Popular Pig

Boyd Rice, a seasoned professional with 33 years of experience in the swine industry, earned his Bachelor’s degree in Animal Science from Texas Tech University. During his university years, he not only served on the Livestock Judging Team but also gained practical experience working at the Swine Research Facilities, contributing significantly to his professional development.

Today, he is a valued member of the Innovative Heating team, bringing his wealth of knowledge and experience to the table. But Boyd is more than just an accomplished professional. He is known for his kindness and sense of humor, traits that make him an absolute pleasure to work with. His warmth and jovial nature create a positive and engaging work environment, making him a beloved figure within the company and the wider swine industry.

Dr. Joe Crenshaw is the Vice President of Technical Service for APC, where he provides technical service and advice for customers and conducts product development and applications research. His career spans thirty-five years in the swine industry, from teaching to research to private consulting in animal nutrition and for feed businesses across the globe.

José de Jesús is senior director of multicultural marketing at the National Pork Board. He is responsible for building awareness of pork specifically to multicultural consumers – Hispanic, African American and Asian American audiences. He oversees multicultural marketing strategy development and implementation and oversees all insights-driven marketing, public relations, digital and social media efforts for multicultural markets in the U.S.  – through the development of insights-driven public relations, digital and marketing plans. As a bilingual communicator, José manages all multicultural marketing efforts and consumer outreach. He is also responsible for engaging and educating pork consumers through seasonal programs.

Sid Rooda spent his formative years on a family farm in South East Iowa and demonstrated an early aptitude for farming, renting his first farm at the tender age of 18. In 1962, he tied the knot with Dolores and began renting a farm near Prairie City Iowa, where he garnered a reputation for raising high-quality feeder pigs. Eight years later, the couple purchased their own farm in Northern Pella Iowa, where they lovingly raised their three children. The couple weathered the brutal 80s farm crisis by taking jobs in a factory, welding shop, and selling feed. Dolores also supplemented their income by taking on various odd jobs. By the mid-1990s, Sid had returned to his first love-raising hogs full time. After many years of hard work, Sid and Dolores finally retired in 2007.

Daniel Rooda’s rural upbringing on a family farm in South East Iowa during the eighties laid the foundation for a career in agriculture. In 1991, Dan graduated from Kirkwood Community College with a degree in Farm and Ranch Management, eager to put his skills into practice. Shortly after graduating, he married his partner Helen and moved to North Carolina to begin working as a manager of large sow units. After six years in North Carolina, Dan and Helen returned to the Midwest with their two sons to raise their family. Dan continued to hone his craft by managing large sow units until 2020, when he transitioned into the role of team leader overseeing several employees and multiple finishing barns. Dan’s dedication to the field and years of experience have made him an expert in his industry. His leadership and expertise continue to propel him forward in the world of agriculture.

Dr. Ramirez developed or co-developed the first accelerated hydrogen peroxide (AHP®) disinfectant formulations, including the first AHP® reuse medical sterilant, the first AHP® antimicrobial hand wash, and the first AHP® teat dip amongst many others. After leaving Virox®, Dr. Ramirez went on to a 12 year career at Diversey Corp., where he ended up leading the Global Research & Development Division with a $60 Million budget spread over 15 countries. He holds more than 20 issued or pending patents ranging from cleaning & disinfection, to water treatment and chemical process sensors & controls. His first patent was filed in 1999 – the first AHP® formulation. Currently, Dr. Ramirez serves as Lead Science Advisor to Clipper Distributing Co. (St. Joseph, MO) in support of the company’s AHP® farm disinfectant Intervention™.

Dr. Ramirez has more than 15 years of experience in disinfectant formulation development as applied to infection prevention and biosecurity in a variety of markets. He has started two companies based on his inventions and has won several business pitch competitions. He has been featured and interviewed several times in the press. He has also served as technology lead for due diligence in many M&A deals, including a $477 million investment by private equity in JohnsonDiversey Inc. and the sale of Diversey Inc. to Sealed Air Corp. for $4.3 Billion.

Dr. Ramirez received his BS in Mechanical Engineering in his native Venezuela in 1991, and received MS and PhD degrees in Chemical Engineering from the University of Colorado at Boulder in 1995 and 1998 respectively. He holds a Management & Leadership certificate from MIT Sloan and completed the Innovation Leadership Program at the Kellogg School of Management, the Technology Management Program at CalTech, as well as the Open Innovation Program at the UC Berkeley Haas School of Business. 

Ross Bernstein is the bestselling author of 40 sports books including The Code and I Love Brett Favre/I Hate Brett Favre. He has appeared on more than 1,000 local and national television and radio programs. His work has been featured on CNN and ESPN and in USA Today and the Wall Street Journal. As a sought-after motivational speaker, he speaks to corporations and groups across the country about the inspirational legacy of the late Herb Brooks, Hall of Fame coach of the fabled 1980 gold-medal-winning U.S. Olympic “Miracle on Ice” hockey team. He lives in Eagan, Minnesota.

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

Mike Telford is a senior executive with more than 35 years of experience in organization management including associations, foundations and for-profit subsidiaries. His credited commitment to the pork industry is evident with Telford Consulting, LLC, where he provides administrative and marketing services for clients with highly technical issues. Clients include the Iowa Farm Animal Care, where he currently serves as executive director, National Pork Producers Council, American Berkshire Association, National Pork Board (2001-2014), National Swine Registry (2006-2011) and U.S. Livestock Genetics Exports (2006-2011).

Danita Rodibaugh is a producer from Rensselaer, Indiana. Their operation raises purebred seed stock and show pigs, in addition to harvesting corn and soybeans. She is the trusted office manager. She is a past president of National Pork Board and a past chairman of US Meat Export Federation.

Dr. David Newman, an accomplished Missouri pig farmer and former President of the National Pork Board, brings a wealth of experience to his role in the pork industry. With an active tenure spanning committees, task forces, and strategic planning, he has played a pivotal role in expanding international markets for U.S. pork, particularly in major markets like Mexico, Japan, and China. Beyond his agricultural background, Dr. Newman’s contributions extend to academia, where he served as a full professor at Arkansas State University, overseeing the meat science program and swine research facility. As the Senior Vice President for Market Growth at the Pork Board, he leads a team of professionals dedicated to driving market demand domestically and internationally, alongside health and nutrition research. Dr. Newman’s impressive expertise and commitment underscore his passion for advancing the pork industry.

Griess Farms, firmly rooted in Faith and nestled in the Heartland of America, Nebraska, stands as a testament to family values and unwavering commitment. Our operational philosophy revolves around farrow-to-wean swine reproduction, with a steadfast dedication to fostering robust and fast-growing wean pigs. Central to our success is our hands-on approach and continuous on-site training, cultivating a culture of effective leadership. At the helm of this enterprise, Marty and Les Griess steer the ship, propelling us towards constant progress. In my role, I wholeheartedly support their endeavors, particularly in the realms of technology and day-to-day on-site leadership. Our proudest achievement lies in producing top-tier wean pigs, a contribution that lays the foundation for superior pork products to be enjoyed by generations to come.

Dr. Dustin “Dusty” Oedekoven has been the chief veterinarian for National Pork Board since February 2022. In this role, he leads a team of veterinarians and swine production experts in Pork Checkoff-funded work. Notably, the team collaborates with state and federal health officials, the National Pork Producers Council, Swine Health Information Center, universities and other national organizations to identify and execute strategic action and research to prepare and protect the U.S. herd from African swine fever and other costly threats. Dr. Oedekoven most recently served as State Veterinarian and Executive Secretary for the South Dakota Animal Industry Board, where he provided strategic leadership and direction for the state’s animal health agency – a seven-member, governor-appointed board of livestock producers with responsibility for all animal health programs and disease control efforts in the state.  

He received his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Iowa State University and Bachelor of Science degree from South Dakota State University. Dr. Oedekoven is a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Preventive Medicine. 

Upon graduating with an Animal Science degree in 2014, Janae started working for a family swine farm in Minnesota. In July of 2015, Janae had the opportunity to return to the family farm with the completion of a new 4400 sow farm. Now serving as the HR manager for the entire business, she focuses on all aspects of HR and supporting the swine team for a few days as well. Janae is a mom and wife and is often seen on the farm with her family in tow.