The Arizona National Livestock Show: A Cornerstone of Arizona’s Agricultural Heritage

In this week's North American Ag Spotlight podcast Chrissy Wozniak celebrates a milestone 200th episode by exploring a beloved agricultural tradition, the Arizona National Livestock Show. Joining her is Tyler Grandil, Executive Director of the show, who shares his journey from an FFA member with a passion for livestock to leading the largest livestock show in the Southwest.

Tyler provides insight into what makes the Arizona National unique—its focus on family, tradition, and innovation. He discusses how the event balances its deep roots in Arizona’s heritage with modern technology and outreach efforts, from Farming Simulator games to broader marketing strategies that connect agriculture with consumers. 

The conversation also highlights the challenges and opportunities facing the livestock industry, from ensuring an affordable food supply to addressing the disconnect between consumers and production agriculture. Tyler encourages young people to explore careers in agriculture through internships and emphasizes the importance of promoting agriculture’s positive impact on society.

For more information about the Arizona National Livestock Show, including event dates and schedules, visit aznational.org or follow them on social media. As always, subscribe to North American Ag Spotlight Podcast to stay informed about the latest in agriculture and share this episode to spread the word!

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Transcript

00:00:07:13 - 00:00:34:22
Chrissy Wozniak
Hi, and welcome to North American Spotlight. I'm Chrissy Wozniak. Today we're going to we're going to be talking about a cornerstone of Arizona's agriculture heritage, a beloved event that has been bringing families and exhibitors together since the late 1940s. This iconic livestock show isn't just about the animals, it's about preserving the Western way of life, fostering youth development, and showcasing the very best of agriculture in the southwest.

00:00:34:24 - 00:01:01:04
Chrissy Wozniak
From public speaking contests and junior livestock judging to farm experience and ranch rodeo, it's an event that seamlessly blends tradition and innovation at the helm of all of it all is a passionate leader who is not only dedicated to growing the show, but also to raising his own family in the Western lifestyle. Joining us today is Tyler Grandal, executive director of the Arizona National Livestock Show.

00:01:01:06 - 00:01:05:03
Chrissy Wozniak
Welcome, Tyler, and thank you so much for being here.

00:01:05:05 - 00:01:08:01
Tyler Grandil
Thank you for the opportunity. Appreciate it.

00:01:08:03 - 00:01:32:08
Chrissy Wozniak
And I also want to add that this is, today's a special episode for another reason. This, this episode marks the 200th podcast episode of North American Plate. So I just want to thank all the listeners, sponsors and partners that have made this possible. So thank you all. So, Tyler, let's start with, with your background, for those of you, those who don't know you.

00:01:32:10 - 00:01:56:05
Tyler Grandil
Sure. Yeah. I was raised in Mesa, Arizona. In Mill City. Really? Not with very much agriculture background. My older brother got involved in FFA and started showing livestock, and I was a shirttail little brother and always wanted to do what he did. And so that's really the beginning of it. And in doing so, I really found a passion for showing livestock and showed it for, for several years, as a youth.

00:01:56:07 - 00:02:16:15
Tyler Grandil
And then, moved on to some other, other aspects of my life, raised a family or is raised a family here in Gilbert. And, in 2016, this, this opportunity came open and I thought, oh, man, that's that sounds like a dream job to me. And it really has been it's been a wonderful opportunity for me to come back to livestock showing.

00:02:16:20 - 00:02:35:18
Tyler Grandil
I actually showed here as a youth, my, my first experience here was watching my brother in a calf scramble, and he had to, catch a range calf and then halter it and bring it back across the line. And in doing so, yeah, in doing so, he got to to have that calf and to raise it for the next year.

00:02:35:19 - 00:02:48:07
Tyler Grandil
So that was my first experience here. So I think it's kind of, it's fitting that I get to come back as an adult now and, continue that legacy of, of running the livestock show. So it's it's really a pleasure.

00:02:48:09 - 00:02:57:05
Chrissy Wozniak
Amazing. And so what makes the Arizona National Livestock Show unique compared to other livestock events across the country?

00:02:57:07 - 00:03:17:10
Tyler Grandil
Well, we we, we really pride ourselves on being exhibitor centric. We we put the exhibitor at the forefront of everything that we do and say. We want to make the exhibitor the hero in, so to speak. And so, you know, all of our efforts here during the show and in all of our marketing efforts, we really want to emphasize that that's what's most important to us.

00:03:17:16 - 00:03:42:08
Tyler Grandil
And we want them to feel that when they come here. And, even though the show is relatively a short show, we, we get the feedback from the exhibitors of how how much they feel that they enjoy being here. It is a relaxed atmosphere. They it's a very much a family, family oriented, which I think is what livestock shows in part are about, is about families raising families and and having that connection with other people.

00:03:42:09 - 00:03:46:22
Tyler Grandil
So we really are proud to be a part of that. With for them.

00:03:46:24 - 00:04:00:13
Chrissy Wozniak
Amazing. And so it must be different balancing, traditions and then also highlighting innovation, on a growing show every year. So how do you how do you maintain that balance?

00:04:00:15 - 00:04:19:18
Tyler Grandil
Very carefully. It's it's, it's difficult sometimes we, you know, especially with us, a lot of us being native Arizonans and this show having such a deep root in Arizona, we want to maintain not only the Arizona feel, but also be welcoming to the country and as well as, you know, traditional aspects of showing livestock and agriculture.

00:04:19:18 - 00:04:50:17
Tyler Grandil
But also, embracing the future. It is something that we, we put a lot of time and effort into. And I think it's always a balancing and rebalancing act to make sure that we don't lose those old ways. But we look forward to the new. So we've we've tried to embrace some, new technologies and new methods of, you know, evaluating, we brought some, some interaction to the show through, you know, video game Farming Simulator, that, that kind of thing of the video contest and try to embrace folks that are on social media a little bit more.

00:04:50:19 - 00:05:14:07
Tyler Grandil
So things like that. I, I think, hit a broader audience. But at the same time, we really want to, lean into some of the best traditions of evaluating livestock, which is really what we're about. We maintain a high level of integrity when it comes to the process that we do, that we that we employ here, because we, we think that that's the way that it should be done.

00:05:14:07 - 00:05:31:13
Tyler Grandil
We show a lot of respect for, the animals that are brought here and shown here. We understand that they have a purpose and a role in the food chain, but we take our our responsibility as stewards very seriously. So it, it definitely is a balancing act that we try, try to do carefully.

00:05:31:15 - 00:05:55:16
Chrissy Wozniak
Yeah. Yeah, I love that. It's so well put. I know in, you know, today's climate where, where people are so far removed from the farm, it's really important to maintain that that, you know, the, the food cycle. Right. And, and, and I'm sure it gets harder and harder every year. Do you have, issues at the show?

00:05:55:16 - 00:06:10:15
Chrissy Wozniak
I know a lot of shows have been very, on the offense in preparing youth, especially, you know, through for age on how to deal with animal activists, things like that. Have you had to address any of that or are you still safe out here in the West?

00:06:10:17 - 00:06:32:24
Tyler Grandil
I don't think anybody is safe when it comes to that. I think I think you always have to be, you have to be aware of of your surroundings. And really, a lot of this stems from people not understanding, obviously, you know, as we get farther removed as a society from production, agriculture, people, that that understanding of how things are done leaves us or leaves in society.

00:06:32:24 - 00:06:56:04
Tyler Grandil
So our, our responsibility is always there. I don't ever want to feel safe. Fortunately, you're not going where we've not had any incidents here. But to answer your question, we take education about agriculture very seriously. We, we have a responsibility here at this show to make sure that we are employing versions of education throughout everything that we do, not just putting on a livestock show.

00:06:56:04 - 00:07:28:19
Tyler Grandil
And so we definitely do that. And so in doing that and having those conversations, I think we're, we're playing a part in helping our exhibitors be better prepared to communicate what it is that we do. And really, I'm more of a fan of marketing than than I am education, even though we use those interchangeably. Sometimes I think that that agriculture is not unlike any other, industry, and that we need to be good at marketing what we do and, and, why we do it and why it's ultimately good for consumers, which is really what marketing is.

00:07:28:19 - 00:07:51:15
Tyler Grandil
It's selling advertising that, that type of thing. And when we approach it with that mindset, I think it changes the way we do things and we are less intrinsic and focused just about us and the blue ribbon or whatever. But we're more about, hey, we're a part of a bigger system here of production, agriculture, and we need to treat it that way in everything that we do.

00:07:51:17 - 00:08:06:19
Chrissy Wozniak
Great points. Yeah, yeah, I couldn't agree with you more. So the the Arizona National Livestock Show has awarded over 1.2 million in scholarships. So why is supporting education and youth so important to this organization?

00:08:06:21 - 00:08:28:17
Tyler Grandil
Well, I think it's a natural outgrowth of what we do. We are all about exhibitors. We're all about youth here. And obviously our primary purpose is to put on a high quality livestock show and a good experience for families. But I think we'd be remiss if we weren't looking into the future. And so we we've developed a scholarship program about 35 years ago, and we're really proud of that.

00:08:28:23 - 00:08:50:09
Tyler Grandil
We, we give healthy scholarships to, to students that are going on to college. And we've just we've been amazed at the feedback we get from these students and really heartfelt comments back that I wouldn't have been able to go to college without this money. Those types of comments coming back really reinforce the effort and the mission of the scholarship program.

00:08:50:11 - 00:09:10:00
Tyler Grandil
And, I'm really proud to say that our money, the scholarship money, has made its way to the 35 different states, universities and 35 different states across the country. And so we're not just supporting Arizona youth, even though, you know, as a native Arizona and I have a hard time, you know, getting away from that. But but we, we support youth from all over the country.

00:09:10:00 - 00:09:13:00
Tyler Grandil
And so we're really proud of that.

00:09:13:02 - 00:09:24:03
Chrissy Wozniak
Yeah, I love that. And, at the end of the day, the show's over. What do you hope that young exhibitors take away from participating in the show?

00:09:24:05 - 00:09:46:05
Tyler Grandil
Well, I think at the heart of what we're doing is helping families to raise their children. And so what I'm hoping the young people walk away with is a sense of accomplishment, a sense of pride in what they're doing. My hope is that they have an intrinsic confidence in what they do. So certainly we we give buckles and banners and that kind of stuff, the physical, tangible thing.

00:09:46:11 - 00:10:07:03
Tyler Grandil
But I think much more important than that is the self-satisfaction that I did a good job and that because that's the that's what's going to carry with you into into your future life, you're not always going to be able to get the buckle, the band, or even the pat on the back. Sometimes you have to have that reassurance and that confidence developed inside of you from the job that you did.

00:10:07:03 - 00:10:14:17
Tyler Grandil
So that self-evaluation, if we can get that done in the minds of these young people, then I think it's been a good day.

00:10:14:19 - 00:10:38:13
Chrissy Wozniak
Yeah. That's excellent. Excellent mission. And what what would you say to youth who are thinking about going into the industry? And, you know, a job like you have isn't something a guidance counselor would say, right. The same with job I have would never, you know, would never pinhole this, this career. But that's the great thing about agriculture.

00:10:38:13 - 00:10:52:04
Chrissy Wozniak
There's so many areas you can go into. So what would you say to youth that are that, you know, see, you and go, wow, that's what I want to do. I want to help kids. I want to run this national artist, national show. What would you say to them?

00:10:52:06 - 00:11:11:17
Tyler Grandil
Well, I think the first thing I would look, I would encourage them to do is look for opportunities to intern at, at different shows. I know there are a lot of different shows that do that. We do that here. We'll have over 50 different interns on on site, and those are different colleges across the country to help us with our media, to help us run the shows, to help us with our animal welfare.

00:11:11:19 - 00:11:28:15
Tyler Grandil
And what we're providing for those students is the opportunity to get a taste of it. And a little bit of an experience of what the livestock show is about. On the administrative side, or on the marketing side or, or what have you. And so when, when they get that, then they can figure out if that's something that they really want to do.

00:11:28:15 - 00:11:41:01
Tyler Grandil
And I think that's really what internships are all about. So someone who thinks that they know want to go into this industry because they've shown livestock, I think the next step would be to help put one on in an intern capacity.

00:11:41:03 - 00:11:46:21
Chrissy Wozniak
Great advice. And so, what are the dates of the show?

00:11:46:23 - 00:12:09:06
Tyler Grandil
So we we start the show on the 27th. And we started with our, our stock dog trial. So we'll have cattle dogs and sheep dogs going on the 2728. That's also the same day they will move in for the main part of the livestock show. So, they'll be moving in at the same time. We start our actual livestock shows on the 29th and run through the 31st, and then we're done.

00:12:09:09 - 00:12:11:12
Tyler Grandil
We're out of here. Very quick turnaround.

00:12:11:14 - 00:12:26:12
Chrissy Wozniak
Wow. Wow. Amazing. And that's that's got to be, a great place when you're off with your kids between the holidays. Is that generally what people look forward to? Is that an Arizona thing? Like, we got to go to the fair in between.

00:12:26:14 - 00:12:46:22
Tyler Grandil
It is. It is. It's amazing. We, especially when we have states come in from all the way across the from the East Coast this year, we'll have, some exhibitors coming from Florida. So, you know, they have to leave many times, if not Christmas night, you know, definitely the next day. But we hear repeatedly from folks that say, you know, that this is just what we do.

00:12:46:24 - 00:13:10:03
Tyler Grandil
Christmas is Arizona national, and I love that. I love hearing that and I love that that's a part of their their traditions. And a lot of these folks obviously are coming from colder weather. And, I think we're looking forward to some really nice weather for our show. And, that's really unique for them as well. Being able to show cattle outside in the winter is something that you don't hear about from someone who's in Oklahoma or Iowa.

00:13:10:05 - 00:13:18:13
Tyler Grandil
So, those, those traditions that they're building with us, again, just goes back to the family aspect, the family nature of what we're doing here.

00:13:18:15 - 00:13:42:12
Chrissy Wozniak
Right? Yeah. Yeah. That's great. And I can speak to that. I'm currently I'm in Yuma, Arizona this week, working with some, some farmers and on some content building, with, with the company I work with and, the weather has just been so amazing. The most beautiful sunsets, the most beautiful days. And I spent last week in Michigan.

00:13:42:12 - 00:13:52:22
Chrissy Wozniak
So it's a big difference. Yeah, big, big difference. So, yeah, I can see, you know, you could probably harvest some more exhibitors from the North just so they can get out.

00:13:52:24 - 00:13:55:14
Tyler Grandil
We'll take them. We'll take. Yeah.

00:13:55:16 - 00:14:09:07
Chrissy Wozniak
Because so on, you know, a broader topic of agriculture. What do you see as kind of the biggest opportunities and challenges facing the livestock industry today?

00:14:09:09 - 00:14:28:18
Tyler Grandil
Well, I think I think when you think of it from a production aspect, affordability, it's got to be at the top there, you know, making sure that we, we are able to produce a food supply that's ultimately affordable for, for the consumer, which is obviously, it's big on everyone's minds right now. So that that's a role that we played.

00:14:28:20 - 00:14:50:18
Tyler Grandil
It's difficult for agriculture because they tend to be price takers, not price makers. And so that but but still, efficiencies can can factor into that. And if they if that can then they can stay in business longer and and ultimately help help create that create the atmosphere. I think we have a responsibility to produce, a safe and affordable food to, to the American public.

00:14:50:18 - 00:15:17:16
Tyler Grandil
So I think that's our first responsibility there. And I think beyond that, making sure that, that we're continuing the, the, the, the base of agriculture in, in America and make sure that we have, folks that are continuing to go back into the industry. We have an aging, population when it comes to agriculture. And so making sure that young people look at that as a future career, I think, is another, responsibility, a challenge for us.

00:15:17:18 - 00:15:24:11
Chrissy Wozniak
Great. And what would be your advice to the American producer through through, 2025 and beyond?

00:15:24:13 - 00:15:42:20
Tyler Grandil
I don't know that I'm qualified to give that advice, but I would like to thank number one. I sincerely would like to thank producers that were for what they do. I know that they are involved in an industry that can be very volatile at times when it comes to prices and, and, and they have really good years and really, really bad years.

00:15:42:20 - 00:15:54:01
Tyler Grandil
And so I can only imagine what it's like to be in that world. And, I don't know that I have advice other than than to just, you know, keep keep it, keep to it, stick with it. Because we need you.

00:15:54:03 - 00:16:00:09
Chrissy Wozniak
Yeah, yeah. For sure. And, so where can people find out more information about the show?

00:16:00:11 - 00:16:17:12
Tyler Grandil
So our website, is A-Z National dawg and, our schedules on there and more information about what we do. We're also active on social many years on National Livestock Show. And, of course, you can always call us. We get tons of calls this time of year. Happy to fill those calls as well.

00:16:17:14 - 00:16:33:13
Chrissy Wozniak
Awesome. And I one last question for you. Sure. In your, in your role in your life, what is the thing you're most passionate about in this? And so, you know what? What keeps you going and what, what wakes you up in the morning with joy?

00:16:33:15 - 00:16:55:20
Tyler Grandil
Well, what the the thing I'm most passionate about. My family and and raising kids and being a good husband and and trying to be there for them. I love my job. I love what I do, it's very exciting, engaging. But at the end of the day, I do it for the sole purpose of providing for them and and being being good for them so that that's what really wakes me up in the morning.

00:16:55:20 - 00:17:01:10
Tyler Grandil
I want to be good at what I do so that I can be good for them.

00:17:01:12 - 00:17:13:24
Chrissy Wozniak
And that's wonderful. Awesome. Well, thank you so much, Tyler, for joining me today. Great to to learn, learn a little bit about this, this fair and I hope you have a great year.

00:17:14:01 - 00:17:16:06
Tyler Grandil
Thank you very much. Appreciate it.

00:17:16:08 - 00:17:34:20
Chrissy Wozniak
And thanks to all who are watching or listening. If you want to learn more, the links are provided in the show notes. Don't forget to subscribe to North American Tech Spotlight on Spotify, Apple, and Amazon Music Notes. If you prefer video, you can find us on Rumble or Telegram channels or wherever you listen to podcasts. And if you like the episode, I would love it if you shared it and have a great day!