Popular Pig Podcast Episodes

Innovative Approaches in Pig Farming | Brent Hershey

About the Guest

Brent Hershey is the owner and President of Hershey Ag, a company he formed in 1980. Growing up on the family farm, Brent raised steers, grew tobacco and corn, and worked alongside his father and uncle in an egg layer house. Over the years, he has expanded Hershey Ag to include swine production, a dairy feed division, and a dairy ventilation business.

Brent’s commitment to valuing and growing people from within has been a cornerstone of his management strategy, particularly across his sow farm management team. His greatest accomplishments include achieving superior production systems by promoting quality and efficiency from sow breeding and birthing to growing excellent market hogs. Brent embraces change and progress in the ag industry, always striving to be better today than yesterday.

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Balancing Family, Farming, and Technology | Drew and Kali Ott

About the Guests

Drew Ott, a former Iowa Hawkeye football player, balances life on his Nebraska family farm with his wife, Kali, who he met at the University of Iowa where she played basketball. Married since 2017, Drew and Kali integrate modern agricultural techniques and traditional farming practices, navigating the challenges of family farming while fostering a deep connection to their rural roots and each other.

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Breaking Barriers in Agriculture | Barb Determan

About the Guest

Barb grew up on a diversified farm in west central Illinois where she was active in 4-H and then attended the University of Illinois where she majored in Ag Communications. Her career includes farming, livestock publication experience, animal health sales, and small business ownership.

After college Barb worked in Omaha and Kansas City before moving to Cedar Rapids, Iowa to begin her animal health sales career. While working with dairy farmers and pork producers throughout Iowa, Barb met her future husband at a pork industry trade show. They were married in September 1981 and Barb dove head-first into being a farm wife. (more…)

Passion for Pigs and Community | Erin Brenneman

About the Guest

Erin Brenneman is a passionate advocate for agriculture and a dedicated farmer. Raised in the suburbs of Chicago, Erin’s journey to the farming world began with her love for animals, sparked by horseback riding lessons during her high school years. She pursued her passion at Iowa State University, where she earned a degree in Animal Science and met her husband, Tim Brenneman

Erin’s introduction to farming came through weekends spent at Tim’s family farm in Iowa, where she fell in love with the farm life and community. Over the years, Erin has become deeply involved in the operations of Brenneman Pork, focusing on farrowing and day-one piglet care. Her hands-on experience and commitment to animal welfare have been pivotal in streamlining processes and enhancing farm efficiency. (more…)

World Pork Expo Changes and Industry Innovations | Alex Adams, Marcel Schubert, Chris Grant

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

• New World Pork Expo Format: How the two-day format affected attendance and engagement.
• Adoption of Innovations: The challenges of introducing new technologies in the swine industry.
• Labor and Automation: How labor shortages are pushing farms to adopt automation.
• Consumer Education: The need to educate the public about modern farming practices.
• Future Industry Trends: Predictions on the role of artificial intelligence and automation in modern farming

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Mastering Biosecurity in Swine Production | Stuart Heller

About the Guest

Neogen is committed to fueling a brighter future for global food security through the advancement of human and animal well-being. Harnessing the power of science and technology, Neogen Corporation has developed comprehensive solutions spanning the Food Safety, Livestock and Pet Health & Wellness markets. A world leader in these fields, Neogen has a presence in over 140 countries with a dedicated network of scientists and technical experts focused on delivering optimized products and technology for its customers.

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Bridging Hutterite Traditions and Pork Industry Innovation | Anne Miller

About the Guest

Anne Miller from Montana earned the Paulson-Whitmore Award for State Executives. Miller’s loyalty to Montana agriculture led her down the path as a dual state executive for the Montana Pork Association and Wyoming Pork Producers Council. Her notable accomplishments included volunteering on the committee that developed the We Care® Ethical Principles; serving on the committee to hire two National Pork Board CEOs; and advocating for pork quality with meat processors in the state.

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Transforming Pork Safety | Dr. Paul Sundberg

About the Guest

Distinguished Service Award Winner Dr. Paul Sundberg retired in 2023 from his notable career, which included practicing veterinary medicine, working for national pork industry organizations and leading the Swine Health Information Center (SHIC). The award is selected by past presidents of the National Pork Board and recognizes individuals who have made invaluable contributions to the pork industry, going above and beyond what is expected of them.

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PigFlow’s Role in Improving Farm Operations | Mandy Dutton

About the Guest

Mandy Dutton was born on a cattle ranch in Montana, setting the foundation for a lifelong engagement with agriculture. Her family moved to a small town in the Colorado mountains during her early years, where they continued their ranching lifestyle. After completing high school, Mandy relocated to Wyoming, marking a shift from cattle to swine as she began her career in a swine facility. She progressed through various roles in the swine industry, including department lead, farm manager, production manager and recently promoted into senior production at Carthage System, where she continues to thrive in her career. (more…)

From Music to Food: A Culinary Journey with Pork | Eddie Zamora

About the Guest

Eddie Zamora is an international foodie, Cuban home cook and former Judge on the TV family competition series Dinner Takes All on BYUtv. The twelve episode series was produced by Keller/Noll, the creators of Food Network’s Chopped and Chopped Junior.

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