Key takeaways
LEAP helps bridge the gap between consumers and modern pork production, promoting transparency in the farming process.
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Investing in educational programs can foster better understanding of pork production for future generations.
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Industry partnerships are vital to supporting youth, rural communities and the larger pork industry.
The LEAP Foundation – Leading Education About Pigs – has a mission to educate students and consumers about pork production in the U.S., allowing for consumer transparency, open discussion about modern farming and community impact. The foundation is supported by Belstra Milling of northwest Indiana, which is also involved in the agritourism destination The Pig Adventure at Fair Oaks Farm.
With fewer than 2% of the population actively involved in production agriculture, it’s crucial that producers provide consumers with the knowledge they need to make informed decisions about the food they eat, according to Ray Allison, LEAP board member, in the organization’s 2024 annual report.
Rusty Sobasky, strategic account manager with Zoetis Pork, is helping to support the LEAP Foundation through a donation this year as part of Zoetis Pork’s community giving program.
“It’s really cool to see a company like Belstra Milling want to educate so many kids about swine farming. It’s something that stood out to me that I want to help with, so that’s why I chose the LEAP program,” Sobasky said.
Virtual programming
One way LEAP helps to educate students is through the “There’s a Pig in My Classroom” program that provides a virtual field trip experience so elementary school-aged students around the country can see up close how pigs are raised at the Fair Oaks Pig Adventure.
“We’re entering into a phase where we’re getting more and more away from the farm, and knowing what’s going on in the farm, so any way we can provide virtual learning so those kids can experience the sounds and sights that they might experience on the farm is huge,” Sobasky said, noting the students’ excitement when they see a baby piglet for the first time and then how much it grows in three weeks.
The LEAP program has reached more than 46,000 students across 35 states, as well as military classrooms in four different countries.
“If we can educate these young individuals in elementary or middle school to make better choices when they get older, and if it drives one person to want to be part of the swine industry, then I think it’s really worth it,” Sobasky said.
Future goals, future opportunities
Future goals of LEAP include the development of a middle/high school virtual field trip and an educational video that teaches students about how pigs are raised and how pork is produced.
“It’s about exposure,” Sobasky said. “It’s about educating young individuals so that they have some exposure to the swine industry. There’s a lot of different educational opportunities for us to be able to help the public understand what we do on swine farms and reassure them that we’re supplying them with a safe food protein.”
This includes job opportunities, he added. Not everyone may want to work in a barn, but they could work at a feed mill or possibly as a diagnostician in a laboratory that deals with solving disease issues.
The lessons the students learn about pork production is often shared with parents and family members, reinforcing messaging about the swine industry and food production. Even in rural communities, there is a disconnect on where food comes from (the grocery store), so programs like this help with consumer education, whether it’s urban, suburban or rural audiences.
More information about the LEAP Foundation is available at www.educationaboutpigs.comOpens in a new window.
