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Kylie McKenzie McIntosh
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ylie McKenzie McIntosh, Junior at Boerne High School, has a passion for working with her pigs. TPPA staff got the pleasure to know Kylie during the Pork Leadership Camp where her bright smile and infectious personality was a delight each and every day. Whether it be in the show ring or on the farm, she loves staying involved. Kylie, along with her parents Charlie and Dawn Vogt, and siblings Clint, Cody, Claudia, and Lillie, have been raising pigs for eighteen years. They operate a fifteen sow herd, raising Durocs, Polands, Berks, Landraces, and Crossbreds. Kylie’s show career began with a cross gilt named “Carmen”, that later became her first sow. Kylie credited “Carmen” for sparking her interest in showing swine. Although Kylie focuses the majority of her time on her pigs, she does enjoy judging Wool and Mohair, along with Plant ID and Range thru 4-H and FFA. She also enjoys participating in Swine Skill-a-thon as another way to expand her knowledge of the swine industry. Tell us about your first showing experience: My first time showing was one of the best days of my life. I was the little girl in the cute pink shirt with the “Grand Champion purple” ribbon tied in her hair. I stayed in my pig’s pen the entire day until it was time to show. When it was time to go into the ring I was so nervous, but I soon realized it wasn’t so bad. Although I did not place high, I was excited that I got a ribbon. Soon after, I was told that I would have to part with “Carmen” since it was a terminal show and the auction was the following day. Although I was told she would be going onto greener pastures, I was still devastated and cried all night long. But luck would have it, my Mimi bought her back and we were able bring “Carmen” home to become my first sow.
What is your favorite show and why? My favorite would have to be San Antonio, because of the amazing times I’ve spent there with my family and friends. This is the time where I get to catch up with all of my stock show friends that live so far away. San Antonio has a great atmosphere with so many friendly people; I look forward to it every year! What has been your most memorable experience? This would have to be the time I won a highly competitive class at San Antonio with my Poland gilt “Fat Tina”. This was special because Ol’ “Fat Tina” was a gilt that I had raised myself, we may have not been Champion Poland that day, but in my heart she was the best. When we hit that ring in San Antonio, we worked our butts off showing, so well that the judge took notice and told me that I was one of the best showmen he had seen all day. We did not win the breed, but we were right there and I still felt that it was successful. What do you love most about showing pigs? Showmanship! My mom has always drilled me from the get go saying: “It’s not just about the pig, it’s about you and how well you work with that pig!” Showmanship makes it possible to show off how much you’ve worked with your hog and the amount of care you’ve put into raising your hog. And it’s been well worth the time, as I have won many showmanship awards over the years.
What do you like most and least about raising pigs? Wow, there’s so many things I enjoy. I love being able to stay up all night with my step-father while we wait for a litter of piglets to be born. I also enjoy being the designated ear notcher, and having the opportunity to pick out the boars for the next breeding season. The anticipation of how the piglets will turn out is also very exciting for me. My least favorite thing about raising pigs though is having to clean pens. I don’t enjoy doing it, but I know it’s very important to my pig’s health, so it must be done. I’m also not much of a morning person so when we are traveling to shows waking up extra early can be a pain. If it were possible for me to sleep in my jeans, I definitely would just to get a few more minutes of sleep. What are you most proud of? Every year I feel like it’s a huge accomplishment just getting my hog to the show ring. What I mean by that is there’s so many things that can happen over the course of the project, from structural issues, weight management, potential sickness, etc. that having the hog ready to go is quite the feat. Is there a specific event that you feel has been most beneficial? The opportunity to participate in the Texas Pork Leadership Camp was an awesome experience. To be exposed to so much had a big impact on me, and I now have a better understanding of the swine industry outside of the show world. The pork industry represents such an important part of agriculture, we are feeding the world and developing science. I will never forget the places we visited and all the influential people within the industry I met throughout the week. Not to mention all of the memories and friendships I made on the trip are unforgettable. Who has helped you the most in raising and showing hogs? Many people have contributed to my success throughout my showing career. My stepfather, Charlie, has taught me the majority of what I know about the hog world, while making me the showman I am today. He is the guy I can go to when I need help with my hogs and is always there for me. I am truly thankful for having him in my life.
MY BIGGEST ACCOMPLISHMENTS
KENDALL CO. * Reserve Grand Champion Gilt - 2014 * Champion DOPB Barrow, Hamp Gilt, Sr. Showman- 2014 * Champion Duroc Gilt - 2011 * Champion DOPB Gilt - 2010 SAN ANGELO * 3rd Place Duroc, 4th Place Berk & 5th Place Poland Gilt - 2014 SAN ANTONIO * 10th Place Duroc Barrow & 8th Place Poland Gilt - 2014 * 1st Place Poland Gilt - 2013 * Placing Gilts every year since 2010 & Barrows since 2011 TPPA YOUTH SYMPOSIUM SWINE SKILLATHON * High Overall Individual, Sr.- 2012 * 2nd High Overall Individual, Sr. - 2013 * 3rd High Overall Individual, Sr. - 2014
My mother is the one person I can count on for supporting me through all of my endeavors. She says to “Never give up because this will all pay off in the end!” Thanks to her, I will always strive to do my best, be the best person I can be, and live my life to the fullest with no regrets! I also owe a lot to my Extension Agent, Stephen Zoeller, and my Ag Teachers Joanna Marsh and Kelly Doster, all of whom have pushed me to be the best that I can be. A special thank you is also necessary for Lori Langbein Hohmann and Kari Beth Langbein, who have been great mentors, and have helped me with skill-athon, at the shows, and with my pageants. What are your strengths/weaknesses? One of my favorite quotes is by Mother Theresa and is, “Be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies.” I’m very confident in who I am and what I want. I am also very optimistic, always trying to see the good in people and in any situation. One of my weaknesses would have to be that I strive for perfection, which I know is not always possible because nothing is perfect. What is your school and community involvement like? Outside of the pig world I live a crazy busy life! I’m a Varsity cheerleader for Boerne High School, the Vice President of the Boerne FFA Chapter, Hill District FFA Reporter, President of Kendall Co. 4-H Swine Club and Council Delegate for Kendall Co. 4-H Council. I’m also involved with pageants, being the Princess of Berges Fest, Miss Berges Fest and currently Kendall Co. Fair Princess. I love to attend football and baseball games, getting snow cones with my little sister, Lillie and shopping with my Mimi and Aunt Gigi. I love spending as much time as possible with my family and friends. I am currently in the Top 25% of my class and will be graduating next year. I plan to keep up the grades while staying active in my numerous organizations. My goal is to go out with a bang so focusing on my swine projects will be a must. After graduation I would like to continue raising show pigs and helping my little sister with her show projects, while attending Texas Tech University and majoring in Agriculture Education. I would love to be an Ag Teacher so I can pass on the knowledge that I have learned for generations to come.