Hi there, my name is Jami Hoblyn. I am 19 years old, and currently a freshman at Kansas State University studying Animal Science. My family resides in York, Nebraska where we own and operate Hoblyn Farms, our cow/calf operation and my father’s Pi- oneer seed business, and Twin Creek Ag, our crop protection and custom application business. Alongside that, my brother, Jesse, and his new bride, Claire, run Jesse Hoblyn Livestock, where Jesse specializes in raising and selling competitive show cattle and pigs to exhibitors across the country. My family has given me the opportu- nity to competitively show cattle and pigs all over the U.S. for the past 12 years. At this year's Nebraska State Fair, I had the honor of exhibiting Supreme Champion 4-H Breeding Heifer, Grand Champion 4-H Market Beef, and Reserve Champion 4-H Market Lamb. We have had special state fairs in the past, but nothing compared to this one. My family has been showing at the Nebraska State Fair for over 20 years, and with it being my last year of eligibility in 4-H, it meant it was the last time our family would walk onto the fairgrounds as a 4-H family. My siblings and I have been blessed with incredible 4-H careers, having numerous champions within multiple species. At the beginning of the year,
knowing it was my last 4-H show, my family and I made the commitment to go out with a “bang”, and I feel that we did just that. Jesse and I lived in the barn this spring and summer, and I know this weekend would have not been possible without him. I’ll be the first to tell you that it was not easy, but it was beyond worth it. Jesse has been my greatest influence and the person I look up to the most for as long as I can remember. He inspires me to work harder and to be better in all aspects of life, and I am incredibly thankful that I have been blessed with a brother like him. Each one of these animals has a spe- cial back story to them, which makes their success even sweeter. My heifer, STCC TFG Jasmine 010J, was raised by my brother’s new wife and her fam- ily, the Trennepohls. It is an incredible feeling to share a win like this with people who have become family to us. The stars aligned, and my steer, Repo, found a home in our barn by chance with the help of Blaine Rodgers and Quentin Smola, or as most know him, Q-Dog. And my lamb, Simba, found his way to us by Jesse’s best man and friend, Colin Gump. If you know my family, you know we are not sheep people. This has been a new venture for us the past two years, and we could not have been able to accomplish this win without some tremendous help
from great friends. It is no secret that it takes hard work and a lot of sacrifices to be successful in this industry. Behind that hard work is a village of people that are able to make it happen. I have been blessed with the most incredible support sys- tem over my 4-H career. From my first state fair to my last, they have been my biggest cheerleaders, and I can not say thank you enough to the people behind the scenes who have allowed me to have tremendous success in and out of the showring. To my amazing parents, Larry and Rita, my broth- er, Jesse, and his wife, Claire, Alex Kimmerling, and my entire crew - I am so thankful God blessed me with a group of people who are willing to put in the blood, sweat, and tears, and are able to withstand the early mornings, late nights, and the occasional fight, in order to let me pursue my goals and passions in the showring. With them, a little luck, and some help from the good Lord, we were able to make this state fair more special than I could have ever imagined. Weekends like this remind me why we do what we do, and that this is the most incredible industry in the world. I am so grateful for every opportunity this industry has given me, and the friendships and memories it has allowed me to make. Those mean more to me than any banner I will ever hang. •
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