From scholarships and ambassador experiences to food and equipment donations, the pork industry has been busy providing opportunities for people of all ages across the U.S.
Nebraska Pork Opens Ambassador Program Applications
Promoting career development within the swine industry, the Nebraska Pork Producers Association (NPPA) announces its new Pork Ambassador Program for college-aged students connected to agriculture, specifically the pork industry.
In the program, students will attend pork and agricultural industry seminars, tours and events, including the World Pork Expo in Des Moines, Iowa and the Nebraska Pork Expo, shadow pork industry professionals and promote agriculture and the pork industry, as well as improve leadership, team building and communication skills.
More information can be found at the Nebraska Pork website. Applications are due Nov. 1.
Larry E. Sitzman Youth in Nebraska Agriculture Scholarships Available
Applications for the Larry E. Sitzman Youth in Nebraska Agriculture Scholarship are open, available to college students attending a Nebraska college, university or technical school in an agriculture related degree program.
With a passion for agriculture and a commitment to leadership, Larry E. Sitzman served as executive director of the Nebraska Pork Producers Association, retiring in 2016.
Selection for the scholarship will be made based on qualities of leadership and participation in collegiate or extracurricular activities related to the agriculture industry. The deadline for application is Nov. 10.
Smithfield Foods Sends 150,000 Servings of Food in Hurricane Ian Relief
Fort Myers, Fla., is receiving more than 37,000 lb. of food – 150,000 servings – sent by Smithfield Foods in response to the devastation caused by Hurricane Ian as part of its Helping Hungry Homes program.
The protein is delivered to Mercy Chefs, a Virginia-based nonprofit that deploys to disaster zones across the U.S. to serve free, chef-prepared, restaurant-quality hot meals to victims, volunteers and first responders, the release says.
“Our hearts go out to everyone in the path of this catastrophic hurricane,” says Jonathan Toms, senior community affairs manager for Smithfield Foods, in a recent release. “We hope this food assistance brings some relief to the people of Fort Myers as they start down the difficult road to recovery.”
Seaboard Foods Donates to Rural High School STEM and Ag Programs with CoBank Matched Funds
In support of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) and career and technical education programs, Seaboard Foods, in partnership with CoBank’s Sharing Success Program, has financially supported several rural high school programs.
The following donations have been given to school programs:
• Hooker High School, Okla.; $20,000 towards a new metal and welding program
• Holyoke High School, Colo.; $15,000 to ag shop class metal, woodworking and other ag equipment
• Guymon High School, Okla.; $15,000 towards an auto mechanics program
• Des Moines Public Schools Central Campus, Iowa; $6,000 towards agriculture and food production instruction for non-traditional students
• Elkhart High School, Kan.; $2,300 to purchase a plasma cutter for the machine shop program
• Texhoma High School, Okla.; business simulation software for business program
In addition to funds for school programs, Seaboard Foods has given $65,000 in scholarships to high school seniors in the communities where it operates and children of employees.
