“Find your passion, then don’t let anyone take you off the track you set for yourself,” says Mackinze Hora, a 20-year-old wean-to-market supervisor at Iowa Select Farms. This advice comes from her own journey, one that has seen her quickly rise in the ranks of the agricultural industry and become an influential advocate for the pork sector.
Mackinze oversees 19 hog farms across Washington County as part of a four-person supervisory team at Iowa Select Farms. The farms she manages include Love, Larry, 5U, Lorie, Tobin, Conwell, Rees, East, Peiffer, 5F, Sojka, 4R, Waterhouse, John, 5D, Dean Elm, Rosehill, and Hog Heaven. In her role, she works closely with contract growers and site managers, ensuring that operations run smoothly and efficiently. Her focus on organization, strong relationships, and adherence to critical processes like barn readiness, pig care, and sanitation underscores her commitment to excellence.
“Working together to ensure excellent pig care is the most rewarding part of my job,” Mackinze shares, reflecting the family-like culture she values at Iowa Select Farms. Despite her team being spread across different locations, the close-knit, collaborative environment makes her feel at home.
“The first thing that comes to mind when I think of Iowa Select Farms is a family culture. Even though we’re all over the state, we still work together and rely on each other,” she said.
But Mackinze’s influence extends far beyond the barn. As Iowa’s People’s Choice Miss United States Agriculture, she uses her platform to educate the public about the realities of the pork industry, shedding light on the often untold stories of animal care and sustainability. During her competition, she also earned the title of Advocacy Ambassador for her outstanding community outreach efforts.
“My goal under this title is to tell those stories of animal care and sustainability and combat common misconceptions about the swine industry,” she explains. Her advocacy stems from a passion to ensure that pork producers’ contributions to agriculture are understood and appreciated.
Raised on a cattle farm in Riverside, Iowa, with a background in finishing pig farming, Mackinze’s connection to agriculture is deeply rooted. She excelled in sports, leadership, and academics at Highland High School and became the first Highland student to attend Kirkwood’s ACE Academy. After high school, she pursued agribusiness at Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC), where she earned several prestigious accolades, including being named a Mark Pearson Scholar and the 2024 Washington County Iowa Miss United States Agriculture.
Mackinze Hora’s journey is one of determination, passion, and dedication to agriculture. She serves as a shining example for young women and future generations who wish to pursue a career in the pork industry. At just 20 years old, she’s already made a remarkable impact, and Iowa Select Farms is proud to have her as part of the team.
