12/18/2025
One of our 4-Hers is being recognized for her hard work in and out of the show ring. Check it out!
Olivia Vorpagel knows that when we step into the show ring, everyone is chasing a different goal. For her, motivation comes from trusting God’s timing and His bigger plan, and from never losing sight of her “why.”
"Both of my parents were active in 4-H and FFA, met in college, later got married, and started Diamond V Genetics. I always tell people that I spent more time in the barn growing up than I actually did in the house. It’s our family backbone and something we live by. I have three younger siblings, Caden, Natalie and Everly, and none of us play sports; we say that showing pigs is our sport. It consumes a lot of our time, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. When I was four years old, my first show was at the World Pork Expo in Des Moines. You could say I jumped right in headfirst, and I was absolutely hooked..."
Showmanship has always been Olivia's favorite part of showing. It’s something that is special to her and her family.
"...In the summer of 2017, I learned my biggest lesson. I set the goal of making the Top 10 Showman at the World Pork Expo...We arrived at the Expo with a gilt that I was sure was the perfect teammate. And we made it to callbacks. I made it to the semifinals. Everything felt like it was lining up exactly the way I had dreamed it would. And then, I didn’t make the Top 10. I still remember sitting ringside, watching the Top 10 Showmen line up and then narrow down to the Top 5, wishing with everything in me that I could be out there. As discouraged as I was at that moment, I took every bit of it and turned it into determination and motivation. It is a hard feeling at the moment, there’s no way around that. When you put everything you have into something, watching that moment slip by stings. But throughout my years in the ring I’ve learned that feeling that disappointment isn’t a sign of failure; it’s a sign that I truly cared. And what really mattered was how I chose to respond to it. What mattered most was what I did with that feeling. Instead of letting it discourage me, I turned it into fuel..."
That was when it clicked for Olivia, and she took her goal setting to a whole new level.
"...When we go to shows, everybody has a different goal. It could be getting a ribbon in the class or trying to win the breed. The more you want something, the more you have to invest. You’re not going to win every show, and that’s okay. The key is to turn setbacks around and use them as motivation. For a long time, one of my biggest goals was the American Royal. I remember leaving there in past years feeling discouraged, not because I didn’t do well, but because I was so close to what I had worked for and still hadn’t exactly reached it. At the time, it felt like falling just short. Now, looking back, I realize those moments weren’t failures; they were foundations. For the 2025 season, my last show of the year was the American Royal, where I was named Supreme Champion Swine Showman. That spring, I had started at the Spring American Royal as Supreme Swine Showman as well. I never could have written a story like that myself. That’s something only God could have pieced together. It didn’t mean I won every show in between. What it did mean was that starting and ending the season on such a high note proved just how far hard work, faith, and persistence can carry you. The biggest lesson of all is that success doesn’t always show up on your timeline, and that’s what makes those wins even sweeter when they finally come..."
Being the oldest, Olivia has always naturally fallen into the role of mentoring her younger siblings. It’s something that has been in her for as long as she can remember and something she genuinely loves doing.
"...For my younger siblings and the kids watching me, my parents always reminded me that someone is always watching, someone who looks up to you and wants to be just like you. You owe it to them and to your younger self to give everything you’ve got. When you realize younger kids, including your own siblings, are watching your every move, it makes you more aware of the example you’re setting. It’s not about being perfect; it’s about being intentional. I think a lot about the showmen I looked up to when I was little (and still do) and how their work ethic, attitude, and confidence shaped the way I wanted to carry myself...It takes reflection, but it’s also motivating. Knowing that someone out there wants to walk like you, work like you, or handle their animal the way you do pushes you to hold yourself to a higher standard. It reminds you that giving your best isn’t just for you — it’s for the younger version of yourself and for the kids who believe they can do it because they’ve seen you do it. I know my six-year-old self would be proud of where I am today, seeing how much I’ve grown and how I’ve used my dedication for a greater good..."
Everything in Olivia's life comes back to one quote she tries to live by: no matter what happens, always stay humble and kind.
"...Whether that is in the show industry or not, you never know what somebody is truly going through. I always strive to be that kind and humble person. Whether you win or lose, there is always someone watching and seeing how you walk out of the ring. There are times when I’m defeated and miss my goal by a single place, but the real win you take home is how you act and carry yourself through it. The Bible verse Proverbs 16:3, “Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established,” is something I keep close to my heart. It reminds me to keep my head down and keep working. My plate is full, and each day brings something new to take on, but resilience is everything. Life throws trials and tribulations at you, and you learn to push through them. In our industry, people see the moments in the show ring, but the real challenges—the ones that shape you—happen quietly in the barn when no one is watching..."
Olivia knows that doing the hard things with integrity, whether in the barn when no one is watching or in the spotlight in the ring, sets the stage for everything you hope to achieve.
"...This industry is one of the best ways to gain insights that guide your life. Everything you take from it is valuable, whether you stay in the industry or not, including the responsibility, patience, dedication, and the habit of pouring your heart into something. Find a mentor, someone to look up to, and let them guide you through life, showmanship, or any challenge you face. You will be competitors in the ring, but outside of it, you are always supporting one another. Soak it all in, enjoy it, and never take it for granted. I’m not even done showing yet, and I already miss it. Those moments when you feel like you are at your lowest, or when a loss stings the most, often become the building blocks of your victories. In livestock showing, everyone puts so much time, emotion, and effort into what they do. We care deeply about our animals, our craft, and the goals we set. So when a moment we worked for doesn’t go exactly our way, it’s completely natural to feel that sting. What I believe makes our industry unique, though, is that most of us turn that feeling into motivation. Nearly every showman I look up to has a story about a moment that didn’t go their way but pushed them to get better. It’s part of what makes showmanship so competitive, but also so rewarding. It teaches grit, resilience, and how to come back stronger. It’s part of what makes us who we are as showmen..."
This is just a preview of turning setbacks into lessons and how perseverance and faith can shape your victories. https://stockshowtrendsetters.myshopify.
