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Lead Yourself Before You Lead Others | Twyla Stevens

About the Guest

Twyla Stevens is an accomplished HR executive with broad experience leading people strategies across national and international teams. As Chief Human Resources Officer at Professional Swine Management, she oversees talent acquisition, organizational development, compensation and benefits, and compliance initiatives. With expertise in workforce planning, leadership development, and change management, Twyla aligns HR strategy with business goals to drive organizational success. She holds a degree in Business Administration from Middle Tennessee State University, is a certified HR professional, and serves on the HR Advisory Board and the Sandburg Agriculture Advisory.

What can you expect to learn from this episode of Popular Pig?

• Why real leadership starts with knowing yourself (your style, how you decide, and how you communicate).
• How a clear leadership path and training can turn nervous first-time leaders into confident managers.
• Simple ways to build trust and engagement every day (hands–heart–mind, first-day experience, being present).
• Practical habits you can put in place tomorrow, like quick standups and genuine check-ins with your team.
• How growing leaders from within cuts turnover, boosts promotions, and strengthens farm culture and performance.

In PA, Taste What Pork Can Do™ Brand Campaign Connects with Consumers | Courtney Gray

About the Guest

Courtney Gray has been the executive director of the Pennsylvania Pork Producers Council since 2022, where she represents Pennsylvania’s 2,500 pig farmers. Prior to that, she was on the producer education and engagement team at Pennsylvania Beef Council and was a loan officer at Farm Credit. She is a graduate of Penn State University with a degree in agricultural science. She and her husband, Brian, operate a commercial cattle operation in Central Pennsylvania alongside their two kids, Porter and Hattie.
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Fighting Lameness Part 2: From Claws to Care — How Nutrition Builds Stronger Sows | Ton Kramer

About the Guest

Ton Kramer holds both master’s and doctorate degrees in Animal Science focused on Swine Locomotion and Health from Federal University of Paraná in Brazil. He has MBAs in Business Management and Project Management from Fundação Getúlio Vargas and a postgraduate degree in Marketing from Escola Superior de Propaganda e Marketing. Ton has also held leadership roles in the Brazilian Association of Veterinary Specialists in Swine. Currently, he serves as the South American Business Manager at Zinpro.

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From 600 Sows to Prop 12: Health, People, and Practical Growth | Brian Martin

About the Guest

Brian Martin is a 5th generation farmer from Northwest Indiana, a husband and father of 3. He has 40 years of experience in Pork industry around the US, and he is Co-Owner and Manager of a 14,000 sow pork production operation.

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Turning Challenge Into Opportunity | Kyle Schulte

About the Guest

Kyle Schulte, originally from Norway, Iowa, has built a career rooted in agricultural excellence and innovation. He earned a B.S. in Agricultural Studies (2007) and an M.S. in Animal Science (2010) from Iowa State University, where his master’s thesis, “An Evaluation of Equipment and Procedures for the Prediction of Intramuscular Fat in Live Swine,” advanced knowledge in swine science. While at Iowa State, Kyle was actively involved in Alpha Gamma Rho Agricultural and Professional Fraternity, the Livestock Judging Team, and the Block and Bridle Club.

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Carroll Family Farms: From Local Roots to Global Reach | John Carroll

About the Guest

John Carroll is a managing partner of Carroll Family Farms, a multi-generational farming operation with roots in the U.S. and expansion into Brazil. Known for his strategic vision, John has built a globally integrated operation focused on long-term value, operational excellence, and leadership. His work reflects a deep respect for the land, and a dedication to building a legacy through innovation and hard work.

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