We caught up with Will Hagen to talk about a special set of champions and the people who made the journey meaningful.

Tell us a little bit about your champion:
My champion was a purebred York, and he was very special to me. He’s the best purebred I’ve ever shown, and what made him even more meaningful was the fact that I also showed his mom. My Reserve Champion barrow was just as special because he was my first champion crossbred at a major — and I showed his mom as well. That made my set of barrows incredibly special and one of the best pairs I’ve ever shown.

Who is somebody that helped you achieve this win?
I couldn’t have achieved this without my dad. I wouldn’t be here without him, and I’m very grateful for everything he has helped me accomplish.

What was a challenge you had to overcome with your champion or at the show?
The biggest challenge I had to overcome was my champion barrow’s stage fright. He and my Reserve Champion barrow became best friends because he wouldn’t go anywhere without the reserve by his side. That presented a major challenge, but I was able to overcome it.

What’s your go-to snack in the snack tub?
My favorite snack at shows is beef jerky sticks. They’re convenient and the best-tasting snack to have on hand.