The Minnesota Pork Board announced today it has awarded
five, $1,000 scholarships to individuals pursuing careers
with an emphasis in pork. The MPB scholarship program goal
is to encourage and support young people in their decision
to enter one of the many occupations within the swine industry.
The scholarship recipient selection panel, comprised of
pork producers and industry professionals, awarded scholarships
to: Sarah Jacobs, the daughter of Randy and Joyce Jacobs
of Rushmore; Justin Johnston, the son of Lee and Judy Johnston
of Morris; Leah Sample, the daughter of Mark and Teresa
Sample of Le Sueur; Ethan Spronk, the son of Arwin and LuAnn
Spronk of Edgerton; and Seth Spronk, the son of Randy and
Beth Spronk of Edgerton.
"The members of the Human Capital Committee believe
it’s our obligation to put into place programs and
tools that can help develop and encourage the next generation
of livestock professionals,” said Ed Hubly, a swine
nutritionist and committee member from New Ulm.
This is the first year of the MPB scholarship program.
Applicants had to be Minnesota residents attending a two-
or four-year institution and pursuing an undergraduate degree
that focuses on swine production or related field. The application
process included their plans for future involvement in pork
production and/or the pork industry, an essay on a pork
industry challenge and their ideas for solving the issue,
two letters of reference and a professional resume.
“The selection committee members were very impressed
with the quality of applicants and selecting only five was
a tremendous challenge,” Hubly said. “We feel
good about the quality of individuals pursing ag careers
and believe the future of our swine industry is in good
hands.”
Information on individual scholarship winners:
Sarah Jacobs of Rushmore, the daughter of Randy and Joyce
Jacobs, begins her junior year this fall at South Dakota
State University where her major is agricultural education
with a special emphasis on meat sciences. Jacobs grew up
in a pork raising family where swine played a big role in
her 4-H and FFA careers. With her father’s help, she
started Sarah Jacobs Show Pigs, a purebred Yorkshire show
pig business. This entrepreneurial project helped her earn
the Worthington FFA Chapter’s Star in Agribusiness
and the State FFA Degree. Jacobs is a member of the SDSU
Meats Judging Team and secretary of the SDSU Meats Science
Club. She also works at the SDSU Meats Lab as a technician
where she focuses on safe animal harvesting methods and
fabrication. Jacobs has volunteered on many occasion at
the Minnesota Pork Board’s state fair booths.
“With my 4-H and FFA involvement, it wasn’t
a hard decision to choose agricultural education as my major,”
she said. “This way, I will be able to teach our future
generations about the great things that agriculture and
the pork industry has to offer.”
Justin Johnston of Morris, the son of Lee and Judy Johnston,
attends the University of Minnesota where he is earning
an animal science degree. This fall, he will be a senior
and will be completing his undergraduate research thesis,
which focuses on meat science. He grew up on a hobby farm,
and through his 4-H involvement exhibited hogs at the county
and state levels. He served as the Stevens County Pork Ambassador
and as the Minnesota State Pork Ambassador. Johnston says
as he met more and more people in the pork industry and
gained additional swine experience, it influenced his career
decision. This summer Johnston is interning at a Cargill
facility in Illinois managing a ham fabrication line. His
experience also includes working as a U of M Meats Lab technician
and at Dombrovski Meats Company in Foley where he completed
tasks associated with meat exports. He is a member of the
U of M’s Collegiate Livestock Judging Team and Block
and Bridle Club.
“For the future, I plan to invest all I have gained
into the meat science aspect of the industry,” Johnston
said.
Leah Sample of Le Sueur, the daughter of Mark and Teresa
Sample, will enter her sophomore year at the University
of Minnesota this fall where her major is animal science
with a swine production emphasis. Sample serves as Le Sueur
County Pork Ambassador and is swine superintendent for the
Le Sueur County Fair. In addition to showing pigs in 4-H,
Sample demonstrated her swine knowledge as a two-time State
Fair Swine Interview finalist. Sample volunteers to grill
and serve pork samples at Minnesota Pork Board promotional
events, which she says are an excellent way to answer consumer
questions about raising pigs and to increase agricultural
awareness. Sample works as an office assistant at the U
of M College of Food, Agriculture and Natural Resource Sciences
and has studied abroad as part of the People-to-People exchange
program.
“After graduation, I would like a job representing
the pork industry,” Sample said. “The industry
needs more pork producers spreading the word to consumers
that we do everything we can to ensure our pork is safe
and wholesome.”
Ethan Spronk of Edgerton, the son of Arwin and LuAnn Spronk,
is a pre-veterinary student at South Dakota State University.
This fall he completes his bachelor degrees in animal science
and agricultural marketing and will then begin earning his
veterinary medicine degree with a specialization in swine.
Spronk’s experience spans hands-on swine care and
nutrition in his family’s hog production facilities
and feed mill, to microbiology research for Rural Technologies
Inc. and swine farrowing studies with Novartis Animal Health.
He is vice president of the SDSU Pre-Vet Club and a member
of the SDSU Meats Judging Team. Spronk’s interest
in global food issues has taken him to China where he learned
more about that country’s swine production and research.
He attributes his growing interest in agricultural policy
and legislative involvement to the commitment he has seen
from family members.
“I recognize how much public opinion affects how
the industry operates and I feel that as a veterinarian
I would be able to properly defend and represent the industry,
while maintaining the highest regard for the animals’
wellbeing and safety,” Spronk said.
Seth Spronk of Edgerton, the son of Randy and Beth Spronk,
maintains a 4.0 grade point average as he enters his final
year of college at South Dakota State University where he
majors in agricultural and biosystems engineering. His goal
is to become a fourth generation livestock and crop farmer.
Spronk says the complexity of agriculture drives him to
develop a skill set that will meet future career challenges.
Spronk is captain of the SDSU Quarter Scale Tractor Design
Team and a member of the SDSU Meats Judging Team. He helped
construct, wire and program the Ventilation Demonstration
Trailer and developed teaching materials for use with the
trailer. He helps maintain and repair electrical, mechanical
and computer equipment in the family’s swine facilities
and also maintains agricultural equipment used in crop production,
including the application of GPS technology for field mapping
and fertilization rate applications. He believes his science
background and communication skills will help him be a voice
and advocate for the agriculture community and livestock
production.
“I have witnessed firsthand the impact that individuals
can have on industry policy and public perception,”
he said. “I intend to do everything in my power to
have a positive influence on the pork industry.”
PQA Plus and TQA certification programs for Minnesota pork producers
and transporters set for June 15
Pork
producers and livestock transporters can earn their certifications
for Pork Quality Assurance Plus (PQA Plus) and Transport
Quality Assurance (TQA) at free trainings on June 15 in
Hutchinson, at the McLeod County Fairgrounds, Commercial
Building, 840 Century Ave.
The PQA Plus training will be from 10 a.m. to noon and the TQA training will be from 1:30-4 p.m.
To
assure adequate seating and materials, preregistration is
strongly encouraged. To preregister, telephone the Minnesota
Pork Board office at (800) 537-7675 or e-mail colleen@mnpork.com.
When preregistering, provide your name, address, telephone
number and e-mail, if available.
PQA
Plus is required of individuals who provide daily care of
pigs, such as owners, managers and employees, as a condition
of sale by nearly all packers. The PQA Plus training also
describes the site assessment process and how to achieve
PQA Plus Site Status. The minimum age for PQA Plus certification
eligibility is 14.
TQA
training is also a common hog packer requirement for the
drivers delivering hogs to the plant and for on-farm animal
handlers.
Pork
producers can check their PQA Plus and TQA certification
status by calling the Pork Checkoff Service Center at (800)
456-7675. Contact your hog buyer/packer for their specific
PQA Plus certification, PQA Plus Site Status and TQA certification
requirements.
PQA
Plus and TQA trainings are hosted by the Minnesota Pork
Board, Pork Checkoff and University of Minnesota Extension
Swine Team. For additional training locations and dates
go to www.mnpork.com.
The Minnesota Pork Board announced today it has awarded
five, $1,000 scholarships to individuals pursuing careers
with an emphasis in pork. The MPB scholarship program goal
is to encourage and support young people in their decision
to enter one of the many occupations within the swine industry.
Dakota
State University where her major is agricultural education
with a special emphasis on meat sciences. Jacobs grew up
in a pork raising family where swine played a big role in
her 4-H and FFA careers. With her father’s help, she
started Sarah Jacobs Show Pigs, a purebred Yorkshire show
pig business. This entrepreneurial project helped her earn
the Worthington FFA Chapter’s Star in Agribusiness
and the State FFA Degree. Jacobs is a member of the SDSU
Meats Judging Team and secretary of the SDSU Meats Science
Club. She also works at the SDSU Meats Lab as a technician
where she focuses on safe animal harvesting methods and
fabrication. Jacobs has volunteered on many occasion at
the Minnesota Pork Board’s state fair booths.
earning
an animal science degree. This fall, he will be a senior
and will be completing his undergraduate research thesis,
which focuses on meat science. He grew up on a hobby farm,
and through his 4-H involvement exhibited hogs at the county
and state levels. He served as the Stevens County Pork Ambassador
and as the Minnesota State Pork Ambassador. Johnston says
as he met more and more people in the pork industry and
gained additional swine experience, it influenced his career
decision. This summer Johnston is interning at a Cargill
facility in Illinois managing a ham fabrication line. His
experience also includes working as a U of M Meats Lab technician
and at Dombrovski Meats Company in Foley where he completed
tasks associated with meat exports. He is a member of the
U of M’s Collegiate Livestock Judging Team and Block
and Bridle Club.
University
of Minnesota this fall where her major is animal science
with a swine production emphasis. Sample serves as Le Sueur
County Pork Ambassador and is swine superintendent for the
Le Sueur County Fair. In addition to showing pigs in 4-H,
Sample demonstrated her swine knowledge as a two-time State
Fair Swine Interview finalist. Sample volunteers to grill
and serve pork samples at Minnesota Pork Board promotional
events, which she says are an excellent way to answer consumer
questions about raising pigs and to increase agricultural
awareness. Sample works as an office assistant at the U
of M College of Food, Agriculture and Natural Resource Sciences
and has studied abroad as part of the People-to-People exchange
program.
University.
This fall he completes his bachelor degrees in animal science
and agricultural marketing and will then begin earning his
veterinary medicine degree with a specialization in swine.
Spronk’s experience spans hands-on swine care and
nutrition in his family’s hog production facilities
and feed mill, to microbiology research for Rural Technologies
Inc. and swine farrowing studies with Novartis Animal Health.
He is vice president of the SDSU Pre-Vet Club and a member
of the SDSU Meats Judging Team. Spronk’s interest
in global food issues has taken him to China where he learned
more about that country’s swine production and research.
He attributes his growing interest in agricultural policy
and legislative involvement to the commitment he has seen
from family members.
his final
year of college at South Dakota State University where he
majors in agricultural and biosystems engineering. His goal
is to become a fourth generation livestock and crop farmer.
Spronk says the complexity of agriculture drives him to
develop a skill set that will meet future career challenges.
Spronk is captain of the SDSU Quarter Scale Tractor Design
Team and a member of the SDSU Meats Judging Team. He helped
construct, wire and program the Ventilation Demonstration
Trailer and developed teaching materials for use with the
trailer. He helps maintain and repair electrical, mechanical
and computer equipment in the family’s swine facilities
and also maintains agricultural equipment used in crop production,
including the application of GPS technology for field mapping
and fertilization rate applications. He believes his science
background and communication skills will help him be a voice
and advocate for the agriculture community and livestock
production.
