A familiar face that you may have seen around the national swine circuit is the always smiling one of Tracie Goodnight-Egger. A longtime member of the American Berkshire Association, Tracie recognizes that the breed has a historic past and a bright future. Tracie raises Berkshire hogs in Indiana and has also worked for Purdue University College of Agriculture for over 20 years!
We can all look back and think of at least one person who served as a mentor or a role model. In the late 70’s her brother, Mark Goodnight, started his Berkshire herd. “It’s been a privilege to continue breeding Berkshires with our family name since his departure from the swine industry,” said Tracie.
Watching her brother’s love for the breed and confidence grow, made her want to raise Berkshires of her own. “I saw, throughout the years, the phenotypic changes being made to the pigs and I knew the breed was going to become very popular,” Tracie said. If it’s not their quality of pork or profitability, their infectious personality will steal your heart. “They are as unique as the breeders raising them!”
Tracie is extremely proud of what Mark Goodnight has accomplished as a breeder and as a person passionate about the Berkshire breed. In fact, her favorite memory was watching her brother’s boar, Kahuna, sell at the boar test station in Ida Grove, IA to a Japanese firm for at the time, a record price. “For 1991 that was an amazing accolade for the Berkshire breed!” said Tracie. However, she has had great success in her own her. Tracie has exhibited the Champion Berkshire Gilt at the Summer Type Conference, as well as the National Barrow Show.
Whether it’s nights in the barn or mornings doing chores, we all have our favorite part about why we do what we do. For Tracie, it’s the people that make the difference. Traveling to shows and visiting with producers from all over create memories that will last for years. Aside from learning from producers who have decades of experience, Tracie wants to give back to youth members in the same way that she got her start. “It too, has been a pleasure helping youth find their show prospects and mentoring them to become involved in Team Purebred and other career development events.” As vice president of the ABA Foundation, Tracie believes that strengthening our youth, strengthens the future.
Just like the breed itself, times have changed. “While in my opinion, genetics remain the most important aspect of what we do, staying abreast of the latest nutrition options is sometimes challenging,” said Tracie. “Feeding gilts to succeed in the show and sale ring isn’t quite like it was in the past.” Staying up on the latest nutrition requirements and the trends that buyers are looking for can be a balancing act.
The Berkshire breed hasn’t always been the leader in the overall selection in the show ring. Tracie reflects on the producers, such as her brother that kept working towards better Berkshires when times were tough. “We all have foundation females who have made the difference in our breeding programs, we need to recognize the foundation leaders of this breed who led us to where we are today,” Tracie said. “I am proud to breed Berkshires because of many who did so prior to me.”
For those of you just getting started in the breed, Tracie encourages you to stick to it and never give up- it will be worth it in the long run. “A true lesson in adversity is remaining true to what you are most passionate about. No matter what the popular vote is, stay true to what you believe in most and regard your values highly.”