The Sort

A free parrot-mouth lamb helped set Tyler Grandil on the path from Arizona FFA leader to executive director of the Arizona National Livestock Show. In this episode of *The Sort*, host Dr. Brett Kaysen talks with Grandil about how that early break shaped his commitment to creating meaningful experiences for young exhibitors—and why he tells show staff, “We’re in the customer service business. It just happens to be a livestock show.” Grandil also discusses the challenge of running a major show on a state-owned fairground, building a career path through internships, and the judging habits that can damage a young judge’s reputation. Along the way, he makes a case for keeping work in perspective: the show matters, but family is the purpose.

Bullet Points

- Early experiences showing livestock and the mentors who helped shape a career

- A career in Arizona FFA and the transition to leading a major livestock show

- Work-life balance, personal priorities, and defining success

- The Arizona National Livestock Show’s history, growth, and national reach

- Creating a welcoming, exhibitor-focused experience for youth and families

- Show facilities, logistics, capacity, and plans for future development

- Leadership principles, continuous improvement, and learning from other events

- Career pathways into livestock show management through internships

- Professional standards for livestock judges, including fair conduct and sound judgment

- Personal growth, handling setbacks, and building a legacy through kindness and service

Timestamps

**Welcome and Tyler’s location (00:00:24)**

The host welcomes Tyler Grandil and asks where he is joining from.

**Growing up and discovering livestock showing (00:01:19)**

Tyler describes growing up in Mesa, following his brother into FFA and showing livestock.

**The parrot-mouthed lamb that changed Tyler’s path (00:02:27)**

A sheep breeder gives Tyler a lamb to show, creating a turning point in his livestock-showing experience.

**Youth development as the show’s purpose (00:04:36)**

Tyler explains how his own experience shapes his focus on making the show positive for young people.

**College, Arizona FFA, and career beginnings (00:05:43)**

Tyler recounts studying agribusiness, becoming Arizona FFA executive secretary, and later joining the Arizona National.

**Lessons from 15 years in FFA and work-life balance (00:06:48)**

Tyler reflects on serving students, avoiding overwork, and keeping family and personal values in perspective.

**Starting as Arizona National executive director (00:13:05)**

Tyler discusses taking the role, facing a steep learning curve, and relying on experienced staff.

**Supporting youth-focused programs (00:16:19)**

The host and Tyler discuss the Arizona National’s support for programs that develop young people.

**Arizona National’s history and evolution (00:17:16)**

Tyler traces the show’s history, growth into a junior market livestock event, and broad range of competitions.

**The show’s atmosphere and customer service (00:20:13)**

Tyler describes the relaxed exhibitor experience and the staff’s emphasis on welcoming service.

**Livestock numbers and facility challenges (00:24:40)**

Tyler shares show counts and discusses the downtown Phoenix fairgrounds, capacity, logistics, and facility limitations.

**Finding purpose in show management (00:28:08)**

Tyler talks about the challenges of the job, making improvements, and treating people with kindness.

**Process, competition, and perspective (00:31:21)**

The conversation explores continuous improvement, enjoying the journey, and keeping results in perspective.

**Pathways into stock-show careers (00:35:17)**

Tyler recommends internships, hands-on experience, and returning interns as ways to enter show management.

**Learning from other shows (00:37:52)**

Tyler explains how observing other events and borrowing effective ideas help improve the Arizona National.

**Vision for the Arizona National’s future (00:40:26)**

Tyler discusses expanding the visitor experience, financial resilience, international opportunities, and local engagement.

**What the show looks for in judges (00:42:49)**

Tyler emphasizes judging skill, youth-focused conduct, customer experience, and professional awareness of appearances.

**Helping first-time exhibitors (00:47:44)**

Tyler encourages newcomers to call the show for help and focus on having a good experience.

**Handling mistakes and difficult decisions (00:49:21)**

Tyler shares advice about learning from wrong turns, seeking guidance, and avoiding assumptions.

**Legacy, kindness, and work-life balance (00:51:39)**

Tyler describes the values he hopes to embody and how family priorities connect with professional life.

**Closing thanks and credits (00:54:52)**

The host thanks Tyler, recognizes his youth-focused work, and closes with podcast credits.

This episode features two interviews previously released on the podcast with students who took part in the Top Judge program. The interview with Savannah Page first released on June 1st, 2026 and the interview with Dillon Prokop first aired on July 20th, 2026.

Savannah Page, from Georgia, discusses her family's swine operation, her extensive experience with the National Junior Swine Association, and her aspirations in the swine industry. She highlights the invaluable life skills, mentorships, and connections gained through collegiate livestock judging.

Dillon Prokop, from Llano's Texas Hill Country, reflects on his unexpected shift from engineering to animal science and his plans to pursue a master's degree in meat science. He emphasizes the lasting value of relationships, mentorship, and embracing opportunities within the livestock judging community.

This episode is a re-release of episode #67 of The Sort podcast, originally released on February 16th, 2026.

In this episode, host Brett Kaysen interviews Jim McCoy, a respected leader in the swine industry known for his work with purebred and show hogs. Jim shares his journey from growing up on a commercial hog farm in Ohio to becoming a renowned judge and breeder, highlighting the mentors who guided him. He discusses overcoming challenges, the importance of perseverance, and his transition into consulting after selling his farm. Jim emphasizes the value of community, mentorship, and integrity in livestock shows, offering insights and encouragement for both industry veterans and newcomers.

Brady Jensen started his coaching job at South Dakota State with just four students—and no time to recruit. He built the program into a national contender, with teams reaching reserve national champion at Louisville, before leaving to return to his family’s Hereford and Angus operation in Kansas. In this conversation with Dr. Brett Kaysen, Jensen reflects on learning to judge by listening to visiting coaches at his family’s barn, coaching students who had barely judged before, and the advice he wishes he’d understood as a competitor: master the tools, then learn to control your mindset. He also shares how judging checks saved for his wife’s engagement ring—and what he hopes his legacy will be.

This episode is a re-release of episode #59 of The Sort podcast, originally released on December 22nd, 2025.

In this episode of The Sort podcast, host Brett Kaysen talks with Tom Farrer, a renowned livestock breeder and judge from Indiana. Tom shares insights from his multi-generational family operation, his experiences in 4-H, and his journey judging at major shows nationwide. He discusses the importance of independent thinking, adapting to industry changes, and maintaining high standards in both breeding and evaluation. Tom emphasizes the value of youth development, family legacy, and staying true to one’s ideals—offering practical advice and inspiration for current and aspiring livestock judges and industry professionals.

In this episode of The Sort, host Dr. Brett Kaysen interviews Dr. Jason Ross, Department Head of Animal Sciences at Iowa State University. Dr. Ross shares his journey from growing up on an Iowa farm to becoming a faculty member and department head at Iowa State, with stops at Oklahoma State and the University of Missouri. He discusses his passion for swine reproductive physiology, his strong support for livestock judging programs as high-impact practices that build critical thinking and leadership skills, and the launch of an exciting new degree program focused on precision technology, business, and data analytics within animal industries.

This episode features two interviews previously released on the podcast with students who took part in the Top Judge program. The interview with Hadley Broadwater first released on June 29th, 2026 and the interview with Skyler Ward first aired on May 4th, 2026.

In this episode of The Sort podcast, host Dr. Brett Kaysen interviews Hadley Broadwater and Skyler Ward.

Hadley, from Indiana, shares her journey from showing swine and sheep to pursuing a master's degree in reproductive physiology, crediting mentorship and Iowa State's supportive community. She also emphasizes hard work, mentorship, and the invaluable experiences gained through the Top Judge Program.

Skyler, from New Paris, Ohio, discusses her livestock judging family roots, her time at Kansas State University, and upcoming graduate work in pet food nutrition. She also shares memorable experiences from the Top Judge program and offer inspiring insights on perseverance, mentorship, and career growth.

In this episode of The Sort, host Dr. Brett Kaysen sits down with Steve Gabel, a Colorado-based cattle feeder, entrepreneur, and longtime livestock judging coach. Steve shares his journey from growing up on a farm in Fort Lupton to building Magnum Feed Yards into a 36,000-head operation. He reflects on his college judging career at CSU, his 21 years coaching Weld County's 4-H judging team to nine state titles, and his commitment to hosting teams at his feed yard. Steve also candidly discusses overcoming a serious injury in 1999 and the values of integrity, hard work, and giving back that have defined his career.

This episode features two interviews previously released on the podcast with students who took part in the Top Judge program. The interview with Jack Habjan first released on May 4th, 2026 and the interview with Mason Allan first aired on May 25th, 2026.

Jack Habjan, from Linwood, Kansas, shares his journey from sports announcing dreams to pursuing ruminant nutrition at Texas Tech, with plans for graduate studies at the University of Arkansas. He also shares memorable experiences from the Top Judge program and offers inspiring insights on perseverance, mentorship, and career growth.

Mason Allan, from Schulenburg, Texas, discusses his family's Hereford operation and plans for a master's degree at Texas Tech while assistant coaching the judging team. He also highlights the Top Judge program's value and encourage young 4-H and FFA members to embrace livestock judging's opportunities.

In this episode, host Dr. Brett Kaysen interviews Kayla Rathmann from Texas Tech University's Department of Animal and Food Sciences. Kayla shares her West Texas roots, her family's deep ties to agriculture and livestock judging, and her unexpected path into academic advising. She reflects on Texas Tech's remarkable growth from 368 to 1,500 students over 20 years, crediting strong leadership, faculty, and alumni support. Kayla discusses her mentorship philosophy, evolving student demographics, and the enduring value of judging programs. She also opens up about personal hardships that shaped her resilience and faith, offering heartfelt advice for students and parents navigating agricultural education and career decisions.