TGS | Both Sides of the Ring

For many 4-H and FFA students who exhibit livestock, the spring season of their senior year of high school is a time of many endings. Often regarded as bittersweet, this time usually signifies the conclusion of their show career prior to their graduation. But for swine showman Cooper Kline, he saw it as only the beginning.

A 2024 North Rock Creek graduate from Chandler, Oklahoma, Kline grew up on a diversified livestock operation and began showing lambs from the young age of four. After years of watching his older brother in the show ring, Kline said, “It wasn’t as much the question ‘what got you interested in showing?’ as much as ‘when do I get to start?’”

When the time came, Kline followed in his brother’s footsteps, but he was met with a slight twist in the plan – he got his first glimpse of show pigs and became hooked.

“So, I hit the ground running and haven’t looked back,” Kline said with a smile.

Over the years, Kline and his family have established Kline Swine, which consists of about 15 sows and a handful of boars, focusing on Chester hogs. He also assists his brother with his show lamb operation that is comprised of 50 ewes and a couple of rams, Kline added.

It all started back in the spring of his eighth-grade year when his family decided to acquire gilts to add to their operation, Kline said. He purchased a Chester gilt for $300 from an Oklahoma FFA student who exhibitied her at the Oklahoma Youth Expo. The next year, that same gilt was bred and had a litter of five pigs: four boars and one runt gilt. The lone gilt ended up Reserve Champion at OYE that year, which is what led their family to stick with Chesters, Kline said.

Kline has now ventured into other breeds like Spots and Crossbreds, and he has had varying success at shows across the state, whether in the ring himself or breeding hogs for others to show.

“You never realize how deep you’re in it until you’re there,” Kline said through a laugh, “but I wouldn’t trade it for the world.”

The latest additions to Kline Swine include the acquisition of boars to retain and build their operation around, Kline said. This has resulted in selling semen across the country, expanding upon the genetics offered at Kline Swine.

“Raising and selling show pigs is something I want to continue to do for years to come because it’s in my blood now and has provided me an avenue to give back to the younger generation of 4-H and FFA swine showmen,” Kline said. “I’ve been fortunate on both sides of the ring, and it means a lot to me knowing this is a way for me to step into a role that allows me the opportunity to not just support younger kids, but also feed and clothe the world through production agriculture.”

When he’s not getting his projects ready for a show or shipping out semen, Kline says much of his time is spent expanding his knowledge, reaching out to customers, and forging new networks within the agriculture industry.

One such connection has opened his eyes to a potential career path in addition to operating Kline Swine, he said.

“Through the show pig industry as a whole, the connections I’ve made have been invaluable,” Kline said. “Getting to learn about and from the Oklahoma Pork Council has really shown me a whole new side of agriculture advocacy, education and policy in our state – all of which helps ensure our industry is viable for generations to come,” he added.

This newly unlocked interest, as well as the many others uncovered through his time in Oklahoma agriculture, has revealed his passion to “fight the good fight for our industry,” and do his part in getting pigs into the hands of 4-H and FFA members for as long as he can, Kline said.

As he has reached the conclusion of his time in the showring, Kline said he is certain he will miss it but has an eager spirit.

“There is simply so much more to showing,” Kline said. “Don’t get me wrong, stepping out of the limo and hearing Thunderstruck blasting during the OYE Grand Drive would be incredible to experience; but, if you can help someone get there, that is the best feeling in the world.”

Jump forward to present day, Kline is a freshman at Oklahoma State University and says while his days now look different, his next steps and future vision are crystal clear: to build a legacy of continued involvement and pour back into the Oklahoma livestock industry for years to come.

“Ultimately, we’re not in the livestock business, we’re in the kid business,” Kline said. “This is one of the greatest things you can grow up in, and it’s something I am honored to continue giving the next generation the opportunity to take part in.”

Watch Cooper's full story here.