Are you a stock show parent or thinking about getting your kids involved in showing livestock? In this episode, we sit down with Emily Spray—better known as The Funny Fair Mom—to reveal the real-life challenges and rewards of being a stock show mom. Emily shares honest advice on handling comparison, helping kids through disappointment, and focusing on what truly matters at livestock shows. She also opens up about balancing family life, her journey as a social media influencer in the ag community, and practical hacks every show family can use.

Are you a stock show parent or thinking about getting your kids involved in showing livestock? In this episode, we sit down with Emily Spray&mdash;better known as The Funny Fair Mom&mdash;to reveal the real-life challenges and rewards of being a stock show mom. Emily shares honest advice on handling comparison, helping kids through disappointment, and focusing on what truly matters at livestock shows. She also opens up about balancing family life, her journey as a social media influencer in the ag community, and practical hacks every show family can use.

There’s just something about the story behind the story. As a storyteller, I’m always searching for ways to give readers just a little more. That’s what The PORK Podcast is all about – bringing you stories of the people and the progress of the pork industry.  I’m Jennifer Shike – let’s go find just a little more.

There’s just something about the story behind the story. As a storyteller, I’m always searching for ways to give readers just a little more. That’s what The PORK Podcast is all about – bringing you stories of the people and the progress of the pork industry.  I’m Jennifer Shike – let’s go find just a little more.

The Pork Podcast

The Truth About Stock Show Moms: Emily Spray (The Funny Fair Mom) Shares Life Lessons | Ep. 24

Every small decision matters. Whether Dusty Oedekoven, chief veterinarian for the National Pork Board, is talking about wrestling or swine health, he says progress starts with belief. He outlines the newly adopted path forward for the National Swine Health Strategy to help the U.S. pork industry stop living with PRRS and PEDV. Drawing on historical successes like pseudorabies eradication and his own experiences in livestock disease elimination, Oedekoven shares why he believes the industry can move from managing endemic diseases to total elimination.

Every small decision matters. Whether Dusty Oedekoven, chief veterinarian for the National Pork Board, is talking about wrestling or swine health, he says progress starts with belief. He outlines the newly adopted path forward for the National Swine Health Strategy to help the U.S. pork industry stop living with PRRS and PEDV. Drawing on historical successes like pseudorabies eradication and his own experiences in livestock disease elimination, Oedekoven shares why he believes the industry can move from managing endemic diseases to total elimination.

Dusty Oedekoven: Every Decision Matters | Episode 42

Dan Hamilton, senior director for product performance at PIC, explores the vital intersection of swine genetic innovation and personal resilience. He shares how digital phenotyping and AI are revolutionizing the industry—from analyzing the "social networks" of pigs to improve welfare to using camera-based algorithms that enhance sow longevity by removing human subjectivity. While discussing the future of precision agriculture through real-time health monitoring and AI-driven feeding, he also addresses critical industry hurdles such as biological robustness and the evolving demands of pork quality. Most poignantly, he reflects on how the tragic loss of his first wife shaped his philosophy on leadership, underscoring that true success in the pork industry is built on a foundation of work-life balance, perspective, and the resilience to navigate challenges both in production and in life.

Dan Hamilton, senior director for product performance at PIC, explores the vital intersection of swine genetic innovation and personal resilience. He shares how digital phenotyping and AI are revolutionizing the industry&mdash;from analyzing the "social networks" of pigs to improve welfare to using camera-based algorithms that enhance sow longevity by removing human subjectivity. While discussing the future of precision agriculture through real-time health monitoring and AI-driven feeding, he also addresses critical industry hurdles such as biological robustness and the evolving demands of pork quality. Most poignantly, he reflects on how the tragic loss of his first wife shaped his philosophy on leadership, underscoring that true success in the pork industry is built on a foundation of work-life balance, perspective, and the resilience to navigate challenges both in production and in life.

Dan Hamilton: Building Resilience in the Barn and in Life | Episode 41

Building trust is key to retaining top talent in the pork industry. Melanie Langley, director of people care at Fine Swine, discusses how you can transform barn culture through empathy. Langley shares her three Ps framework—protection, purpose and presence—to show how prioritizing the person behind the pig is the ultimate key to success.

Building trust is key to retaining top talent in the pork industry. Melanie Langley, director of people care at Fine Swine, discusses how you can transform barn culture through empathy. Langley shares her three Ps framework&mdash;protection, purpose and presence&mdash;to show how prioritizing the person behind the pig is the ultimate key to success.

The Truth About Stock Show Moms: Emily Spray (The Funny Fair Mom) Shares Life Lessons | Ep. 24

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