A quick round-up of headlines in the pork industry.
Triumph Foods Earns Worker Safety Award for Fourth Year in a Row
For the fourth year in a row, Triumph Foods has earned the Worker Safety Award of Honor for worker safety improvement and achievement from the Meat Institute, the nation’s largest trade association representing meat and poultry packers and processors.
“Triumph Foods and their leadership are being recognized for continuing to prioritize the health and safety of the hard workers who help feed America,” Meat Institute President and CEO Julie Anna Potts said in a release. “These awards celebrate the commitments made by companies to continuously improve their workplace safety practices and reduce workplace injuries.”
The Worker Safety Recognition Awards honor plants that have achieved a high level of safety performance as part of the continuing effort to reduce occupational injury and illness, the release said.
Triumph Foods has received several honors for workplace safety, including the Meat Institute’s Award of Merit. The company also received the Safety Verified Certification through Matrix Clinical Solutions in 2021. That program, developed with Cleveland Clinic, demonstrates Triumph’s commitment to limiting the impact of COVID-19 within its facility, setting an industry standard during the pandemic and beyond.
The awards are based on a National Safety Council (NSC) evaluation of each eligible establishment’s actual safety performance as well as its implementation of various key components of an effective safety and health program. The NSC staff examined Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) Total Recordable Cases rate and the rate for Cases with Days Away From Work, Job Transfer or Restriction (DART) data for each facility.
Purina Animal Nutrition Announces Student Scholarship Opportunities
Purina Animal Nutrition, along with the Land O’Lakes Foundation, has reopened its annual scholarship program designed to assist students with experience in livestock production and animal stewardship in pursuing their passions and furthering their education, the company said in a release.
Undergraduate students and current high school seniors who have experience raising and caring for small or large livestock, equine and/or poultry are eligible to apply for a $5,000 scholarship. Four students will be awarded based on applications that illustrate the impact animal agriculture has had on their lives along with details on academic achievements, leadership skills, community involvement and a clear vision for their future.
Scholarship applications will be accepted March 18 through April 17, and awardees will be notified in June. Funds will be distributed for the Fall 2025 semester at their current or anticipated educational institution. To learn more about and apply to the Purina Animal Nutrition Scholarship, visit https://www.purinamills.com/scholarship.
Merck Animal Health Donates $50,000 to Agricultural Student Organization
Merck Animal Health will donate $50,000 to the National Professional Agricultural Student Organization (PAS) to support its newly established Educational Advancement Program. This contribution marks Merck Animal Health as the inaugural donor for this initiative, which aims to enhance agricultural education, particularly at two-year and community-based college programs that offer educational opportunities in agriculture, the company said in a release.
“At Merck Animal Health, we recognize the importance of educating the next generation of agricultural leaders and supporting the institutions that helped them grow,” Scott Stehlik, DVM, director of swine and poultry technical services for Merck Animal Health, said in a release. “This investment in the Educational Advancement Program shows our commitment to the agricultural industry and will empower students by providing them with the tools they need to thrive in their careers.”
The support from Merck Animal Health will not only help fund grants for these educational institutions but also support student scholarships and leadership opportunities in agriculture. The announcement took place during the 2025 National PAS Conference, which was held in Sheridan, Wyo., from March 17-20.
“The industry needs a more robust pipeline of talented people to fill roles across the full breadth of agriculture. This initiative will enable institutions to recruit more students while building and expanding their program offerings to meet this industry demand for years to come,” Stehlik added. “We are proud to play a role in shaping the future of the agriculture industry by providing talented students access to the skills and hands-on training they need to be successful.”
The National Professional Agricultural Student Organization is dedicated to developing two- and four-year college-level professional agriculture students for the workplace.
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