From oink to opportunity
State Junior Swine Show brings out the best in 4-H and FFA exhibitors
Story and photos by Page Haynes
Henry Holmberg of Williamson County gets double control of his Duroc as he uses two show crops to guide his entry. Henry brought home ribbons for placing first with his entry in the June Gilt Duroc class as well as for the reserve champion and reserve champion Tennessee-bred Duroc gilt.
The 2026 Tennessee State Junior Swine Show was held January 8-10 at Hyder-Burks Arena, located at the Tennessee Technological University School of Agriculture in Cookeville.
The event featured 247 youth involved in 4-H and FFA who exhibited 474 hogs from 35 counties in various categories. Co-op was a proud sponsor of the event and provided each exhibitor with a handy bucket that could be used to transport show items such as brushes, water, gloves, various cleaners, and shoe booties. All those items make up the “biosecurity bucket,” encouraging exhibitors to keep their pigs healthy before, during, and after the show. A complimentary barbecue lunch was held at the event as well, courtesy of Tennessee Pork Producers Association.
“We are so proud of these young exhibitors,” said 4-H alumni and Executive Vice President Phyllis Ferguson of the Tennessee Pork Producers Association, who assists with the event. “Being involved in showing livestock teaches discipline, hard work, and responsibility. These competitions offer all types of opportunities for kids to grow in their confidence, learn what it takes to care for a livestock project every day, and continue to develop their skills to work with others to make a difference.”
While experience levels vary among exhibitors, most say the relationship-building aspects of showing are a key benefit, creating strong bonds both with fellow exhibitors and with the animals themselves.
“I love that we are not from the same county, but we get to hang out and enjoy one another’s company,” says senior Baylynn Cantrell of McMinn County, who was spending the day with fellow competitors Madison Daniels and Emily Demott of Monroe County. “We get to meet all kinds of people through this, and it helps develop our leadership skills as well as our communication abilities.”
“It just brings us all together,” adds Madison. “Although we are competing against one another, we all help one another out. We’re there for each other, both in and outside of the ring. It’s just a lot of fun.” Results for the 2026 Tennessee State Junior Swine Show Breeding Gilt Champion Drive Overall — Bella Browning, Clay, first; Lillie White, Clay, second; Bailey Ball, Campbell, third, fourth, and fifth. Overall Tennessee-Bred — Bailey Ball, Campbell, first and second; Paige Shrum, Macon, third; Henry Holmberg, Williamson, fourth; Jessie Kate Phillips, Wilson, fifth. Berkshire — Abbygail Kidder, Bedford, champion; Seth Troglin, Cumberland, reserve. Chester White — Bailey Ball, Campbell, champion; Isabella Hale, Clay, reserve. Duroc — Bailey Ball, Campbell, champion; Henry Holmberg, Williamson, reserve. Hampshire — Lettie Holt, Overton, champion; Clayton Pitcock, McMinn, reserve. Hereford — Jayden Hesson, Macon, champion; Taylor Bryan, Dickson, reserve. Landrace — Barrett Hawley, Dyer, champion; Drew Larrance, Jefferson, reserve. Poland China — Emma Rue, McMinn, champion; Grace Debusk, McMinn, reserve. Tamworth — Ayrin Drake, Warren, champion; Karsyn Bain, Warren, reserve. Spotted — Isabella Hale, Clay, champion; Sydney Bowers, Humphreys, reserve. Yorkshire — Lillie White, Clay, champion; Paige Shrum, Macon, reserve. Crossbred — Bella Browning, Clay, champion; Bailey Ball, Campbell, reserve.
LEFT: Fourth grader Liza Jo Lowery of Dyer County won first place in the Explorer Showmanship division with her entry. She and her family shop at AgCentral Farmers Co-op in Sweetwater. RIGHT: Between shows, Emily Demott, an 11th grader in Monroe County, gives her crossbred pig, Trixie, lots of hugs and kisses before she enters the competition on Sunday. Emily says her family shops at the Co-op in Sweetwater as well.
Market Hog Champion Drive Overall — Lillie White, Clay, first; Bailey Ball, Campbell, second; Ian Johnson, Macon, third; Andrew Ingram, Monroe, fourth and fifth. Overall Tennessee-Bred — Andrew Ingram, Monroe, first and second; Sierra Cook, McMinn, third; Bailey Ball, Campbell, fourth; Paige Shrum, Macon, fifth. Purebred Prospect — Sierra Cook, McMinn, champion; Reese Selby, White, reserve. Commercial Prospect — Ian Johnson, Macon, champion; Baylann Giles, Marshall, reserve. Berkshire — Katelyn Browning, Clay, champion; Paige Cornett, Rhea, reserve. Chester White — Joseph Henry, McMinn, champion; Piper Allen, Wilson, reserve. Duroc — Sierra Cook, McMinn, champion; Bailey Ball, Campbell, reserve. Hampshire — Lettie Holt, Overton, champion; Addison Stoffan, Bedford, reserve. Landrace — Drew Larrance, Jefferson, champion; Grace Debusk, McMinn, reserve. Tamworth — Reed Reno, Union, champion; Karsyn Bain, Warren, reserve. Spotted — Andrew Ingram, Monroe, champion; Barrett Hawley, Dyer, reserve. Yorkshire — Ian Johnson, Macon, champion; Andrew Ingram, Monroe, reserve. AOB — Reed Reno, Union, champion; Jesse Walters, Sevier, reserve. Crossbred — Lillie White, Clay, champion; Bailey Ball, Campbell, reserve. Carcass Class Levi Jessie, Claiborne, first; Grace Debusk, McMinn, second; Jesse Walters, Sevier, third; Clayton Gilliam, Williamson, fourth; McKenzie Morgan, Polk, fifth; Noah Loveday, Sevier, sixth; Ruby Land, Bradley, seventh; Ayrin Drake, Warren, eighth; Logan Jessee, Union, ninth; Seth Troglin, Cumberland, tenth. Showmanship Winners Senior Level 2 — Seth Troglin, Cumberland, champion; Drew Larrance, Jefferson, reserve. Senior Level 1 — Katelyn Browning, Clay, champion; Maggie Ann Snapp, Hawkins, reserve. Junior High — Lillie White, Clay, champion; Bailey Ball, Campbell, reserve. Junior — Lettie Holt, Overton, champion; Barrett Hawley, Dyer, reserve. Explorer — Liza Jo Lowery, Dyer, champion; Molly Kidder, Bedford, reserve. Skillathon Winners Senior Level 2 — Jayden Hesson, Macon, first; Seth Troglin, Cumberland, second; Paige Shrum, Macon, third; Clayton Pitcock, McMinn, fourth; Koye Russell, Macon, fifth. Senior Level 1 — Mary Ella Blankenship, Macon, first; Page McKenzy, Williamson, second; Ian Johnson, Macon, third; Baylee Brown, Anderson, fourth; Rachel Burks, Clay, fifth. Junior High — Owen Hesson, Macon, first; Kate McLarran, Clay, second; Anna Mai Blankenship, Macon, third; Landon Jessee, Union, fourth; Kelsey Roark, Macon, fifth. Junior — William Zavaro, Williamson, first; Weston Jones, Macon, second; Harper Shrum, Macon, third; Clayton Gilliam, Williamson, fourth; Kinley Porter, Trousdale, fifth. Explorer — Kimsey Shanks, Loudon, first; Logan Jessee, Union, second; Evie Burks, Clay, third; Baylann Giles, Marshall, fourth; JessieKate Phillips, Wilson, fifth. Premier Exhibitor Winners Senior Level 2 — Breeding Gilt: Seth Troglin, Cumberland, first; Jayden Hesson, Macon, second; Paige Shrum, Macon, third; Clay Pitcock, McMinn, fourth; Drew Larrance, Jefferson, fifth. Market Hog: Jayden Hesson, Macon, first; Seth Troglin, Cumberland, second; Paige Shrum, Macon, third; Clay Pitcock, McMinn, fourth; Koye Russell, Macon, fifth. Senior Level 1 — Breeding Gilt: Mary Ella Blankenship, Macon, first; Ian Johnson, Macon, second; Baylee Brown, Anderson, third; Alice Ogan, Anderson, fourth; Maggie-Ann Snapp, Hawkins, fifth. Market Hog: Ian Johnson, Macon, first; Mary Ella Blankenship, Macon, second; Baylee Brown, Anderson, third; Katelyn Browning, Clay, fourth; Rachel Burks, Clay, fifth. Junior High — Breeding Gilt: Kate McLerran, Clay, first; Owen Hesson, Macon, second; Bailey Ball, Campbell, third; Anna Mai Blankenship, Macon, fourth; Ashlynn Zavaro, Williamson, fifth. Market Hog: Owen Hesson, Macon, first; Kate McLerran, Clay, second; Bailey Ball, Campbell, third; Anna Mai Blankenship, Macon, fourth; Ashlynn Zavaro, Williamson, fifth. Junior — Breeding Gilt: Barrett Hawley, Dyer, first; Clayton Gilliam, Williamson, second; Kinley Porter, Trousdale, third; Lettie Holt, Overton, fourth; Hannah Forrest, Dickson, fifth. Market Hog: William Zavaro, Williamson, first; Barrett Hawley, Dyer, second; Clayton Gilliam, Williamson, third; Owen Johnson, Macon, fourth; Reed Reno, Union, fifth. Explorer — Breeding Gilt: Kimsey Shanks, Loudon, first; JessieKate Phillips, Wilson, second; Molly Kidder, Bedford, third; Graham Gilliam, Williamson, fourth; Evie Burks, Clay, fifth. Market Hog: JessieKate Phillips, Wilson, first; Kimsey Shanks, Loudon, second; Baylann Giles, Marshall, third; Graham Gilliam, Williamson, fourth; Molly Kidder, Bedford, fifth.
Baylann Giles, a fourth-grade student from Marshall County, closely guides her entry in the Explorer Showmanship class. She placed seventh in the contest out of 23 competitors.
Enjoying spending time with one another at the show are friends, from left, Madison Daniels and Emily Demott of Monroe County, and Baylynn Cantrell of McMinn County.
Noah Loveday of Sevier County brushes an entry for his 9-year-old brother, Isaac, who is preparing to show the hog in the Explorer Showmanship class. He ended up placing 9th out of 23 entries.
From left, Charlie Leamon of McMinn County, Jenna Thompson of Clay County, and Holden Shuler of Rutherford County battle it out with their Duroc entries in the Breeding Gilt Show.
By Page Haynes,
Contact phaynes@ourcoop.com