The National Pork Producers Council announced 10 recipients of the 2026 Lois Britt Memorial Pork Industry Scholarship as well as one Neil Dierks Scholarship winner, and four inaugural U.S. Pork Center of Excellence (USPCE) Swine Legacy Scholarship winners during the National Pork Industry Forum in Kansas City, Mo.
“These young leaders represent the very best of our industry’s future,” says Duane Stateler, outgoing NPPC president and Ohio pork producer. “At Forum each year, we are reminded the strength of U.S. pork is not only in our farms and businesses but in the people who are stepping up to serve it. Their work ethic, integrity, and commitment to agriculture give me great confidence in where we are headed. NPPC is proud to support them as they carry this industry forward.”
Sponsored in partnership with CME Group and the National Pork Industry Foundation (NPIF), the scholarships recognize exceptional students preparing for careers in the U.S. pork industry.
“We have proudly supported NPPC and its commitment to the pork industry and its next generation of leaders through the Lois Britt Memorial Pork Industry Scholarship since 1990,” says John Ricci, managing director and global head of agricultural products at CME Group.
Lois Britt Memorial Pork Industry Scholarship
The 2026 winners of the $2,500 Lois Britt Memorial Pork Industry Scholarship are:
Trell Amoss — Oklahoma State University
Elizabeth Anderson — Iowa State University
Avah Burke — Pennsylvania State University
Jenna DeRouchey — Iowa State University
Halle Evans — Iowa State University
Georgia Horosky — Wilmington College
Drew Mickey — Kansas State University
Abigail Morse — South Dakota State University
Kylee Reed — Iowa State University
Joshua Wiley — Iowa State University
Sponsored by CME Group and NPIF, the Lois Britt Memorial Pork Industry Scholarship is awarded to undergraduates in a two-year swine program or a four-year college of agriculture program.
Neil Dierks Scholarship
The 2026 recipient of the $5,000 Neil Dierks Scholarship is Emma Zwart of Iowa State University.
Founded in 2021 and administered by NPIF, the Neil Dierks Scholarship is awarded to current or incoming graduate students in a swine-related program.
USPCE Swine Legacy Scholarship
New this year, the 2026 recipients of the inaugural $5,000 USPCE Swine Legacy Scholarship are:
Rebecca Brown — The Ohio State University
Jenna DeRouchey — Iowa State University
Kory Storm — South Dakota State University
Trell Amoss — Oklahoma State University
Administered by NPIF, the USPCE Swine Legacy Scholarship was established in 2026 following the decision to sunset the U.S. Pork Center of Excellence after 20 years of service as a public-private partnership supporting the pork industry. Through a competitive proposal process, the organization’s remaining financial assets were granted to NPIF to create an endowed scholarship program. The scholarship supports students pursuing careers in research, education, or veterinary science with a focus on the swine industry, awarding one graduate or professional track student and three undergraduate students each year.
