability, advancement opportunities, and interests me enough to spend the rest of my life doing it?”

Cannabis. I wanted to be a plant chemist.

I enrolled in classes at Western Illinois University and worked out a degree plan with my advisor. She suggested I pursue a degree in agriculture, as it was the most flexible option. Becoming an agriculture major at the age of 22 was intimidating at first. I had never taken any agriculture related class before, and I knew I would be surrounded by students that have been around agriculture their entire lives, or at least have been a member of the FFA since they were fifteen years-old. A couple weeks into my first semester, I fell in love. All the material I learn is so intriguing. I may spend more time than I’d like to admit googling some of the phrases so commonly tossed around, and don’t really get the jokes about Bayer lawsuits that make the rest of the class laugh, but I finally found a field with immense potential that I really enjoy studying.

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To no surprise, I’ve already ditched the dream of becoming a plant chemist. I decided agronomy is cooler than chemistry. Now, I’m currently torn between an aspiring conservation scientist or a forester, thanks to Dr. Gruver and Mr. Blome. Both are equally appealing for the time being, but who knows what I’ll be considering in the next six months. Luckily, I’ve got plenty more classes available at WIU to help with that decision.

My name is Heather Cox, and I am from Canton, Illinois. I am a full-time student at Western Illinois University pursuing a degree in Agriculture Science. Thank you for taking the time to read my blog!

Photo by WIU Visual Production Center

Just a Small Town Thing

People make such drastic changes in their lives like change in style, changing what they eat , and change in their hair styles. One big change that many students have to make when they come to Western Illinois University from big cities is adjusting to Macomb life. I made that change when I first drove down here with my father and I just kept looking back because it was only corn fields 75% of the way which made me think of the movie Jeepers Creepers. I wasn’t used to that, I used to live on a street called Halsted near the Chicago area that was filled with many stores and busy streets. When I first came down here I knew that Western was cheaper, far enough from home and had my major.Now going from freshman to junior year living in Macomb has been a huge amount of growth for me and some friends I interviewed.

When I first moved here I was just trying to get my class schedule down pat, and care more about what was surrounding me later. I didn’t have a car so I had to take the buses to get a tour of the town which was free. That was a huge courtesy because public buses back home cost almost $2 dollars for every ride no matter how far. For someone used to at least 25 stores in one strip on one side of each street it was a huge inconvenience to know we only had Walmart, McDonald’s, and etc. It was nothing I was used to and had to rely on only one store for an assortment of things. I didn’t know much about Hy-Vee, County Market, or Casey’s gas station which are other major stores out here. I decided to do two interviews with my co-worker Marcus S. who’s from the Chicago area and another co-worker named Juliet F. from Chicago to see how they adjusted down here.

” Honestly the best thing to do in Macomb is play tag in Walmart really late at night” says Marcus my co-worker.Referring to how there is nothing to do in Macomb that’s fun.

When I interviewed them both I asked the following question: “Why did you move to Macomb?”, ”How was it adjusting from a big city to a small town?”, and ” What made you stay?” When I interviewed Marcus he was very open about his views of Macomb. He moved to Macomb to help his dad until he gained his health back. He said for him it was really hard adjusting because it was so hard finding a job compared to out in the city he used to live. Macomb is a college town which means if the locals don’t take all the jobs then the students will. He knew nothing about agriculture or farmland so he didn’t want to do any of that type of work. Though after about 2 months he found a steady paying job and that’s what’s keeping him in Macomb now. He did mention that he didn’t like it because it’s full of corn fields and Walmart is the most exciting place out here. People like to apparently play ‘tag’ inside of there.

Photo is courtesy of Flying the Koop

After him I decided to interview Juliet, who’s also my coworker and a student. She told me she had moved to Macomb because she wanted to go to Western and the cheap living because many apartments in Chicago were $700 and up. For her adjusting to Macomb was easier than expected because it’s so peaceful and quiet compared to all the traffic and busy streets she’s used too. Which brought her to why she stayed which was because in Macomb she felt safer to go on walks and enjoy fresh air and nature. In Chicago she felt subject to more danger being that when she lived there were shootings happening frequently near her in Chicago.

Both interviews made me think of the answers to those questions. I came to Western because I heard they had a very hands-on school of agriculture. When I came I learned that statement was very true because teachers encourage me to work actively with livestock and learn more about them because I knew nothing. Though the adjusting part was kind of hard because I had to study more because I knew nothing about livestock and the train rides I had to take home seemed long. On a positive note, Macomb was a very quiet town especially during the summertime when students leave. Lastly the reason I decided to stay was because Macomb has grown to be my home the longer I stay here and take in all the opportunities Western has offered, and the fresh air and good nature it has to offer.

You can learn more about The School of Agriculture :

http://www.wiu.edu/cbt/agriculture

Choosing Ag without an Ag Background

Agriculture is a way of life. I’m sure that you’ve heard this many times. I know I have. As an ag student, I have come to see first hand that this is a fact. Agriculture is a way of life.

Before attending WIU, I did not have much of an agriculture background. I took four years of agriculture education in high school but at the time I had never thought I would end up choosing it for my major. Growing up in a rural area agriculture was all around me, I just wasn’t looking.

Me preg checking an ewe via ultrasound, photo by Abby Smith

Once I got to WIU I was quite nervous. Like I said, all I had was four years of agriculture from high school and I did not learn as much as I had expected to. My first semester at Western was a complete eye opener, I had learned so much about the ag community that I hadn’t even thought to know. I believe at this point was when I learned that ag really is a lifestyle, not a hobby. Farmers put their heart and soul into everything because usually it is what they live for. It is their livelihood.

Before I decided on agriculture science, I was just an indecisive science major. I knew that I loved biology but I couldn’t decide where I belonged. I knew that I could not be a doctor or a veterinarian, a lot of blood is not for me. So there I was, taking science class after science class not really having a chosen path. Once I started at WIU I decided to explore my options further and BOOM! I found ag science. It was a surprise to not only me but my family as well. But they are proud that I finally have purpose.

“Find out who you are, and do it on purpose.” -Dolly Parton

My experience as an ag student has been challenging, especially not coming from an ag background. But, the teachers at WIU have helped make me feel welcome and that I can do anything if I just put my mind to it. Being a senior makes these moments bittersweet, and ultimately wishing I had only chosen agriculture to be a part of my life much sooner.

Thank you for reading my blog post! My name is Stephanie Beaird. I am from Bushnell, IL. I am currently a senior at Western Illinois University. I am currently studying Ag Science as my major, with a minor in Ag Business.

The Burden of Keeping the Family Farm Going

It’s a cool fall morning in southern Henderson County, Illinois. I get out of bed and get dressed. Dad comes down the stairs and says “ready to get started?” I respond with a sarcastic comment along with a traditional “oh yeah”. We make sure we have everything we think we’ll need for the day, get in our trucks and take off to the field. We get to the field, fire up the equipment and wait for our first semis to show up. Once they show up, we unload the crop we had loaded the prior night and start harvesting today’s crop. The day rolls smoothly with me running the grain cart and Dad running the combine as we keep consistently rolling, filling truck after truck until the last truck leaves at the end of the day. We then fill the grain carts and combine up for the next morning. This sort of day is typical for me when I don’t have college classes during harvest season.

I have grown up with the family farm and agriculture all around me. It is something that I have always wanted to be a part of. My parents tell people “Nick was climbing up the combine steps at 18 months”. I made Christmas and birthday shopping easy for my parents. They would get me farm toys, preferably John Deere, and I was happy. As time has gone on, I’ve gotten older, and events have happened in my life that alter plans. Every year I am taking on a larger role in the family farm operation.

Here is a picture of my brother and me (on the right) on top of a loaded grain truck when I was about 2 years old.

When I was a little kid, I got off the school bus at my grandparents house. I would get all my homework done and immediately want to go to the field where my dad and Uncle Pat were harvesting. 10 out of 10 times I would want to ride in the combine. One reason for this is it was a lot better view from the cab watching the crop feed into the combine than in a grain cart. The other reason I loved riding in the combine was so that I could spend time with, learn from, and have fun with my Uncle Pat.

Dad would often snap pictures of me riding in the combine with Uncle Pat.

To this day if someone were to ask me who the most influential people are in my life, number one would be my dad, and right behind him would be my late Uncle Pat. I learned so much from Pat in the time I spent with him as well as having a boatload of fun in the process. Prior to March of 2018, I had life plans somewhat sketched out. However, those plans got thrown out the window when Uncle Pat very unexpectedly passed away. It took a humongous toll on a lot of people especially Dad and I. Since that day, we have been an unrelenting team that has stuck together through good times and bad.

When it comes to farming, Dad is more than just my boss and partner. He’s my best friend.

As I get older and I become more involved in my family’s farming operation, I have what could be considered a burden or a blessing by just the fact of living out my childhood dream of being a farmer. Getting to do something I’ve always wanted to do, as well as getting to do something I have always enjoyed doing means the world to me. They say “if you enjoy what you do, you won’t work a day in your life”. I agree 100% with that statement. I enjoy what I get to do as a young farmer. And for all I’ve been blessed with in my life, I wouldn’t change it for the world.

Hello Everyone. My name is Nicholas Brokaw. I am a junior at Western Illinois University majoring in Agriculture Business with minors in Precision Agriculture and Agronomy. I am from a small town of Media, IL. After I graduate in the Spring of ’22 I plan to work on my family farm as well as have a part time job in the agriculture industry. At WIU I am involved in the professional fraternity Alpha Gamma Sigma and Ag Mech Club. Photo credit: Vantine Portraits.

From Start to Finish with a Pig Plan

On November 22, 2020 By keatonstoller In livestock, Swine Production, UncategorizedEdit

Every kid goes through life with big dreams. Some of these dreams and ideas change everyday. Kids change their minds all the time, but in the back of their minds they always have that one dream that sticks out in their minds. They work for their whole life to accomplish that goal and surround themselves with people that will help them achieve it. 

All throughout my childhood there has always been livestock in my barn. Showpigs have been my passion since I stepped foot in the barn for the first time. My brothers and I played sports like most kids growing up, but when a pig show popped up around the state, I begged my family to go, so I could get into the show ring. The problem was that I was always missing practices and games because I would always be in the barn or at a show, whether it was down the road or across the country.

Photo courtesy of Hayley Stoller

I quickly realized that my athletic ability was lacking and I was not going to the NFL. My parents have always told me if you’re going to do something you are not quitting and you better put all your effort into it. So I stepped away from the field and got back in the barn, so I could focus on my true passion.

I’m not going to lie, competing in the show pig game by myself was not easy, so I figured out I needed help if I was going to be successful. I decided to go find the most dominant breeders and industry leaders that were willing to help a young kid, who was hungry for success. During show pig buying season in the midwest, which is early spring, that is exactly what I decided to do. I created an arsenal of great minds and people that were willing to help me that year and years to come. My philosophy that spring was an individual is hard to beat but a unit is hard to take down. 

“ What am I going to do, quit? That’s not an option, you gotta keep on keeping on. Life’s a garden dig it, you make it work for you. You never give up, that’s my philosophy.”

Joe Dirt

Fast forward a couple of years and my crew stuck with me my whole show career, and this is where my plan came together. My show career is now over, so the next step was to start raising pigs on my own. My parents have always been extremely supportive of me and the paths I choose in life. That year they helped me buy a sow as a start up project. I picked a sow out that I though had all the peace’s with her build and look that I needed and with the financial help from my parents we loaded her on the trailer and brought her home.

She was in my barn and ready to breed. This is where the pieces to the puzzle start falling in place. I called up one of my mentors that owned a boar that I thought that I had to use because he had all the pieces that my sow was lacking in. January 2nd was the most exciting day of my life because it was the due date of my project. It was make or break time. When breeders tell you it’s not as easy as it sounds, they are completely right. My sow had 4 pigs and she went through a very, long hard labor. 

After getting them off to the right start, we sold three of the pigs and I kept a gilt back for my younger brother to show. When the show season started, I was extremely excited to see how my project stacked up against my mentors and was very excited to see what they had to say about my pigs that I raised. After collecting a few banners that summer with a couple pigs that I raised on my own, it had me hooked. 

Photo courtesy of Codee Schmidgall

Now I’m up to 17 sows, and I’m as broke as they come. But when you love what you do, you never have to work a day in your life. I can’t thank the people that have helped me along the way enough. I would have lost my dream a long time ago if it wasn’t for my family and the people I look up to most, believing and trusting in me.

About the Author

Photo courtesy of Codee Schmidgall

My name is Keaton Stoller, I am from Gridley, Illinois. I am currently a senior at Western Illinois University pursuing a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Agriculture. I just finished up my Collegiate Livestock Judging career here at WIU and am also involved with the WIU Hoof N Horn Club. I am very passionate about the livestock industry and plan to raise pigs and pursue a career within the industry upon graduating in the Spring. Thank you for taking the time to read my blog.

AgricultureLivestockShowpigsSwine Production

Making the Impossible, Possible

My first introduction to livestock was caring for show pigs, and needless to say it didn’t really spark my interest. Since I didn’t grow up around livestock, I wasn’t aware of how to gain additional experience with them, making it seem impossible. The livestock world seemed distant and unfamiliar to me. While I knew about row crop farming and the role livestock played in it, I thought that was as close as I would get.

Time went by and suddenly I was re-introduced to livestock, but this time it was cattle. From that point forward, cattle started to become a passion, something I wanted to immerse myself in and become a part of. I started to spend a handful of days working with cattle. I gained experience in moving them to new pastures, helping feed and lay new bedding, and giving regular vaccinations to keep up with herd health protocols. I still didn’t know much about them, so I started to research them on my own time to increase my knowledge and ability to work more efficiently with them.

I started at Western Illinois University in Fall of 2019 majoring in Agriculture Business with a minor in Animal Science. My animal science degree required an animal nutrition class that emphasized cattle, since the professor was a beef cattle nutritionist. This experience solidified my desire to continue to become more involved with cattle. I decided to make the most of my experience at WIU getting involved with the beef team and the bull test. This allowed me to travel to the NCBA conference in San Antonio, TX, last February. I flew for the first time, met new friends, and got exposed to a side of the industry that I didn’t know existed. The sheer amount of people there all gathered together for the same reason – to improve the cattle industry. Once I returned, I decided to invest in a heifer of my own and continue that with a cattle family who have continued to help me get started and have taken me in with open arms.

Photo taken by Robin Kleine

I continue to spend time with them and their cattle and I’m constantly learning nuances about the cattle industry. I am improving on my stockmanship skills, learning to break and work show cattle, and been involved with calving. I feed, water, and evaluate the phenotype of cattle. I am learning to study pedigrees and make mating’s that will help me to reach my future cow herd goals. Cattlemen are constantly making decisions to improve the genetics and quality of the herd. Some decisions are difficult, like culling some of your favorite cows that are no longer economical. Creating a financially viable cattle operation is not easy and I am learning that this is more than just a way of life; it becomes your life. It’s a business filled with heartbreak, but also fulfillment. I am excited to what my future will look like as the cattleperson that I once thought I’d never be.

“Tell Me and I Forget. Teach Me and I Remember. Involve Me and I Learn”

– Benjamin Franklin

Photo taken by Libby Heaton

My name is Macie Falk, I’m from Macomb, IL. I am currently a senior at Western Illinois University pursuing a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Agriculture Business with a minor in Animal Science. I’m involved with the beef team, bull test, Ag Mech Club, and Collegiate Farm Bureau at Western Illinois University. I am very passionate about the agriculture industry and after graduation I plan to continue to work on improving my stockmanship skills and work in ag retail. Thank you for taking the time to read my blog.