Living High on the Hog
FFA Project turns into a Profitable Business
Roy, Montana
Written by Cyd Hoefle
Photography by Stu Hoefle
On a warm spring afternoon at the Grindheim Ranch near Roy, Montana, the 10th Annual “Jordie’s Show Pigs” production sale was in full swing.
Inside the crowded sale barn, Jayden Stern, 10, was intent on the auctioneer. She leaned forward listening to follow his rapid chant and know when to bid. As the bidding intensified, her determination did too.
Finally, the auctioneer yelled out, “Going once, going twice, sold, to the young lady in the front.” Jayden made a fist and shouted, “Yes!” as her dad hugged her.
Minutes later, another lot was called, and more young bidders sat a little straighter hoping to outbid others during the rapid-fire sale and take home a prize pig for their project.
Owner and operator, Jordan Grindheim has been breeding and selling show pigs for the last ten years. She sat beside the auctioneer tracking her sale on the computer.
Beginning as a high school pig project at age 14, Jordie purchased and artificially inseminated two gilts. Since then, her herd has grown to 17 sows and two boars. Farrowing sows twice per year with an average litter size of 6 to 8 piglets each, she hopes to raise over one hundred piglets per year. And with each passing year, the young woman aims to improve the program’s genetics.
“It’s about the kids for me. I was that kid once. I love helping them anyway I can.”
“We try to add more sows every year,” she explained. “We’re always trying to diversify and improve.”
“We” includes her parents, Tammy and Shawn, as well as her boyfriend, Spencer Stearns. Working full time as the assistant manager at Shipton’s Big R in nearby Lewistown, Jordie relies on their help, especially during breeding season, when Jordie and Tammy artificially inseminate most of the sows, enabling them to test new genetics without purchasing a boar.
The formula seems to be working. Since RITW Magazine initially featured Jordie three years ago, both her herd and reputation have grown. Buyers come from across Montana and beyond. This year, the addition of an online video auction allowed out of state buyers to participate, and winning bidders were from as far away as Florida and Pennsylvania.
Jordie’s show pigs are predominantly sold for county 4-H and FFA fair projects, being sold at summer fair auctions as finished hogs by the kids who purchased them in the spring. Proceeds from the sale typically go to savings accounts, college funds, and other opportunities for the young fair participants. Hoping to place in the top of their classes at their fairs, kids seek out certain qualities in show pigs.
Jordan asserts that her pigs are “the deepest, most colorful, most sound, most big boned and the biggest topped,” according to her Facebook page. As a business owner, Jordan prioritizes follow up on each pig’s progress after they leave her barn and she’s always available for questions and advice. She also shares her knowledge and experience and each summer, she takes in as many of the county fairs as possible where the pigs she sold are showing.
“It’s about the kids for me. I was that kid once,” Jordie said smiling. “I love helping them anyway I can.”
For the kids, the responsibilities start on sale day. In the packed sale barn at the Grindheim Ranch, each young buyer registered for a bidder’s number and with the guidance of their parents pre-selected the pigs they hoped to purchase. When the auctioneer started, the kids did the bidding themselves.
“We love coming here to buy Jordie’s Pigs,” Amy Ewing, mother and 4-H leader said. “Jordie is all about letting the kids bid themselves. They learn so much that way.”
Amy’s family and another 4-H family camped in Lewistown the night before the sale, hoping to get to the ranch early to make their selections and pick up pigs for three of their club’s members. They had a maximum bid in mind and were able to obtain the pigs they chose. With an average of $500 to $550 per pig, it’s a big investment – and one they hope pays off.
Jordie’s Show Pigs have frequently made it to Grand Champion and Reserve Champion positions in county fairs and last summer, the Central Montana Fair in Lewistown crowned one of her hogs Grand Champion.
“It was wonderful to see at my hometown county fair,” Jordie said. “I loved it.”
Alysa Ewing, 10, another winning bidder picked up a calico gilt as a project for this summer’s Western Montana State Fair.
“It’s my first year showing a pig,” Alyssa said with a grin. “I’m really excited to get her home and start working her.”
Kennison Schreiber, 16, from the same 4-H club attended the sale to purchase her first pig as well. She’s spent the past two years participating in sheep projects and was “looking for something new to try.”
Fifteen-year-old, Kolbie Kirkegard, from Jordan, bought a barrow at the sale. In her second year of showing pigs, she saw Jordie’s Show Pigs on Facebook and said she couldn’t resist the cute videos of the new piglets. Her plans include not only the Garfield County Fair, but she also hopes to attend showmanship jackpots around the area this summer.
“It’s really a great way to sharpen your showmanship skills and win some money,” she explained. “I hope to do well in a few of those.”
Those stories excite Jordie and are the reason she continues her program providing show pigs to youth.
“It’s not all easy,” Jordie said. “But my business has taught me how to have grit and drive to keep moving forward. Sure, there’s good days, but there’s always setbacks, too.”
Jordie has dealt with drought, feed issues, and rising costs and has had to change the direction of her business plan to adapt. But through it all, the young entrepreneur has been steadfast.
“It keeps me going when one of my buyers reaches out and updates me on their project or sends me a picture of their pigs,” she said. “It really takes a team to keep going and I’m very grateful for the team I have, from my help on the ranch, to the kids and their parents. I can’t imagine doing anything else.”
