Locke Karriker, DVM, can barely remember the days when he wasn’t involved in some way with the American Association of Swine Veterinarians (AASV).
His first involvement in the organization took place in the 1990s when he attended as a student in veterinary school. Over the years he became more and more entrenched in AASV, serving on committees, as a district director and most recently on the executive board. At the 2025 AASV annual meeting in San Francisco, he took over the reins as president.
“Scientific training at the AASV annual meeting is critically important, but what really supersedes all that for me are the relationships and the interaction with other veterinarians,” Karriker says. “At this point in my career, the AASV annual meeting feels a lot like a reunion. I’m happy to have an opportunity to contribute to that and help the association grow and prosper.”
Karriker serves as the Morrill Professor and Director of the Swine Medicine Education Center at Iowa State University. He and his family have lived in Ames, Iowa, for over 20 years now.
Farm Journal’s PORK sat down with Karriker at AASV’s annual meeting to learn a little more about the organization’s new president.
Q. What is the most meaningful aspect of the annual meeting for you?
A. My former students are presenting and chairing sessions. They’re becoming the new leaders and the drivers, and that is the most satisfying part of it for me now.
Q. How would you describe yourself in a few words?
A. Curious. I like to be useful and am pretty laid back in general. I’m also a little introverted. I value quiet time to recharge, but certainly enjoy spending time with close friends and taking advantage of opportunities to collaborate. Most of my work is an equal amount of learning and service.
Q. What is one thing you hope to accomplish this year?
A. I believe AASV needs to take the driving role in education for swine veterinarians in the U.S. Left to the current veterinary education system, there’s a chance swine medicine continues to have a smaller portion of veterinary training. I think this organization, more so than any other, has the most at stake and best understands what needs to be part of that education program. I’ll be driving to help establish some sort of common curriculum and figure out how we get resources available nationally to students who have an interest in swine medicine.
Q. What is your outlook on the future of swine veterinary medicine?
A. I am guardedly optimistic. When you look at the potential for technology to make us better at what we do there is a lot of opportunity, But, even if we can incorporate that, it doesn’t alleviate the need for human capital. We must maintain these educational opportunities. If we can do that, coupled with the technological innovation that continues to happen, I think there’s some tremendous things ahead for swine medicine.
Q. What’s one thing people may not know about you?
A. I’m a big blues music fan. If I’m off by myself, sort of regenerating, that’s what I’ve got in my earphones.
Q. What kind of a leader are people getting?
A. My leadership style is more of a coaching style. I try to make sure people know what they need to do, can do the things that they’re good at doing, and provide them with an opportunity to make their contribution. I think the role of the leader is to remove obstacles and help the group be more successful as a whole while guiding each individual to find their place in the group. I am not a micro-manager and don’t believe in a top-down leadership style. I want to help get people in the right position to do what they naturally do the best. When you do that, and when you take the time to recognize the individual skills of everybody, then you have an organization that’s more effective and more welcoming to a wider range of folks. We’ve got big health challenges in the swine industry, so we need the best brains in whatever package they come in.
Q. What do you like to do for fun?
A. I like to go fishing when I get the chance. I also like cooking, hanging out in the backyard with the neighbors, and watching the adventures of my 8- and 10-year-old kids.
Q. If you had a few minutes with a group of veterinarians, how would you encourage them?
A. I would remind them that what they’re doing is incredibly important. It’s about improving the health and welfare of pigs, but it’s really about the effect that it has on humans. They have the skill set to solve problems, so they shouldn’t be afraid of those problems. I would tell them to dig in and work together. If we can all do that, I think we’ll be in good shape.
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