Allan Schinckel, a professor in Purdue animal sciences, says the recent achievements of four students are noteworthy.

“Two current animal sciences students both received the highly competitive Lois Britt pork industry scholarship,” Schinckel reports. They are Keegan Sheiss and Elizabeth Staggs. “Taylor Jansen, an animal sciences graduate and vet student, was the first Purdue swine vet student in a long time to present her research in competition at [the annual meeting of the American Association of Swine Veterinarians (AASV)]. Another animal sciences graduate and current vet student, Devon Anderson, also won a Zoetis-AAVMC award.”

Winner of a Lois Britt Memorial Pork Industry Scholarship, Sheiss spent lots of his childhood on his grandparents’ 500-sow farrow-to-finish operation near Larwill, Ind. He says his internships with Belstra Milling Co., Farm Credit Mid-America and The Maschhoffs prepared him well for his first job as a sales representative in Elanco’s Swine Business Unit.

“I am looking forward to this opportunity, and it will allow me to use my connections and knowledge from previous experiences to be a resource for swine producers in their continuous goal to raise healthy and efficient pigs,” Sheiss says.

SWINE INDUSTRY ADVOCATE: Keegan Sheiss grew up around pigs and hopes to build his career around helping keep pigs healthy. (Courtesy of Keegan Sheiss)

Staggs also won a Lois Britt scholarship. The 10-year Parke County 4-H’er grew up showing cattle and swine at local, state and national shows. Currently a sophomore at Purdue in animal sciences, she has a concentration in agribusiness and minors in food and agribusiness management and farm management, with a certificate in industrial selling.

“I am extremely passionate about the animal agriculture industry, as it continues to shape me into the person I am today,” she says. “I am so fortunate to be a part of an influential industry that feeds the world.”

FEEDING THE WORLD: Ellie Staggs is a sophomore in Purdue animal sciences who has already logged lots of time both in livestock show rings and in leadership roles in the Purdue College of Agriculture. (Courtesy of Ellie Staggs)

Jansen is one of four students nationally who recently received a scholarship from AASV. As an undergraduate in animal sciences, she conducted heat stress calorimeter research.

Jansen notes that she felt honored to be asked to present her research. She says she has a passion for pigs and loves her industry.

FUTURE VETERINARIANS: Taylor Jansen (right) was awarded a scholarship by the American Association of Swine Veterinarians. She received the award from Pat Hoffmann (left), Elanco Animal Health, along with other recipients Carly Bates, Iowa State University; Hope Dohlman, Iowa State; and Rachel Kanefsky, Tufts University.

Anderson was an Animal Sciences Ambassador during his undergraduate career at Purdue. Besides working toward becoming a veterinarian in the Class of ’25, he is dually enrolled in a master’s program in animal sciences in reproductive physiology.

“My goal is to stay within academia and share expertise and knowledge with students and industry professionals,” he says. His leadership and skills earned him a Zoetis Foundation-American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges scholarship.