Colby Gomes: Helping Create A Society Of Young Leaders

Colby Gomes, is from Le Grand, California. You have probably seen him working with sale pigs, in the ring, or even on the side cheering on young showmen. He has recently become the president of The National Fitters Society. Which is a well known society of elite showmen in the industry. Colby has faced many battles during his career including losing his barn to a propane tank exploding this past February. Colby has had to face this challenge head on while being one of the biggest mentors in the Industry.

“I am Colby Gomes, I am 16 years old from Le Grand, California.”

Colby has grown up in the industry. Even though Colby’s dad had already had a show pig operation Colby wasn’t heavily involved in the industry.

“I honestly wasn’t too super heavy into it until I got to about ten to eleven. That’s when I really hammered down. When I got to about thirteen to fourteen my dad started teaching me how to run the business if I ever needed to without him. From there on, we kinda became partners. Now a lot of people recognize me as a co-owner of the business.”

Priority One Showpigs was started by Colby’s dad in 2011. Priority One Showpigs run forty sows, including Berkshire, Duroc, and crossbreds. One of Priority One Showpig’s bigger accomplishments has been to have the ability to put several boars in stud, and having a few barrows that have placed nationally.

“My dad always had a passion for the livestock industry and knew he wanted to raise pigs. We both now share very similar dreams and ambitions when it comes to the farm. One day I hope to take it over like he did.”

Colby has been through a lot during his journey in the industry. He has dealt with the ups and downs of the show life.

“Winning the Arizona national gilt show, and recently losing our whole show barn and show string to a barn fire has really shown me the ups and downs of this life.”

Colby’s barn and show string had burnt in a fire in February of 2026.

“Seventy pigs in total were lost including all of the sale babies and Showpigs. A propane tank had exploded when we weren’t home, and there was no way to prevent it. Something that was truly worse than any nightmare. That barn was our entire life, and to see it gone in minutes when we got home was beyond horrifying.”

“Something I realized after we lost our barn is that, as corny or copy and paste as it may sound, it was never truly about a backdrop, banner and a buckle. It was a part of who I am, who these showmen and families are. It was and still is my whole identity. While we were in the process of building a new barn, I got the privilege to work with many young showmen who were just starting out. Seeing the joy and excitement of them working with their project made me happy. You could walk into the ring with the best one at the show and get third in class and called average. But at the end of the day, there is no better feeling than watching these younger kids mature into who they are through livestock. That is why I want to help this industry. To get more people to fall in love with the sport.”

Colby joined the National Fitters Society in spring of last year.

“I had been seeing a bunch of posts of their members winning all these big shows, and got the opportunity to talk to some members to ask about the program.”

For Colby being able to talk to the members made his love for The Society grow. The support system around The Society was like no other.

“The one thing they all said that stuck out to me was that no matter how they did win or lose, the support system was like a family. My purpose for joining the society was for two reasons. One I knew it could help take our program to the level. Two I loved the idea of the connections and values they upheld.”

For Colby the supportive aspect of NFS made him not only want to be a member but be involved in the growth and potential of The National Fitters Society.

“How well the members did at these shows, while still being respectful, humble, and supportive of each other is what drew me in. I knew that I could and would do whatever it takes to uphold that standard and help the team.”

Colby has had the opportunity to become good friends with Lane Holman (the original NFS president) over the past year. Which has led Colby to be presented with the opportunity of being the new NFS president.

“Since I joined, every chace I could I picked Lane’s mind, asked questions and asked for advice, I learned as much as I could from him. When I tell you he has shaped my mindset in such a positive direction-words cannot describe it. I have nothing but appreciation and gratitude for Lane. When Lane offered me the position of president, I knew there was nobody better that could do it and uphold the values and morals and run the program like he could better than me. To have the trust that he has given me truly means the world. Everyday I make sure that our program is running smoothly. I handle any problems as soon and efficiently as I can, to make sure this program runs the way it needs to be run.”. -Thank You

Colby will always be big on one thing: “Mentorship.” He has seen first hand what a great mentor can do. He has also seen that the industry doesn’t have enough people willing to step up and be that mentor.

“I am and have always been very big on mentorship. It is my personal belief that this industry does not have enough mentors, enough people that want to help others, and enough people that want to put in the work to be better for themselves. In all ways possible I want to change that. I want these younger new showmen to have role models and people to look up to. People that do things the RIGHT way. There is so much potential for the next generation that not a lot of people appreciate it. Which means we need to bring light to it.”

There are three main people behind the admissions for NFS. The president Colby Gomes, The Vice President Bailey Meadows, and the head of admissions, Heston Hohenberger. The thought process for admissions is almost identical for each person involved.

1. Who can help our program succeed?

2. Who would have our back in rooms we aren’t in?

3. Who will uphold our standard,be supportive, and help our members when needed?

“We are very very strict and limited as to who gets inducted, something we like to pride ourselves on.”

“Always stay true to yourself, your close friends, and your family. Remember, if you aren’t working, someone else is.”