Story Written by Intern Chyann Emerson
Hello fellow pork lovers! My name is Chyann Emerson, and I could not be more excited to serve as the Oklahoma Pork Council’s summer communications intern this year.
Growing up in Tuttle, Oklahoma, some words I would use to describe the culture of my hometown are competitive, supportive, and tight-knit. Arguably, it was this atmosphere that led me to show my first pig at ten years old. Being a part of a family with little livestock knowledge, a good friend encouraged my sister and I to start showing pigs for the numerous benefits it has to offer. This was a new adventure that we quickly immersed ourselves in, and like many of you, we were instantly hooked. From there, my high school years were spent playing soccer, spending time in the barn with more show pigs than I could count, and traveling across the country to livestock judging contests.
My passion for the industry continued to grow, and after graduating high school, I moved 20 minutes away to attend Redlands Community College, where I dual-majored in agricultural communications and animal science. While at Redlands, I was a member of a highly competitive livestock judging team and immersed myself in leadership opportunities, industry networking, and hands-on livestock experience. During that time, traveling thousands of miles in a judging van and meeting so many livestock producers, passionate classmates, and incoming students I began to see many different sectors of our industry. I had the opportunity to stop and visit with so many hard-working pig farmers from across the nation, which deepened my appreciation for the work we do.
This past year, I transferred to Oklahoma State University, continuing my journey again working to earn dual agriculture degrees and serving on the livestock judging team. Since being in Stillwater, Oklahoma I’ve started pursuing opportunities tailored toward expanding my knowledge and commitment to the pork industry. I’ve been fortunate to be a member of the Pork Council’s college leadership program Pork Industry Group and to serve as the Oklahoma Youth Livestock Coordinator Intern. These experiences have not only helped me grow professionally, but have also broadened my understanding of how to be a stronger advocate for our industry.