“My name is Will Hagen, I’m 18 years old from Templeton, California and I’ll be a freshman at Oklahoma State University this fall.”

Two weeks before Wills first show his pig got hurt and couldn’t walk. Luckily someone let him show one of their pigs which meant a lot to will. That experience showed him the type of industry he was a part of.

“This showed me the difficulties of showing pigs but it also showed me the kind of community I was a part of-making it a perfect first show experience.”

Will’s biggest challenge hasn’t been anything physical but mental. 

“My biggest challenge has been constantly pushing myself to be better and do greater things. It’s an everyday activity of making sure I’m better than the day before.”

For Will like many others when he first started showing his definition of success was how much he had won. But, he soon realized that success isn’t just marked by how many banners you have but about the legacy you leave.

“Now success is about creating a legacy that is less about what I won, but how I did it and the impact it has on others”

Success in any industry takes time and energy. For Will chasing success has made him give up many things but the main one was giving up his Peace Of Mind.

“Even when I’m not spending time with my animals I’m constantly thinking about how they are doing, if I’m doing my best with them, or if I should drop what I’m doing at any moment and work harder. But this has resulted in major success in the show ring because of the drive it has instilled in me.”

Will has been guided by a set of values that have guided him. Integrity and Discipline has led him throughout his whole journey.

“These values ensure I’m always working my absolute hardest and not cutting any corners. This allows me to represent my best self  in the industry.”

Will wants to leave a legacy like many others. But not through his wins but through his everything he did to get there.

“I want them to remember the discipline, dedication, and grit it took to be successful. Those qualities are more important than winning. When I was younger I played baseball. The sport taught me how to use discipline, dedication, and grit. But, what enabled me to put those qualities into the pigs was my first time showing at the world pork expo in 2023. It was there I discovered my passion for show pigs which is what helped me put my dedication into livestock.”

Will is looking forward to his last few months of showing.

“I’m extremely motivated to make sure I don’t leave anything on the table. I don’t want to leave my last show wishing I worked harder or having any regrets about my show career.”

Will couldn’t give credit to any one person for his success. He has been supported by a team of people since the very beginning.

“I couldn’t have done it without all of them. If I had a piece of advice for a young showman I would tell them to never give up. I’ve lost countless times but never let it hold me back, I use it to motivate myself to become better. 

“The only way you can truly lose is if you quit.”