Columbia, Mo.,—The 2017 University of Missouri Pork Institute, sponsored by the University of Missouri College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources and the Missouri Pork Association, was held June 12 through June 14 in Columbia. The Institute is a three day educational event for high school students interested in the pork industry.

 

Students enjoyed a tour of Triumph Foods, a processing plant in St. Joseph, Missouri and attended many educational sessions. They were also introduced to a variety of opportunities within the pork industry. At the end of their trip, students took a written exam covering all of the information learned. The students with the top two scores were each awarded a scholarship.

 

On June 14, Bailey Martin and Ryan Siegel were each awarded $1,000 scholarship to attend the University of Missouri-Columbia upon completion of high school. Martin resides in Salem, MO and will graduate from Salem Senior High in 2019. Siegel resides in Otterville, MO, and will graduate from Otterville High School in 2018.

 

Other students attending the event include Aly Francis of Paris, Charlotte Lloyd of Windsor, Gabe Ruehling of Perryville, Justin Schroeder of Grandin, Macey Stueve of Frohna, Riley Walton of Hawk Point, Savannah Johnson of Kimberling City, Tess Crouch of Troy, and Trenton Bagby of Adrian.

 

Also attending were 2017 Missouri Pork Youth Ambassadors Sara Gammon of Drexel and Makayla Vandiver of Cabool. Jordan Volkmann of Bourbon, MPA’s summer 2017 intern, managed the event.

 

The Missouri Pork Association represents the state’s pork producers in the areas of promotion, research, education and legislation. For more information about this or any other programs of the Missouri Pork Association, go to www.mopork.com, or call the Missouri Pork Association office at (573) 445-8375.

 

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