We Caught up with Ms. Kadyn Braaten, exhibitor of the 4th Overall Crossbred Gilt at The 2023 Exposition. Learn more about Kaydn below…

Age: 20

Grade: College Junior

Hometown: Townsend, Montana

Tell us a little about your champion:
“Bentley” is her name, and she came from Zach Schwecke in Minnesota. She is a Roll Call X Dirty South and one of the many Schwecke pigs my family has shown in recent years. Ever since the beginning Bentley’s chill attitude has been fun to work with, making her a barn favorite. Her appetite was always incredible, and her thick, long hair made for a fun daily skin care routine.

What do your days leading up to a show look like?
Leading up to a show, especially a big one with a long trip like Expo, my family’s days are filled with lots of prep work. Not only for the pigs going to the show, but for the pigs staying home as well. We have people that feed for us while we are gone so making sure the barn is organized and in tip-top shape is important. Outside of the prep work the attention to little details leading up to a show only increases. Pigs get rinsed extra, the pens stay extra clean, and diets/weights are managed carefully. We also start the process of managing hydration and fill so we don’t loose the bloom and freshness we have worked so hard to get.

Describe the moment you were selected as a champion.
When Bentley and I were selected as 4th Overall Crossbred Gilt it may seem silly but it was probably the highlight of my junior show career. Putting an Expo banner on the wall was a goal of mine since the first time we attended in 2018, and realizing we did it there in the moment was a pretty surreal feeling. To see all my hard work and planning pay off, it felt incredible.

Do you prefer summer or winter shows? Why?
Hands down summer/early fall shows for me. While winter shows such as Arizona Nationals are a lot of fun, getting pigs ready in freezing Montana can be a real challenge. The lack of sun makes it hard to get a good dark tan, the feet of snow and low temperatures make it hard to walk and build stamina, and the short days make everything feel rushed. On top of that many winter shows fall right on top of when we are trying to farrow our 35-45 crossbred litters, adding another level of stress and challenge leaving the farm. While summer shows can be hot, it’s always enjoyable not having to work pigs around a school schedule, and the addition of more shows gives more opportunities for my family and I to see our friends.

Who’s been your biggest influence?
Honestly I could never just single out one individual. I’ve been fortunate enough to have been influenced and impacted by many great breeders, coaches, and people who have been willing to give the girl from Montana an opportunity. Even so a lot of credit would have to go to my family, as they have supported and pushed me to do what I thought was never possible

Do you and your family raise pigs?
Yes we do! We own and operate Braaten Show Pigs, a 60 head sow operation comprised of mostly crossbreds, a handful of Berks, and when my dad allows a Chester or 2(my personal favorite). We have an online sale every year, and this year we sold pigs to families in Montana, Idaho, Washington, Oregon, Wyoming, and California!

What’s your favorite thing to do in the barn?
Personally my favorite thing to do in the barn is either skin and hair or just walk through and look at/evaluate the pigs. I enjoy the process of changing diets and watching them change from week to week, as it’s something my Dad and I often do together.
I also really enjoy the sow barn side of things, planning matings, farrowing litters, and building a program can be very rewarding when it goes well.

What’s your favorite thing to do in the summer?
I guess I would have to say spending time in the barn and going to pig shows. While it’s time consuming I really do enjoy working in the barn with my brother, and then getting to hang out with my favorite people every weekend. Makes for a pretty good life!
I also enjoy traveling around and visiting families who buy pigs from us and helping them reach their goals.