Popular Pig

Jack Bobo is the author of the forthcoming book ‘Why smart people make bad food choices.’ He is also the CEO of Futurity, a food foresight company that advises companies, foundations and governments on emerging food trends and consumer attitudes and behaviors related to the future of food.

Recognized by Scientific American in 2015 as one of the 100 most influential people in biotechnology, Jack is a global thought leader who has delivered more than 500 speeches in 50 countries. He previously served as the Chief Communications Officer and Senior Vice President for Global Policy and Government Affairs at Intrexon Corporation. Prior to joining Intrexon Jack worked at the U.S. Department of State for thirteen years as a senior advisor for global food policy. An attorney with a scientific background, Jack received from Indiana University a J.D., M.S. in Environmental Science, B.S. in biology and B.A. in psychology and chemistry.

Dianne is the Human Resources Manager and Controller for LB Pork in Northrop Minnesota. In addition to the HR duties she supervises the 2 office employees, oversees the financial accounting, and wears many other hats as needed. Dianne also owns a nursery barn leased by LB Pork.

Some of you may also know her children: Tyler works for NPPC as a Director of Producer Services and Marisa is a Swine Key Account Manager for Kemin Industries. Dianne has been involved in the pork industry for many years, she was President of the Minnesota Pork Producers Assn in 2002, served on the National Pork Board from 2003 to 2009 and chaired the Domestic Marketing Committee 2010 to 2012. Dianne also served a 2 year term on the NPB Nominating committee and is currently on the NPPC Labor Security Task Force. She remains active in her local and state pork organizations.

Bob Treadway is a globally-praised advisor on forecasting, strategy, and leadership development. He believes foresight and anticipation strongly enhance a leader’s effectiveness and value.

He serves as top-rated faculty for industry programs in financial services, agriculture, food, telecommunications, information security, healthcare, audit, and government. Eight US and Canadian universities and colleges count him as a lecturer and adjunct faculty. His instruction took place at the University of California, Ohio State, Kansas State, NC State, Oregon State, the Food Systems Leadership Institute, Syngenta’s Leadership at Its Best, and multiple leadership programs for the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

Jeff Monk has been with the Waukon Feed Ranch for 10 years and in the swine industry since 1992. The most rewarding part of his job is the fact that the industry feeds millions of people every day! 

New Fashion Pork is headquartered in Jackson, Minnesota with Brad Freking as its CEO and managing partner.  Founded in 1994, New Fashion Pork (NFP) employs over 400 people and owns 53,000 sows in six states, along with having interests in several related businesses (i.e., Triumph Foods and Daily’s Premium Meats). Annually, NFP markets roughly 1.2 million hogs. 

Canadian small business owner and professional consultant Andreas Funk has over 25 years of experience working with livestock farmers to increase livestock operation productivity. Andreas built his reputation in water treatment; with a focus on the animal’s water diet. From understanding the needs on-farm to analyzing problematic areas, Andreas’s knowledge, service, and support have demonstrated the impact of a genuine passion for farming and the importance of fresh insight on livestock farms for application and practice.

Following the completion of his Doctoral Degree in Meat Science and Muscle Biology from the University of Missouri-Columbia, Dr. Chad A. Stahl founded Food Animal Consultation and Testing Services (F.A.C.T.S.). In doing so, Chad hoped to serve as a third-party scientific liaison for livestock producers, meat processors, restaurateurs, and consumers. To date, Dr. Stahl has had the privilege of providing business solutions for nearly 50 companies and universities located throughout North and South America, Europe, and Asia.

Dr. Jim Pillen is a pig farmer, veterinarian, and the founder and chairman of Pillen Family Farms and DNA Genetics, a multi-generational family business that employs over 1,100 team members. Raised on a farm in Platte County, Pillen has spent his entire life in Nebraska production agriculture, working alongside his dad and brothers from an early age. After a successful collegiate football career as a defensive back for the University of Nebraska Cornhuskers, Pillen earned his Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from Kansas State University and returned home to Nebraska to build a veterinary practice.

Pillen first entered the pork production industry as a partner with his dad, Dale, raising 60 sows and 1,200 market hogs on a dirt lot on their home farm. In 1993, Pillen founded Pillen Family Farms, and in 2003 acquired DNA Genetics. Based in Columbus, Nebraska, the company operates on three core beliefs: do what’s right, do the best you can, and treat others the way you want to be treated. Today, the company is operated by Pillen’s oldest children, co-CEOs Sarah Pillen and Brock Pillen.

A lifelong Christian conservative, in April of 2021, Pillen announced his campaign to become the Republican nominee for Governor of Nebraska. Pillen has been deeply involved in the Columbus area, including past service as president of the Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce and chairman of the Columbus Community Hospital Board of Directors. He has twice been elected to represent Northeast Nebraska on the University of Nebraska Board of Regents. Pillen currently serves on the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce and Industry Board of Directors and is chairman of the TeamMates Foundation.

Jim and his wife of over 40 years, Suzanne, have four children and seven grandchildren. The Pillens live in Columbus, where they attend St. Isidore’s Catholic Church. 

Dr. Jason Ross is the Lloyd L. Anderson Endowed Professor in Physiology in the department of Animal Science at Iowa State University.  In October, 2015, Jason became the Director of the Iowa Pork Industry Center with responsibilities in research, administration, and extension. Jason’s research program focuses on using both basic and applied research approaches to help enable livestock producers and associated industries to improve swine production efficiency. 

Dr. Mark Lyons represents the second generation of the global business his father, Dr.
Pearse Lyons founded in 1980. With experience working in all regions and nearly all
departments — from palletizing bags in production to researching in the lab — he has a deep and uniquely personal knowledge of the company.

Based on Alltech’s belief that agriculture has the greatest potential to shape our world’s future, Dr. Lyons launched the company’s vision of Working Together for a Planet of Plenty™ in 2019. He has called for collaboration to improve nutrition, human and animal well-being, and the preservation of natural resources.
Dr. Lyons has spearheaded many critical projects, including simultaneously managing a biorefinery project in Kentucky, the establishment of a plant in Serbia, and the creation of Alltech’s flagship yeast production facility in São Pedro, Brazil. He also spent nearly four years in Mexico rebuilding the company’s solid-state fermentation plant in Serdan, which is one of the largest of its kind in the world.

In 2012, Dr. Lyons relocated to China, the world’s largest feed market, as part of
Alltech’s focus on the Asia-Pacific region. Living in Beijing and traveling throughout the
country, he led the Alltech China office for six years and focused on building bridges
between China and the wider industry through research, education, and strategic
initiatives. Prior to this, he served as director of North America from 2009 to 2011,
strengthening Alltech’s presence with the opening of new offices and growing
involvement in all agricultural sectors.

Today, Dr. Lyons is the president and CEO of Alltech, based at the company’s
headquarters in Kentucky. He has served as a board member of the American Feed
Industry Association and he is currently serving on the board of directors for
Transylvania University. Dr. Lyons is active in many industry groups, such as the
International Poultry Council, the National Turkey Federation, the National Chicken
Council and the National Pork Producers Council. He is also vice president of the Soil
and Fertilizer Alliance of China and is a committee member of the China Toxicology
Association.

He has published papers and patents in areas ranging from enzyme production to
global economics and is interested in the assurance of food safety and quality
throughout the entire food chain.

Dr. Lyons received his bachelor’s degree in political science and environmental science
in 1999 from the University of Chicago. He received his master’s degree in brewing and
distilling in 2001, followed by a Ph.D. in the area of solid-state fermentation, at Heriot-
Watt University in Edinburgh. He is fluent in Spanish, Portuguese, French, and German,
and he has a working knowledge of Mandarin.