Adam Mendonza's journey in livestock showing began at the age of 9 when he started showing pigs at his local county fair. It didn’t take long before he caught the "bug" for livestock showing and judging, a passion that has lasted for decades and sparked his involvement in multiple sectors of the pork industry, including his work with the California Pork Producers Association.
A Modesto, California, native, Mendonza competed in livestock judging throughout the western U.S. during high school and continued to hone his skills at Modesto Junior College and Chico State University.
After college, he entered the feed industry, working at a feed mill in Northern California, before eventually returning to Modesto. Today, Mendonza serves as the Regional Accounts Manager at Farmers Warehouse and co-owns No Limit Genetics with his father and brother. The family business operates 100 sows, including 90 crossbred and 10 purebred Yorkshires, selling thousands of pigs annually.
For Mendonza and his family, showing and judging livestock is a shared passion. He, his wife Rebecca, and their children Carson, Alex, and Georgia regularly attend and participate in livestock shows across California and the western U.S. Rebecca, an environmental science instructor at Modesto Junior College, collaborates with Adam to organize two major events each year: the Cow Palace Grand National Livestock Judging Contest and the Arizona National Livestock Judging Contest.
“We support youth judging opportunities whenever possible because of the tremendous value they bring to both young people and the industry,” Adam said.
Mendonza has also been deeply involved with the California Pork Producers Association (CPPA), joining its board in 2023 and currently serving as Secretary/Treasurer.
“I’m truly excited about the direction that the CPPA is heading,” he said. “Everyone involved has a passion for this industry and is committed to the organization’s success. Our focus is on growing membership and providing as much value as possible to our members.”
His work on the board has given him a broader perspective on the pork industry and its potential in California. He sees significant opportunities for raising pigs in the state, not only for show pigs but also for developing niche markets in pork production and consumption.
“There are many people today who question how their food is raised and where it comes from,” he said. “Pork is one of the most affordable and efficient ways to provide protein for families. As pork producers, we can be proud of the fact that we are delivering a safe, cost-effective, and healthy product—one that we feed our own families and share with consumers.”
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