Breeding, showing hog operation results in National FFA award

INDIANAPOLIS — The goal for Davis Howell is to focus his breeding stock operation on producing functional commercial pigs that also have a show pig look.

Howell won the National FFA agricultural proficiency award in the area of swine production — entrepreneurship at the 96th National FFA Convention and Expo.

“I have 12 to 15 sows and throughout the summer I showed part of the offspring and I also bought pigs from other local breeders to show in Illinois and across the nation,” he said. “I have both my breeding operation and show swine operation that work cohesively together.”

Pigs that are not chosen for show pigs are sold as feeder pigs at the local sale barn.

“At the end of the show season, some of the gilts go back into my breeding operation and the rest of the gilts and the barrows are sold as finished pigs,” said the son of Zack and Rebecca Howell.

In additional to crossbred pigs, the Clinton FFA member also raises several breeds of purebred pigs including Duroc, Hampshire, Yorkshire, Tamworth and Berkshire.

“I like to travel to around 15 shows between the first of May and the end of September,” he said. “I take from six to eight pigs to each show and six pigs is probably my average.”

Winning the national award at the convention was exciting for Howell.

“At the moment they called my name, there wasn’t a lot of thinking,” he admitted. “Backstage it started to hit me that I’m very fortunate to be successful and I enjoyed the thrill of the moment.”

Howell started working on his swine record book when he was in junior high, although winning the national award was not a goal for him. However, then he won the section, district and state awards.

“I submitted my application to compete at nationals and halfway through August I got the phone call saying I was one of the four finalists,” Howell said. “It wasn’t until the last moment that I thought winning nationals was an achievable goal. I just set out to do well.”

The high school senior is currently the Clinton FFA chapter president. Advised by Hannah Riedle, Kayla Riedle and Savannah Riegler, Howell has also served as the chapter treasurer and vice president and the Section 16 sentinel.

“I’m really involved in livestock judging and public speaking contests, but I’ve also competed in a lot of other contests including dairy foods, land use and job interview,” he said. “I prefer the extemporaneous public speaking contest and I’m going to compete in that contest again this year.”

Although Howell is interested in an agricultural career, he is uncertain about which college he will attend.

“I want to do something animal science related, but I haven’t completely decided yet,” he said.

Many people assisted Howell with winning the national award.

“The two people that were the most influential were my FFA adviser, Miss Riedle and Miss Cassie Crouch, as well as my parents,” Howell said.

“Once I was a national finalist, lots of industry professionals and the state FFA staff helped me prepare for my interview,” he said. “I encourage all kids to compete and try to be successful in FFA.”