It would be cool to find a job doing what I love, but I have to ask myself what is it that I love to do? I don’t know if I truly ever loved a single show pig or even showing one, but I do know that I loved who I did it with. My favorite quote is about having a passion to purpose to profession mindset, so again I have to sit back and ask myself, what am I passionate about? What gives me purpose? And is there a job out there that aligns with the three P’s? Through my summer internship with Showpig.com and their investment in me, I have pin-pointed what my three P’s are.  

Being Passionate 

A passion lights a fire under you; it’s something you find every reason and excuse to stay involved in. I said I never loved a pig but I loved my people. I am passionate about taking the people in the swine industry and elevating them to their highest potential. I am passionate about building relationships, and seeing the genuine relationships Showpig.com has built with customers and consignors affirmed I was in the right place. Showpig.com’s slogan, “It’s more than a show pig,” served me with meaning. There was fellowship and competition between exhibitors and families, but at the end of the day it wasn’t about what pig got to the ring but instead who got it to the ring. Being surrounded by the multitasking-moms who are also industry professionals, I was positively influenced in my role of being a young woman wanting to stay involved in the livestock industry.  

Finding Purpose 

I’m only 22 years old, which is an age where I feel most of us are trying to figure out our life’s purpose. I often say my camera has been my excuse to stay involved in showing livestock. Reflecting on my favorite quote after a summer internship made me look at the big picture; maybe my purpose and show pigs do align. Capturing those moments for people I didn’t even know brought me more joy than sitting behind any desk ever could. This internship allowed me to see, meet, and capture a lot of really cool kids. 

In addition to my travels, I was eager to take on the challenge of engaging in new areas of the swine industry. One way I broadened my horizons is getting first-hand experience from the organization that represents all swine producers. I had the opportunity to sit in a board room at the National Pork Board to discuss the importance of policy, health, and nutrition in regards to pork production. 

Showpig.com also gave me the ability to learn about content creation and metrics in a way I never had before. Interacting with over 27,000 users required strategic purposing behind each photo, video and caption. Understanding what type of content performed best to the audience in terms of link clicks, engagement through social media reactions (comments and likes), and seeing how actions impact website traffic provided more purpose to my work.   

Becoming a Professional

I absolutely love to travel. I currently have the mindset that I constantly need to be going everywhere while I still can. After all the experiences I had compiled into one summer, five states, three national pig shows, and one leadership camp later – I’ve decided I’m still not tired of the going, going, going. 

We went to Springfield, Illinois, for the Team Purebred show where we watched a storm snap highline poles in half and show-dads come together to rig a generator for electricity to the mic so the judges and exhibitors could finish the show. I also spent time at other national pig shows in Louisville, Kentucky, at the National Junior Summer Spectacular, and in mid-July, Showpig.com hosted their annual All-Star Camp in Ames, Iowa. I saw All-Star Camp as Showpig.com’s opportunity to genuinely invest into the industry's future by gathering young people to learn professional and personal development skills so they will be equipped to lead the pork industry when the time comes. As much as I enjoyed these events, the most impactful experiences for me this summer were the internal marketing meetings where we brainstormed new ideas, developed plans, and talked about real-world issues and how to solve them. I was forced to think about the bigger picture. These experiences were where I felt professional growth and realized this is where I want to be full-time.  

I struggle when it comes to self-reflection and voicing vulnerability, so I have been trying to dig deep to recognize where I started my summer and analyze my personal growth over the course of the internship. Showpig.com made me realize purpose and perspective will continue to shape things for me… content, relationships, and my future. 

Our industry is full of powerful people with words that will influence whoever is listening. From shaking hands to listening to grand drive speeches, impact is always waiting. A few impactful things I heard on the mic and in meetings this summer were: be positive (Troy Sloan), people will always remember how you treat them (Katie Hoge), and be curious, not judgemental (Megan Wendt). My summer spent with Showpig.com has motivated me to find where my voice will one day become relevant and impactful. 

Lean into your influence and recognize exactly where you are in life. Understand that your voice (and mine) will continue to evolve as we all continue to grow, and that’s ok. But don’t be scared to be that voice for an industry we are all passionate about.

For more insight on Showpig.com’s investment into future leaders, click here to read where else Showpig.com is making an impact through more events like their All-Star Camp.  

Author Bio:

Kourtney Gibson, a dedicated Ag Communications student at Texas Tech University and skilled photographer, is currently making strides in her role as a marketing intern at Showpig.com. Utilizing her adeptness in both communication and photography, she brings fresh perspectives and forward-thinking strategies to her role.  

Related Posts:

Lexi Marek Beelers Five Things to Know to Become a Leader in Ag https://showpig.com/2023/08/21/lexi-marek-beelers-five-things-to-know-to-become-a-leader-in-ag/ 

All Star Camp: Bigger than a Showpig https://showpig.com/2023/08/02/all-star-camp-bigger-than-a-showpig/   

Final Thoughts:

“Allow your passion to become your purpose, and it will one day become your profession.” - Gabrielle Bernstein