The 2022 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 13 through June 15 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, artificial insemination, and drone technology. 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 15, Nicole Carney and Ava Bax were each awarded a $500 scholarship to attend the University of Missouri-Columbia upon completion of high school. Nicole Carney will be a junior at Weaubleau R-III this fall, and Ava Bax will be a sophomore at Eugene High School this fall.
Other students attending the event include Gretchen Banes from Sheldon, Shaelyn Boessen of Eugene, Aleyah Chapman of Eugene, Austin Colvin of Henley, Kaydence Coram of Browning, Emma Frey of Jefferson City, Emma Goetz of Henley, Ava Jobe of Jefferson City, Jada Kemna of Jefferson City, Kaleb Peak of Wellsville, Riley Rowe of New Cambria, Ashley Sjostrand of Hartsburg, and Jazmen Vinyard of Elkland.
Also attending were the 2022 Missouri Youth Pork Ambassadors Annie Robinson of Wellsville, Carlee Long of Paris, and Ava Laut of Fredericktown. The event was organized by the Missouri Pork Association Summer 2022 Interns Tanner Ellison of Baring and Ally Troesser of Laddonia.
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 office at (573) 445-8375.
