Despite their prodigious success at livestock shows, county and state fairs and other competitions, neither Brody nor Kyser Nemecek have stopped to tally up the hardware.
Neither has much of an idea of how many ribbons, buckles or banners they’ve earned through the years.
Still, there are occasions when it’s time to take note.
Such was the case earlier this month for the sons of Jeff and Carla Nemecek at the National Junior Swine Association’s National Junior Summer Spectacular in Louisville, Ky.
Kyser, 16, was crowned the Premier Berkshire Breeder at the event, beating out competitors from across the country.
Kyser, 21, is largely done with such competitions, although he’s about to enter his senior year at Kansas State University, where he’s on the school’s national champion livestock judging team. He’s also president of the NJSA’s Board of Directors, overseeing the 13,000-member organization — the largest youth livestock association in the country — and was recognized for his efforts in that capacity for the past year.
But the crowning glory for both came later on in the event, when the Nemeceks were both tapped as NJSA Herdsmen of the Year, an honor that typically goes to single members.
“To have brothers be named together was pretty awesome,” Kyser admitted afterward.
Carla Nemecek, their mother, had heard in advance about the special honor her sons were about to receive.
Her biggest task at hand was ensuring Kyser — who had already completed his competition — was somewhat presentable for when the award was announced.
“We joked around, that we needed to make sure he didn’t look like he was cleaning pigs, that he was actually ready for the award,” Carla said.
“”Why do I have to take off my ball cap?” Kyser asked beforehand.
“I said, ‘Just do your hair,’” Carla replied. “I had to convince him without telling him.”
BECAUSE of their five-year age gap, Brody and Kyser have rarely competed against each other, “although we just finished a golf match,” Kyser said last week, without identifying who won.
Truth be told, Brody preferred that.
“It always felt like we were showing with each other but rarely against each other,” Brody said. “He’d help me or I’d help him whenever we could. And now that I’m done showing, it’s about us working together for Kyser to have as much success as he can.”
Kyser, who is about to enter his junior year at Iola High School, is putting the final touches on his entries for the Allen County Fair, which runs next week at Iola’s Riverside Park.
