the JOE show

Meet 21-year-old Mike McDonough from Oelwein, Iowa. Mike didn’t grow up on a farm or in a show barn, but today, he owns a 200-head show cattle operation. Mike’s journey is proof that hard work, integrity, and persistence can make anything possible and this story is sure to inspire anyone chasing their dreams. 

On this episode of The Joe Show, I sit down with two showman who just put together an unforgettable run at the San Antonio Stock Show. Jett James claimed Grand Champion Steer, while his friend, Lawson Hale, followed right behind with Reserve Grand Champion Steer. We talk about the road to San Antonio, their friendship along the way, and what it takes to compete and win at one of the biggest stages in the show cattle industry.

Sometimes the biggest wins take time. On today’s episode of The Joe Show, I sit down with Maci Lynn from Georgia, who recently captured a huge victory at the Georgia Junior National Livestock Show. For the Lynn family, the moment was more than just a banner, it was the payoff to a journey 15 years in the making.

When I made the sale at the Kansas City Royal this year, I got to watch Kelton Arthur, of Stillwater, Oklahoma, take his Grand Champion Steer through the ring. They read a little bio on each of us kids and I thought Kelton had a really neat story behind his steer, so I told my parents that I had to interview him. So today, we’re diving into Kelton’s journey in winning one of most prestigious shows in North America.

You might recognize my guest, Colt McComb, from your social media after his big win at the Indiana State Fair. We’ll talk about the story behind that unforgettable cowboy hat toss and the hard work that led up to it.

Talk about a summer to remember! I had the honor of having Chase Harker from Indiana on the show today. He’s a cattle kid that has been dominating on the circuit, racking up major wins at the Chi and Main Jr National Shows as well as the Simmental Junior Nationals. He also comes from a cool family with a long history in the cattle industry...  So here we go!

On this episode, I caught up with Brayden Lancaster of Kentucky. He’s already had an incredible summer winning big banners at the Exposition, Springfield and Louisville! We chat about his showing career and the pigs that helped him get there.

A lot of the kids that come on The Joe Show are your typical livestock kids...work hard, win some banners, and tell their individual story. But on this episode, we are joined by a typical livestock kid that has taken social media by storm! Karis Dadson from California has used showing livestock and social media to bring our “sport” into the mainstream through her famous stare. 

Meet Reagan and Rylan Miller, two accomplished sisters from Texas who have made waves this show season. From winning Grand and Reserve Champion Goat at the Texas State Fair to claiming Grand Champion Market Goat titles at both Rodeo Austin and the Arizona National, these girls have proven themselves as top-notch showmen. Don’t miss their story!

On today’s show, my guest knew she had something special when she came across Thunder. Madilyn Norvell from Oklahoma took home the Grand Champion steer title at the 2025 National Western Stock Show. Tune in to hear more about her big win in Denver, other accomplishments and what makes her stand out from the competition.

Meet Olivia Shike—a trailblazer in the hog community. Olivia has been making waves this year with her Chesters at three national shows and then winning the Illinois State Fair market barrow show. In addition to pigs, she also shows horses, she’s involved with Queen contests and livestock judging. 

Joining us is Sam Schmillen. Sam was Reserve Grand Champion Market Lamb at this year’s Iowa State Fair 4H Show; however, that was not his first time on the purple chips. In today’s conversation, we talk about the lamb industry, his career thus far and the stories and lessons that have shaped Sam's journey.

It's been quite a summer and it's time I fill you in. On this special edition podcast, the roles have been reversed and my mom, Katie, interviews me. I talk about my Reserve Grand Champion Market Hog at the Iowa State Fair, my Third Overall Market Hog at the Aksarben Stock Show and much more. This is one you won't want to miss! Let's go!