How They Work: Taipin Showpigs

August 23, 2024

“Put on your boots and go to work.” Armed with a strong work ethic, family values and a drive for success, Noa Taipin and Taipin Showpigs is dedicated to serving their customers and going to work for you.

Taipin Showpigs took flight in 2022, when Noa returned home after attending college. However, the journey started much earlier. Taipin Showpigs is owned and operated by Noa Taipin, and his wife Mikayla, and is located in Klamath Falls, Oregon. With no previous swine background, a fourth grade Noa approached his parents wanting to show pigs. Neither of his parents had experience with show animals, but having grown up in the livestock industry themselves, Kelly and Shane Taipin knew the opportunity for Noa and his siblings to be in the industry was worth the uncomfortability of a new experience.

In the early years of his career, Noa showed Duroc and Hampshire crosses raised by a local producer. From that moment, Noa was hooked. When Noa reached his middle school years, the family began to invest more in the hobby. Throughout the years, his family kept a few gilts as sows, but did not actively pursue raising and selling stock. As time went on, Noa became more and more intrigued by the industry. In early high school, he was a self-proclaimed “pig nerd,” spending every extra moment he had researching and honing on his craft.

“I spent way too much time on the internet, looking at every single show pig website there was,” said Noa. However, his time on the internet paid off when he began to see success in the show ring. He soon knew he wanted show pigs to be his number one priority. “And then, the rest is kind of history. I went to college and worked at a couple show pig places. I just basically knew I was gonna stay in the show pig industry for the rest of my life,” said Noa.

The day-to-day tasks are primarily tended to by Noa and Mikayla, but it is a family affair. In addition to the day-to-day, Mikayla also takes care of the computer work while Noa’s mother, Kelly Taipin, aids with graphic design and advertising work. He leans on his dad, Shane, to help when Noa is out of town. His brother, Kai, helps customers at shows while his sister, Kekoa, helps in the farrowing barn. It is a team effort, and they all take pride in the role they play.

A typical day at Taipin Showpigs includes waking up and doing chores. Depending on the time of year, daily chores vary. Various tasks include feeding, breeding, sale preparations, farrowing, cleaning, maintaining the herd, or taking care of baby pigs. Due to the operation’s infancy, there is also a lot of building taking place that requires time and attention.

Another vital part of the daily tasks revolves around customer service. Taipin Showpigs frequently takes consulting calls from customers. Whether it includes feeding regimens or other technique recommendations, they are constantly helping customers maximize their projects.

Raising show pigs is not without its highs and lows. Noa recalls that nearly every part of the production process can compound to create a unique challenge.

“To win a show, sows have to come into heat, and then they’ve got to settle, and then they’ve got to milk. Next they have to not kill any of their pigs, and those pigs gotta get weaned. Lastly, those pigs can’t get sick, and they have to go to the right home. All those things stacked on top of each other, obviously, become a challenge,” Noa said.

On the flip side, when things compound correctly, Noa sees the most reward. He feels tremendous pride when he has the opportunity to see someone who has poured their heart, soul and passion into their project and found success of their own. “When an exhibitor who is experiencing struggles in other parts of their lives is able to work hard and overcome adversity, that’s what it’s all about,” Noa reflected.

Taipin Showpig’s main goal is to create a good experience for youth exhibitors. They work to cater to everybody’s needs and goals – whether it is to win a national show or place at the top of their class at a county fair. While every show pig producer would like to raise a high dollar boar or a competitive show gilt, it is Taipin’s goal that each exhibitor has an experience that allows them to maximize their potential. Each morning, Noa wakes up and works to serve the exhibitors of the Pacific Northwest. He enjoys the industry because of the skills it instills in young people. Being a part of an exhibitor’s journey, both in and out of the show ring, keeps him coming back for more.

While Noa initially joked that his advice to those wanting to begin raising showstock is to “study harder, be a doctor,” he believes the key to success is to develop a hunger for knowledge. “There will always be people who are bigger and smarter than you,” said Noa. “Do not be discouraged by that. Rather, put on your boots and go to work. Work hard and never stop learning.”

He encourages young people to work for a producer to learn, not only the ins and outs of the business, but also if they truly like pigs. “You truly find out how much you like pigs if you go, and you force yourself to be around them in mass quantities when things aren’t always the most fun. When you’re not going to a show and you’re not making young pigs look pretty and you’re covered head-to-toe in you-know-what,” Noa said.

Noa’s greatest influence in the swine barn is his father. Although he didn’t come from a swine or a show livestock background, Noa built his foundation in the industry with his father by his side. They leaned on each other as they learned about the industry together. Noa’s father pushed him by challenging his thinking. In turn, the family saw success in the show ring. They learned to ask questions, and to avoid blindly following a breeder or feeder.

“He (Noa’s father) may have not necessarily influenced us with the most knowledge or information, but he influenced me and my siblings with the proper mindset of how to approach new or different ways to feed or breed,” said Noa. His father’s influence instilled the sense of curiosity the operation carries.

When Taipin Showpigs began, their goal was to make the highest quality show pigs with as few sows as possible, and to have those pigs land in able hands. As a whole, it is Noa’s goal to provide high quality pigs to exhibitors in his region - the Pacific Northwest, ultimately making it stronger.

In the next five to ten years, Noa would like to have a strong community of customers who value one another. While team culture is not necessarily his goal, his hopes include a group of customers that become an extension of family. A goal, that due to a lot of dedication and hard work, is well within reach.

Q&A

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE SHOW OR EVENT TO ATTEND?

American Royal

FAVORITE SHOW PIG YOU’VE RAISED OR BEEN AROUND?

“Betsy” is a gilt in the middle of her show career right now. I’ve always said her mom, that we showed a couple years ago, was my favorite show pig, and I think this pig is better than her mom. Betsy is being shown by Quiana Cundall. She is a Tricked 4 x Last Dance.

LEAST FAVORITE CHORE?

Rinsing out milk pans - it sounds silly because it doesn’t take long, but it bothers the hell out of me.

FAVORITE CHORE?

I like feeding sows- it’s more so feeding and looking at the sows. What I’ll do is, when I get done feeding, I’ll stand there and stare at them for 15-20 minutes. I look at who’s bred, who’s not bred and who I’m going to start breeding. I do it every day and spend 30 minutes, while they’re eating, thinking about their future and what they’re going to do. Obviously, you’re also looking for general health and well-being.