As one of eleven participants in the inaugural class of Activate: Minnesota Pork Leadership Cohort, Erin Krug is carving her future in the pork industry. Growing up on her family’s fifth-generation farm, Erin has a solid background to draw from. Through Activate, Erin is carrying on her family’s legacy while developing the skills necessary to advocate on behalf of farmers and is determined to protect the freedom to farm for many years to come.
How did you get started in the pork industry?
Growing up on my family’s farm ignited a love for agriculture from as early as I can remember. It has always felt special to me to be a part of something that has been growing in the family for generations. I gravitated towards pork production as I saw how rewarding caring for the animals and watching the hard work that was put into them was. The same spark for agriculture continued on as I started my career making staying involved in the pork industry the right choice.
What sparked your interest in applying to Activate?
The activate program caught my eye as something to apply to as it is a new program put on in my home state offering a skill set that I have been looking for. Minnesota Pork has great resources in preparing producers and advocates, I knew this program would be filled with the people and information needed to grow as a leader in the industry.
What excites you about the future of the pork industry?
There is so much more to the pork industry than raising hogs, which is what excites me about the future of our industry. Going through the sessions of this program has shown me professionals from every corner of what it takes to bring safe and delicious pork to the consumer. We have heard people speak of their roles in so many different sectors of the pork industry, it is fun to see how they all tie together.
What do you hope to learn or gain through Activate?
By going through this leadership cohort I hope to learn more about the challenges the pork industry is facing and how they are being addressed. As a fifth generation farmer who hopes to have our family farm carry on for many more generations, I resonate with the term “freedom to farm”. By being in this program I hope to gain the skills necessary to advocate on behalf of farmers and protect our freedom to farm for years to come.
What is your favorite pork product/dish?
A well cooked pork chop is hard to beat but lately my family of young kids has been enjoying sausage regularly!
Click here to learn more about the Activate: Minnesota Pork Leadership Cohort and how it’s developing the next generation of pig farming leaders.
