11/21/2025
From his first pigs to his final backdrop, Will Hagen’s show career has been built on hard work, heart, and a whole lot of consistency. 💪
When asked about his favorite win, Will didn’t hesitate:
“My reserve grand champion gilt at the American Royal. While the scale of the win makes it stand out, the reason it’s my favorite is because the mom of that gilt was one my sister showed that won the Royal in 2023.”
The animal that left the biggest impact?
“A barrow that was third overall at Arizona National. He was the craziest animal I’d ever worked with — and there were many times I thought it’d be impossible to even get him trained, let alone win with him. But months of trying, failing, and staying consistent finally paid off. That one barrow taught me more about patience and consistency than anything ever has.”
Will has been feeding Rival Feeds and Rule Supplements for years, and says it’s the results that made him a believer.
“Every time we’ve needed a product to take our pigs to the next level, Rule and Rival have done exactly what we needed to get them to the backdrop.”
As his time in the ring wraps up, Will says this isn’t the end, it’s the start of something new.
“I hope to stay involved in the industry by using what I’ve learned to raise my own showpigs. This is my passion, and I want to be connected to it for the rest of my life.”
And when asked what success means to him now?
“Success isn’t just about winning, it’s about how you win. I’ve realized that winning doesn’t matter if you don’t do it the right way. That’s what matters most.”
👉 Will has a final push coming for 2025-2026 to finish off an amazing career! Thank you for showing what it means to do things the right way, every time.
