The goal of the Pork Scholars Program is to support programs for graduate and veterinarian students that will later contribute to the industry in their respective fields.
Chris Hostetler is the Director of Animal Science for the National Pork Board. He says the needs of the industry are changing and a recent assessment showed what degree areas are needed.
?Things like swine nutrition or genetics or environmental science, those are programs that are traditionally used and heavily used either by feed companies or pork production companies or really anywhere along the supply chain. But we also know that, through that needs assessment, we also know that there is a need for degrees that are broader than the traditional. So, combining for example genetics and data science, or combining nutrition by pig management.?
NPB supports training programs since these students are engaged in the industry in many capacities. Hostetler says it comes down to understanding the business of raising pork.
?One of the components that these programs are selected on is their engagement with the industry with collaborating pork producer in the industry, just how those opportunities for the students can really change their understanding of how pork is produced for the consuming public. And then finally, we know that there are things that are kind of the soft sciences that really make these individuals, excel when they go out into our industry. So, we’re looking for programs that strengthen leadership and problem solving and communications.?
There has been an annual support for $500,000 for the entire program which helps to defray the cost to mentor a graduate-level student. This program demonstrates the long-term commitment of Pork Checkoff funds and the future of the pork industry.
?We don’t see that need going away, right, I mean as our industry evolves in change, I like to say, the pig farmer of today is definitely not the pig farmer of my grandfather’s era or my father’s era, right. Both of them were great pig farmers. Today’s pig farmer does not look like that, today’s pig farmer has PhDs on their staff, they have master’s degrees, they have people that are working in animal welfare and they hire veterinarians to manage their swine health programs and their biosecurity programs. And so, today’s pig farmer does not look like the pig farmer of bygone eras.?
Learn more by visiting porkcheckoff.org.
(Story by NAFB)
