DES MOINES, Iowa — 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. A National Pork Board 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.
“The 2018 scholarship winners are an important part of the pork industry’s future,” said National Pork Board President Terry O’Neel, a pork producer from Friend, Nebraska. “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:
| Applicant Name | Home Town | Institution | Major |
| Victoria Abner | Howe, Texas | Texas A&M | Animal Science |
| Amanda Anderson | Ames, Iowa | Iowa State University | Animal Science |
| Madison Anderson | Bend, Oregon | Dordt College | General Agriculture |
| Kelsey Batson | Princeton, Missouri | University of Missouri-Columbia | Animal Science |
| Joshua Beam | Elverson, Pennsylvania | Penn State | Animal Science |
| William Boyd | Chesapeake Virginia | Virginia Polytechnic | Animal Science |
| Erin Bryan | Urbana, Illinois | University of Illinois | Animal Science |
| Chloe Creager | Olpe, Kansas | Kansas State University | Animal Science |
| Hunter Everett | Mebane, North Carolina | 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, South Dakota | Oklahoma State University | Ag Communications |
| Katelyn Lowery | Clayton, North Carolina | North Carolina State University | Animal Science |
| Meg Meeker | Emden, Illinois | University of Illinois | Ag Leadership |
| Sara Strathman | Brodhead, Wisconsin | University of Wisconsin Platteville | Animal Science |
| Madison Wensley | Parma, Michigan | Michigan State | Animal Science |
| Whitney Whitaker | Templeton, California | Kansas State University | Animal Science |
| Ben Wikner | Farmersburg, Iowa | Iowa State University | Agricultural Studies |
| Zoe Wolfe | Raleigh, North Carolina | North Carolina State University | Animal Science |
| Morgan Wonderly | Bakersfield, California | Cal Polytechnic Institute | Animal Science |
| Luke Zimmerman | Forrest, Illinois | 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 said. “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.”
The National Pork Board has responsibility for Checkoff-funded research, promotion and consumer information projects and for communicating with pork producers and the public. Through a legislative national Pork Checkoff, pork producers invest $0.40 for each $100 value of hogs sold. The Pork Checkoff funds national and state programs in advertising, consumer information, retail and foodservice marketing, export market promotion, production improvement, technology, swine health, pork safety and environmental management. For information on Checkoff-funded programs, pork producers can call the Pork Checkoff Service Center at 800-456-7675 or check the Internet pork.org.
— The National Pork Board
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