We Caught up with Ms. Renee Conklin exhibitor of the Reserve Overall Crossbred Barrow and the 3rd Overall Crossbred Gilt at The 2023 Team Purebred National Jr Show. Learn more about Renee below…
Age: 21
Grade: College Senior
Hometown: Hallsville, Missouri
Tell us a little about your champion:
My Reserve Champion Crossbreed Barrow named ‘Stetson’ is The Reckoning x Don’t Shoot from Team Sloan Livestock. He has been an interesting and fun one to have in the barn because of his special personality!
My Third Overall Crossbreed Gilt goes by the name ‘Sister’ and is a My Intention x CINDERELLA bred by Team Sloan and Hilty Showpigs. She is the sweetest little girl who could easily be called spoiled. ‘Sister’ is well known by her name amongst other show families and I am so grateful for the opportunity to have her in my barn. She is one of our favorites!
The few days leading up to shows consist of a little earlier mornings and later nights. Spending extra time on focusing on skin/hair, tanning pigs, and a lot of running errands. I typically prefer to wait to pack the trailer until the night before we leave to ensure everything gets loaded and nothing is then taken off of the trailer and used!
My two champion moments were so surreal. I’ve only been showing pigs for a few years but have some big goals I’ve been wanting to accomplish. Both of these two wins checked off and exceeded some of those goals that were on my list.
Typically, I am not one to show barrows beyond my county fair. This was my first time exhibiting a barrow at a national show. For that to result in winning Reserve Champion Cross Barrow, I was truly speechless. With that, gilts are where most my show experience has been. One of my biggest goals was to win with a crossbreed gilt on a national stage. ‘Sister’ allowed me to do just that by accomplishing Third Overall Cross Gilt. She has always been extremely special to us and this win exemplified that. I tried my best to take in all the little things during both of these wins. Those two days will be ones that I will never forget.
Do you prefer summer or winter shows? Why?
Spring/Sunmer shows! I have never shown during the winter as I am gone away at school for the majority of fall/winter months.
Who’s been your biggest influence?
Alicia Castañeda 🙂 When I began showing pigs a few years ago my family and I truly knew nothing. Alicia helped guide us in the right direction and has taught me more than I could have ever imagined. She is someone I look up to in multiple facets of life!
Do you and your family raise pigs?
Haha no we don’t! But we do raise show horses!
What’s your favorite thing to do in the barn?
Prior to show season my favorite thing to do is pick out names for the year! If you know me then you know how seriously I take this process. Since I started showing I have always named my pigs based from the western/rodeo industry.
During the show season I love going out to the barn at night and working on skin/hair. I truly enjoy being at the barn late at night and spending extra time with each pig.
What’s your favorite thing to do in the summer?
Besides showing pigs…. it is spending time with my parents. I’m gone away at school during the rest of the year and my dad is constantly traveling as well. So when everything aligns and we are all together, its what I value most about summer.