County pork ambassadors who took part in this year's Minnesota Pork Ambassador competition were (front, left to right) Mary Faber of Sherburn, Kevin Welter of Stewartville, Matthew Hanson of Jordan, Ryan Strobel of Pemberton, Nancy Faber of Sherburn, James Roe of LeRoy, (back left to right) Leah Sample of Le Sueur, Anna Marxen of Bird Island, Caleb Krusemark of Trimont, David Berning of St. Michael, Clayton Johnson of Jasper, Aaron Gillespie of Fountain, Morgan Mensink of Preston, Shelby Peterson of Butterfield, Kristi Stoltz of Isanti.
David Berning of St. Michael will serve as the new Minnesota Pork Ambassador. Judges selected Berning from a field of 15 county pork ambassadors last week during competition held in conjunction with the agricultural event, Farmfest.
Berning, the son of Mark and Julie Berning, represented the Wright County Pork Producers Association Berning will be attending South Dakota State University, Brookings, where he will major in an agriculturally related field. As Minnesota Pork Ambassador, he will receive a $1,500 scholarship from the Minnesota Pork Board.
Selected as the new Minnesota Pork Ambassador is (front right) David Berning of St. Michael, first runner-up (front left) James Roe of LeRoy, (back row, left to right) second runner-up Aaron Gillespie of Fountain and best essay Caleb Krusemark of Trimont.
First runner-up was Mower County Pork Ambassador James Roe of LeRoy, the son of Rick and Jean Roe, and second runner-up was Fillmore County Pork Ambassador Aaron Gillespie of Fountain, the son of Jeff and Jackie Gillespie. Roe, a diversified agricultural major at South Central College, Mankato, will receive a $750 scholarship, and Gillespie, an agribusiness and agronomy student at the University of Wisconsin, River Falls, will receive a $500 scholarship.
Martin County Pork Ambassador Caleb Krusemark of Trimont, the son of Brad and Rochelle Krusemark, received $250 for his winning essay, Mater’s Scoop, Pitch and Plow to the Plate Award. Krusemark’s essay described how consumers and hog farmers benefit from pork promotional and educational work. The county pork ambassador candidates also recognized Krusemark for his amiable, helpful and friendly personality.
Berning, Roe and Gillespie will represent the state’s 4,400 pork producing families at various functions throughout their term as pork ambassadors, including consumer and producer educational events, and promotional activities that encourage pork consumption and public understanding of swine production. They will also have opportunities to enhance their understanding of the U.S. pork industry and to expand their leadership and communication skills.
The Minnesota Pork Ambassador program, funded through the Pork Checkoff and sponsored by the Minnesota Pork Board, strives to develop young pork industry leaders.
County pork ambassadors who took part in this year's Minnesota Pork Ambassador competition were (front, left to right) Mary Faber of Sherburn, Kevin Welter of Stewartville, Matthew Hanson of Jordan, Ryan Strobel of Pemberton, Nancy Faber of Sherburn, James Roe of LeRoy, (back left to right) Leah Sample of Le Sueur, Anna Marxen of Bird Island, Caleb Krusemark of Trimont, David Berning of St. Michael, Clayton Johnson of Jasper, Aaron Gillespie of Fountain, Morgan Mensink of Preston, Shelby Peterson of Butterfield, Kristi Stoltz of Isanti.
