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MU Pork Institute Students Hear From University, Industry Specialists; Livonia, Labadie Youths Awarded $500 Scholarships
COLUMBIA, MO.
A dozen Missouri youths attended the annual University of Missouri Pork Institute June 10-12.
The event exposes youths interested in pork industry careers to MU academic programs and agricultural businesses. Students live in dormitories during the event.
Two of the participants, Lainie Cowan of Livonia and Grace Bryson of Labadie, were awarded $500 scholarships to the MU College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources.
During the first day of the event, MU Extension swine veterinarian Corinne Bromfield talked about the importance of biosecurity in the swine industry. She stressed the need for increased biosecurity measures with the threat of African swine fever, a highly contagious and deadly viral disease found in Africa, China, Mongolia and Vietnam.
John Travlos and staff from the MU Agricultural Electronic Bulletin Board (AgEBB.missouri.edu) told attendees how to use this free news resource.
MU Extension economist Scott Brown talked about the business of raising hogs and recent trends that affect commodity prices.
On the second day, youths toured the Central Missouri Meat and Sausage Co. The state-inspected facility processes and sells locally raised meats nationwide. Its Fulton location features a retail store and the Barnyard Smokehouse restaurant.
Bryon Wiegand, MU Extension meat scientist, shared information on carcass and meat quality evaluation. Attendees toured the MU Swine Research Farm with extension swine nutritionist Marcia Shannon. Livestock specialist Heather Conrow gave a demonstration on artificial insemination. Trista Strauch spoke about MU's animal sciences program before the group took a tour of the MU Animal Science Research Center.
“This program offers youth interested in the swine industry an opportunity to visit with MU animal sciences faculty in a small group setting,” Shannon says. “They learn about MU programs and other businesses. Nearly 80 percent of the Pork Institute participants enrolled at MU focused on a career in agriculture.”
The 2019 Pork Institute attendees were Lainie Cowan, Livonia; Grace Bryson, Labadie; Addie Berry, Green Ridge; Zachary Main, Mercer; Kate Rogers and Thomas Stevens, Bethany; Grant Adkins, Burlington Junction; Kendra Betz, Chillicothe; Marlena Long, Paris; Matthew Morgan, Lamar; Kaylee Calvin, Troy; and Clint Perry, Columbia.
Missouri Pork Association and the MU College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources provide financial support for the event. ∆
Students who attended the 2019 MU Extension Pork Institute: Front row, Kate Rogers, Grace Bryson, Addie Berry,
Marlena Long, Kendra Betz and Kaylee Calvin.
Back row, Matthew Morgan, Lainie Cowan, Grant Adkins, Zachary Main, Thomas Stevens and Clint Perry.
Photo credit: Photo courtesy of Marcia Shannon
Scholarship winners at the 2019 MU Pork Institute were Lainie Cowan, left, of Livonia, and Grace Bryson,
right, of Labadie. Bryan Garton, center, director of academic programs for the MU College of Agriculture,
Food and Natural Resources, presented the $500 scholarships.
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