Nalaney Guyer: Making A Change 

Nalaney Guyer, is from Robinson, Illinois. She recently wrapped up her collegiate career at western Illinois University. Nalaney has been involved in the industry from the beginning. She has learned the importance of going to the barn every day and working hard. Nalaney hopes to continue to work with young showmen across the country. 

“My name is Nalaney Guyer, and I am from Robinson, Illinois. At 22 years old, I graduated from Lake Land College in 2024 and recently earned my bachelor’s degree in Ag Business from Western Illinois University in May 2026.”

Nalaney’s journey in the industry started as early as she can remember.”Growing up in a family involved in livestock, the show barn quickly became my second home.” 

Nalaney’s passion for showing livestock started at a very young age. She was raised in the industry from the start. “My mom and dad went from calving cows and raising calves to now trading, so I grew up in the barn, at livestock shows, and now helping our customers. Some of my earliest memories are spending time with my family at shows and watching the hard work that went into raising quality livestock.”

“I quickly learned that showing livestock is about much more than competition. It teaches responsibility, work ethic, dedication, and perseverance. The countless hours spent feeding, caring for, and working with my animals have helped shape me into the person I am today.”

Nalaney started with a hog at four years old with the help of Chad Day. Who helped Nalaney and her family dive Into the show pig industry. “He helped us get our very first Yorkshire gilt, which sparked my family’s passion for showing pigs and opened the door to countless opportunities and memories in the show ring”

Nalaney began showing cattle at six which became one of her life long passions. “Showing cattle has always been a part of my life. My dad has spent his entire life successfully trading cattle, so being around cattle and learning from him came naturally. Whether it was in the barn, at a sale, or in the show ring, livestock was always a part of my family’s everyday life.”

While pigs and cattle have always been Nalaney and her sister (Ashtins) main focus. They tampered in the sheep industry for five years. “That experience helped us grow as exhibitors and gave us an even greater appreciation for the livestock industry as a whole.”

“The lessons, friendships, work ethic, and memories I’ve gained along the way are things I’ll carry with me forever. Showing has been a part of my life from day one, and honestly, I wouldn’t want it any other way.”

Nalaney has always loved all the people and the opportunities the industry provides. The livestock community feels like family to Nalaney. “I’ve been fortunate to build lifelong friendships while learning from some incredible mentors.”

Showing livestock has given Nalaney valuable life skills and experiences that extend far beyond the show ring. “The industry continues to fuel my passion for the agricultural industry every day.”

For Nalaney the barn has been so much more than a place. “It has been where our family has lived some of its very best moments. I think about the early mornings before the sun came up, the radio blaring while we fed calves. I think about the late nights when we were exhausted but still had cattle to turn out, finding ourselves laughing over the smallest things. I think about loading up before daylight for long road trips, spending hours in the truck telling stories, singing along to songs, and making memories that had nothing to do with a stock show. Every corner of the barn holds a story of hard work, laughter, celebrations, lessons learned, and time spent side by side as a family and with friends who became family. “

“Looking back, I wish more people could see everything that happens behind the scenes to make showing livestock possible.”

The people see the show ring, the banners, and the accomplishments, they don’t always see the early mornings, late nights, long drives, countless hours in the barn, and the sacrifices made at home long before a show ever begins. “One of the biggest blessings throughout my show journey has been the incredible support system behind me.”

Nalaney and her sister were fortunate to have two parents who not only invested their time, energy, and resources. But they poured their heart into the animals whether it was feeding before school, helping Nalaney prepare for shows, traveling across the country, or simply encouraging us when things didn’t go our way, they were always there. “I also wish people could see the amount of faith that carried us through the years.There were plenty of challenges, disappointments, and moments when things didn’t go according to plan, but through it all, there were countless prayers. Those prayers gave us strength, perspective, and reminded us that our worth was never defined by a placing or a banner.”

The little things are what truly made Nalaney’s show career special. “The family dinners in the barn, the laughter during late-night show preparations, the friendships built along the way, and the unwavering support from family, mentors, and friends. The success people saw in the ring was really the result of an entire team standing behind my sister and me every step of the way. For that, I will always be grateful.”

The moment that will always stay with Nalaney was in 2022 at the Illinois State Fair Sale of Champions. “That year was already incredibly special for my sister and I- we had won the steer show, the gilt show, and exhibited the Champion Land of Lincoln Lamb. It was one of those years that every showman dreams about.”

 Earlier that year, Nalaney’s granddad had been diagnosed with cancer. “We had been told that he likely wouldn’t be able to make it to the State Fair, and it would have been the first Illinois State Fair he had missed since Ashtin and I started showing livestock.”

The Sale of Champions rolled around, and the celebrations made for an unforgettable week. Then, in a moment Nalaney will never forget, her granddad surprised them all by showing up. “Seeing him there meant more than any banner, buckle, ever could. After all the uncertainty, having him standing there with us to share that moment was something truly special. The banners and awards from that year are memories I’ll always cherish, but what I remember most is having my granddad there to watch us sell our market animals at what ended up being his last ever state fair. It was a reminder that the people who support you, pray for you, and believe in you are what make this journey so meaningful.”

 In July, Nalaneys’s  biggest and most important role will come. “By becoming an aunt! My first nephew is due to arrive, and I couldn’t be more excited. While I have a lot of goals and ambitions, I’m looking forward to slowing down enough to soak in those special moments, spoil him a little, and be the best aunt I can possibly be. I have a feeling this new chapter is going to be one of the most rewarding and meaningful adventures yet.”

Nalaney hopes to give back to the industry, the family, and the younger generation of showmen who have become a part of her life. Now that Nalaney has ended her show career she knows that the moments in the ring are no longer hers. But she has found that it is even more special being ringside and watching young kids get to have special moments that will change their lives.

“We are fortunate to work with so many families through our livestock operation, and they are so much more than customers to us they are family. I no longer get to experience those special moments in the ring firsthand. Instead, I get to live them through the kids and families we work with. Watching them achieve their goals, celebrate their successes, and make memories of their own is incredibly rewarding, and it’s what keeps me passionate about this industry”

 “I hope to be a positive role model for the younger generation. The livestock industry has taught me the value of hard work, responsibility, sportsmanship, and faith, and I hope to help pass those lessons on. If I can encourage young exhibitors to work hard, believe in themselves, and enjoy the journey along the way, then I will feel like I’ve made a meaningful impact.”

Nalaney plans on working on continuing to grow both personally and professionally while staying involved in the industry that has been such a big part of her life. She wants to keep building relationships, helping livestock families succeed, and supporting the next generation of exhibitors as they chase their own goals and dreams.

“More than anything, I want to enjoy the journey. Life moves fast, and I’m learning to appreciate the little moments along the way. This summer, that means taking on one of the roles I’m most excited about becoming an aunt and I already know he’s going to change my world in the best way possible.”

Nalaney hopes to have a positive impact, surround herself with good people, and create a life filled with faith, family, and purpose. “If I can do that while giving back to what has given me so much, I’ll be exactly where I want to be.”

“Whether you’re just getting started or nearing the end of their show career, be sure to enjoy every moment. I know firsthand that there were times when I thought my parents were being too hard on me. There were early mornings, late nights, long drives, and plenty of tough conversations that I didn’t always appreciate at the moment. Now that my show career is over, I realize how much they sacrificed and how much they believed in me. Every lesson they taught me, every expectation they had, and every push they gave me was all for my own good. If it wasn’t for my parents, I wouldn’t have had the opportunities, memories, or success that came from showing livestock. I also know that none of it would have been possible without God’s guidance and the faith that carried my family through both the highs and lows along the way.”