The Pork Checkoff has awarded 21 scholarships to college students around the United States as part of its strategy to develop the pork industry’s future leaders.

“The 2018 scholarship winners are an important part of the pork industry’s future,” says National Pork Board President Terry O’Neel, a pork producer from Friend, Neb. “These young people are critical to helping us develop the next generation of pig farmers and industry leaders who will be ready to produce safe, wholesome food in a socially responsible way.”

The 21 student recipients hail from 15 states and 14 universities and represent six different majors in swine-related fields. The 2018 Pork Industry Scholarship recipients are listed below with their hometown, college and major.

Victoria Abner, Howe, Texas; Texas A&M, Animal Science
Amanda Anderson, Ames, Iowa; Iowa State University, Animal Science
Madison Anderson, Bend, Ore.; Dordt College, General Agriculture
Kelsey Batson, Princeton, Mo.; University of Missouri-Columbia, Animal Science
Joshua Beam, Elverson, Pa.; Penn State, Animal Science
William Boyd, Chesapeake Va.; Virginia Polytechnic, Animal Science
Erin Bryan, Urbana, Ill.; University of Illinois, Animal Science
Chloe Creager, Olpe, Kan.; Kansas State University, Animal Science
Hunter Everett, Mebane, N.C.; North Carolina State University, Animal Science
Evan Gibbs, Cascade, Iowa; Iowa State University, Agricultural Studies
Piper Hopple, Clyde, Ohio; The Ohio State University, Animal Science
Kiera Leddy, Stockholm, S.D.; Oklahoma State University, Ag Communications
Katelyn Lowery, Clayton, N.C.; North Carolina State University, Animal Science
Meg Meeker, Emden, Ill.; University of Illinois, Ag Leadership
Sara Strathman, Brodhead, Wis.; University of Wisconsin-Platteville, Animal Science
Madison Wensley, Parma, Mich.; Michigan State, Animal Science
Whitney Whitaker, Templeton, Calif.; Kansas State University, Animal Science
Ben Wikner, Farmersburg, Iowa; Iowa State University, Agricultural Studies
Zoe Wolfe, Raleigh, N.C.; North Carolina State University, Animal Science
Morgan Wonderly, Bakersfield, Calif.; Cal Polytechnic Institute, Animal Science
Luke Zimmerman, Forrest, Ill.; University of Illinois, Animal Science

This year’s top scholarship recipients are Madison Wensley and Amanda Anderson, who will receive a $5,000 and $3,500 scholarship, respectively. Wensley, a senior at Michigan State University, is majoring in animal science. She plans to continue her academic career by pursuing a master’s of science degree in swine nutrition at Kansas State University. Ultimately, she would like to provide pig farmers with the tools they need to improve feed management practices.

Anderson, a senior at Iowa State University, is majoring in animal science. She plans to pursue a doctorate of veterinary medicine at Iowa State University in the fall. The other award recipients will receive $2,000 each.

“We are excited that these young people see the opportunities available in today’s pork industry,” O’Neel says. “On behalf of the National Pork Board and my fellow pig farmers, I congratulate this year’s Pork Industry Scholarship recipients and look forward to welcoming them into our industry in the future.”

An NPB committee judged the pool of 70 applicants based on scholastic merit, leadership activities, involvement in the pork production industry and the applicants’ plans for a career in pork production.

Source: National Pork Board