Meet Haley Schwecke, our latest addition to Farm Journal’s PORK’s Up & Coming Leaders feature. We are showcasing some of the fresh, new voices of the pork industry who combine innovative thought and work ethic with scientific savvy and a passion to make a difference.
Age: 25
Education: Bachelor’s degree, Kansas State University; Master’s degree at the University of Minnesota
Hometown: Gibbon, Minn.
Q. How did you become interested in pursuing a career in the swine industry?
A. I was fortunate to grow up in the swine industry on a commercial and show pig operation. From a young age, I knew I was interested in the swine industry from competitively showing pigs at state and national levels. I served on the Team Purebred Junior Board. Through that experience I learned about numerous career opportunities in the swine industry that I had not known prior to that exposure.
Q. Describe your internship experiences.
A. I was on the Team Purebred Junior Board and American International Junior Charolais Association Junior Board for a summer. Both junior boards gave me great experiences in communication, planning and networking skills. Additionally, I was a research intern for Swine Vet Center while I was studying at Kansas State University. During my internship at Swine Vet Center, I gained experience in caretaking for the pigs and had numerous opportunities to learn more about swine research.
Q. Describe your undergraduate research experiences.
A. I was an undergraduate research assistant for the Kansas State University Swine Nutrition Team where I was exposed to swine research, and the connections I made there also led to a collaborative undergraduate research study during my internship with Swine Vet Center and Kansas State University.
Q. Describe other swine-related experiences.
A. Showing swine throughout my life opened a lot of different doors and opportunities for me and gave me a deep passion for the pigs and people in the swine industry.
Q. Tell us about your studies.
A. During my graduate studies while pursuing a master’s degree, I conducted research on the effects of vaccination against Mycoplasma hyosynoviae, a bacterial pathogen known to cause lameness in growing and finishing pigs. This work deepened my appreciation for research focused on swine lameness, and it solidified my interest in continuing to explore this important area of animal health. Now following graduate school, I am grateful to be in a career that allows me to engage with a diverse range of research topics involving swine health and contribute to studies that address real-world challenges in the swine industry.
Q. What is your generation’s greatest challenge?
A. I believe the evolving and diverse consumer demands are great challenges for my generation entering the swine industry. Recently, there have been numerous implications and obstacles that the swine industry has been faced with but ultimately many more will continue to occur. I think it is vital that people take the time to get to know and learn from their peers and mentors to better grasp and tackle these challenges as an industry.
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