A popular speaking competition, the Young Pork Advocates Issues Meet, is coming back to the 2025 World Pork Expo on June 4-5 in Des Moines at the Iowa State Fairgrounds. Winners will receive a $2,500 scholarship and an all-expenses paid trip to National Pork Producers Council’s (NPPC) Fall Legislative Action Conference in Washington, D.C.
Hosted by NPPC and sponsored by NOVUS and Nutra Blend, the Young Pork Advocates Issues Meet is open to 17- to 22-year-olds. The competitive event encourages participants to not only speak on industry issues, but also offer solutions. Those solutions are then translated into mock motions that mimic the NPPC producer-led policy development process, giving competitors a look at how industry decisions in the U.S. are made.
This event is a way for young people to showcase their ideas to help solve the industry’s critical challenges, as well as network with industry professionals who can provide insights about career options and opportunities, Ron Praska, Western Regional Sales Manager for Nutra Blend, explains in a release.
“Animal agriculture is continuing to follow a similar trend as most businesses in the U.S.,” Praska says. “With the ‘graying’ of America, we are seeing an immediate need for younger people to join our industry and bring fresh perspectives, openness to technology, and new approaches to the industry. All of us at Nutra Blend recognize that there are talented individuals available for the great opportunities to continue to feed the world.”
Eric Sanny, swine regional sales manager for North America and Canada at NOVUS, says his team is glad to be able to support the event again this year.
“The young people who participated in last year’s event were so intelligent and knowledgeable; they did the industry proud,” Sanny says. “We know they really enjoyed it, too, because they are already promoting this year’s event to a new batch of potential participants.”
Rounds one and two of the competition will be held on June 4 at the Varied Industries Building. The final rounds will take place on June 5 on the Anne & Bill Riley Stage immediately before a live concert to close the World Pork Expo.
Applicants must register by May 16 at www.worldpork.org/issues-meet/. Contact Jake Sterle at sterlej@nppc.org for more information.
Learn more about the Young Pork Advocate Issues Meet.
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