Columbia, Mo.,—The 2021 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 14 through June 16 in Columbia. The Institute was a three-day educational event for high school students interested in the pork industry.

 

Students enjoyed a tour of Central Missouri Meat & Sausage, the University of Missouri Feed Mill, and attended many educational sessions focused on areas such as: biosecurity, carcass and meat quality, nutrition, and artificial insemination. They were also introduced to a variety of career opportunities within the pork industry. At the end of their trip, students took a written exam covering all the information learned. The students with the top two scores were each awarded a scholarship.

 

On June 16, Kelsey Miller and Tanner Tipton were each awarded a $500 scholarship to attend the University of Missouri-Columbia upon completion of high school. Kelsey Miller resides in Jonesburg, MO and will graduate from Warrenton High School in 2023. Tanner Tipton resides in Milan, MO and is a recent graduate of Green City High School. She plans to attend North Central Missouri College for one year before transferring to the University of Missouri to major in Agriculture Communications.

 

Other students attending the event included: Lauren Bailey, Clinton; Dusti Lynn Blankenship, Jefferson City; Brynna Marie Coman, Agency; Mattie Davis, Neosho; Grace Hale, Henley; Jordyn Haney, Eugene; Rylee Libbert, Jefferson City; Kendall Lovan, Pottersville; Annie Robinson, Wellsville; Matthew Schroeder, Grandin; Bailey Schneider, Warrenton; and Cheyenne Watson, St. James.

 

Also attending were 2021 Missouri Pork Youth Ambassadors Kaitlin Kleiboeker of Peirce City and Payden Nolting of Lamar. The event was organized by the Missouri Pork Association Summer 2021 Interns Kendra Betz of Trenton and Caitlyn Sullivan of Gerald.

 

The Missouri Pork Association represents the state’s pork producers in the areas of promotion, research, education, and public policy. 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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