Popular Pig

Victor Munsen has a degree in Biology from Johns Hopkins University, and an MBA in Operations and Technology Management from The University of Wisconsin, Madison. He has been a consultant to technology start-ups and established pharmaceutical companies. His expertise is in the validation of computer and technology systems for pharmaceutical companies trying to achieve FDA approval. In 2019 Victor joined EPI Air as the Chief Operations Officer with the intent of growing the company’s product line, customer base, and vision. In his spare time, Victor is an avid SCUBA diver, caver, and aspiring cave diver.

epiair.com

Tomer Yogev is an executive coach to leading entrepreneurs and innovators, a professor of Entrepreneurship, a sought-after board member & advisor, retired serial entrepreneur, and a self-described “business bohemian.” He is best known as one of the premier coaches in the country for entrepreneurs at The Big Joy Theory where he co-created the leading model for leadership development through joy. In all that he does, Tomer brings vast experience and a unique “Joy Forward” approach to help ensure real success – yes, in business, but, more importantly, in life and in far deeper and more important ways.

His multi-faceted background helps others to recognize that ROI at a company is one thing, but real success and truly leading well is about finding productive joy and innovating into opportunities. Proudly married to his partner, Dr. ML Black, Tomer resides in the Bucktown neighborhood of Chicago.

Tomer Yogev – LinkedIn

BigJoyTheory.com

Clint Schwab serves as President of Acuity, with overall fiscal and operational accountability for the business. Clint received his bachelor’s degree in animal science from Colorado State University before completing his master’s and Ph.D. degrees in animal breeding and genetics from Iowa State University, as well as an MBA from the Olin School of Business at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. Clint joined The Maschhoffs in 2012 following his time as CEO of the National Swine Registry.

Now serving in an executive role as Vice President of Science and Technology at The Maschhoffs, Clint will provide technical oversight of the innovation function across multiple disciplines in parallel with his deep understanding of the development of Acuity’s genetic platform to further enable the success of Acuity’s partners.

Whispering Wind Farms was the first breeder in Alberta with the sole concentration on pasture pork genetics. In 2015, Kelly Worthington and Jon Lendvoy of Whispering Wind Farms began raising the Kunekune breed which could graze and finish as efficient on forage as their 40 cow-calf pairs and grass-fed beef operation. In 2018, they grew their herd large enough to offer fresh Kunekune Pasture Pork and become the first Kunekune Pork Supplier in Alberta. Their current operation includes 20 breeding sows and a pasture pork farrowing to finish operation of over 175 head with a strong emphasis on natural hands-off maternal instincts, herd health, and breed standard. Kelly Worthington serves on the Board of Directors for the American Kunekune Pig Registry, the original registry of the Kunekune breed.

Christina Stender is a pioneer introducing the Red Mangalitsa Pig to Canada. As an agricultural entrepreneur, Christina brings a personality and openness that drives interest, not only in the Red Mangalitsa but in farming and what fun it can be with anyone who can relate to her passion. Raising outdoor pasture pigs has always been a dream for Christina, and in 2016 that dream became a reality when she imported two Mangalistas from California, and EH Farms was born. EH Farms is located less than 30 minutes east of Calgary, Alberta, Canada, in Wheatland County. Christina has a Bachelor of Animal Science from the University of Guelph. She currently sits on the Economic Development Board in Wheatland County, bringing her energy and knowledge in growing an agricultural operation in the region. Christina also sees the value of agri-tourism and, with her outgoing personality, is the brand of EH Farms, along with her Mangalitsas, to further promote her farm operation and products.

Wendell Holmes Murphy was born September 23, 1938, to Holmes & Lois King Murphy of Rose Hill, North Carolina, and is the brother of Harry Daniel (Pete) Murphy and the late Joyce Murphy Minchew.  Wendell was raised in Duplin County on a farm in the Registers Crossroads area.  He graduated from Rose Hill High School in 1957, received his Bachelor of Science degree in agricultural education from North Carolina State University in 1960 and taught vocational agriculture for five years in Green and Duplin counties.  Wendell is married to Linda Godwin Murphy from Spivey’s Corner in Sampson County.  They have four children; Wendell Holmes (Dell) Murphy, Jr, Wendy Murphy Crumpler, Cindy Hairr Bass, and Wesley Hairr.  They have seven grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

During Thanksgiving break in 1961, Wendell and his friend Billy Register were riding through eastern North Carolina and they saw a “grind & mix” feed mill.  The friend said, “You know, one of those would work back home.”  Wendell said that simple statement was like a bolt of lightening to him and he knew that something he had been thinking about would work.  He needed $13,000.  He had saved $3,000 from his teacher’s salary of $4,080.  He went to his dad and asked him to sign a note at the bank for $10,000.  He said convincing his dad was the toughest sale he had ever made, but in three years the note was paid!  His younger brother Pete wanted to come to work at the mill but they couldn’t afford to pay him, so they helped set him up in growing hogs that ate the corn ground at their mill.  In 1963 the brothers began to concentrate on feeding hogs and in 1964 they began contract operations with area farmers.  From there, this small grind and mix feed mill became one of the largest pork production companies in the world.

1962: Entered into a partnership agreement with his father, Holmes Murphy, to establish a custom grind and mix feed mill at Registers Crossroads, Rose Hill, NC

1963: Diversified by raising hogs

1964: Began contract operations with area farmers on open lots

1969: Established Murphy Farms, Inc.; Wendell was named Vice President

1974: Began contract confinement growing operations

1975: Was named Pork All American by the North Carolina Pork Council

1977: Wendell was named President and Chief Executive Officer, Murphy Farms, Inc.

1977: Marketing over 125,000 hogs annually; grain storage capacity of over 2,000,000 bushels

1979: Launched sow and farrowing operations

1980: Recognized as North Carolina’s Outstanding Pork Producer and was elected as Vice President and Director of the North Carolina Pork Producers Association

2001: Inducted into the North Carolina Pork Hall of Fame

2007: Inducted into the National Pork Hall of Fame

Wendell has always had a passion for agriculture and for Duplin County.  He also has a passion for helping others and for his alma mater, North Carolina State University.  Below are listed some of his accomplishments, terms of service, and awards of recognition.

1977: Appointed to Governor’s Advisory Committee on Agriculture, forestry, and the Seafood Industry

1983 – 1988: Served as a member of the North Carolina State House of Representatives, representing Duplin and Jones counties

1984: Named to North Carolina State University Chancellor’s Circle of Gold

1987: Named Tar Heel of the Week by News & Observer

1987: Honored by NCSU School of Education as one of eight outstanding alumni

1987: Received North Carolina Agribusiness Council award

1988: Awarded the Order of the Long Leaf Pine by Governor James G. Martin

1989 – 1992: Served as a member of the North Carolina State Senate, representing Duplin, Jones and Lenoir Counties

1990: Named North Carolina Entrepreneur of the year by Ernst & Young, Inc. and Merrill Lynch

1992: Received the Duplin Industrialist of the Year Award presented by Duplin County Economic Development Commission

1992: Received the President’s award at James Sprunt Community College

1992: Received the Golden Sea Hawk Award at UNC Wilmington

1992: Played a major role in establishing a College of Veterinary Medicine at North Carolina State University

1993 – 2009: Appointed to North Carolina Advisory Budget Commission

1993: Named Eastern Industrialist of the Year presented by Eastern North Carolina Chamber of Commerce

1993 – 1995:  Served as a member of North Carolina State Board of Trustees

1996: Officially opened River Landing, an exclusive golf course community near Wallace, which has been a great asset to Duplin County and its surrounding towns and communities

1997: Featured in Forbes Magazine recognizing the 400 richest people in America (his picture was on the cover)

1999: Named one of the persons of the Century by the Wilmington Star

1999: Named by Business North Carolina as one of 20 TarHeel Titans “20 who changed the way North Carolina did business in the 20th century”

1999: Named by the News & Observer as one of the Titans of Business and Industry and one of “100 people who have shaped North Carolina in the past century”

1999: Recipient of the North Carolina State University “Watauga Medal”, the university’s highest nonacademic award

1999 – 2007: Served as a member of North Carolina State Board of Trustees

2000: Member, Executive Committee of Economic Development Coalition 2000

2000: Named one of the Business Tycoons of the Century by Progressive Farmer magazine

2000: Received the Melvin Cording Memorial Service to Duplin County Agriculture Award, presented by the Duplin County Agribusiness Council

2005 – 2007: Elected as Chairman of the Board of Trustees at North Carolina State University

2005: Received the Duplin Hall of Fame Award

2007: Received the Boy Scouts of America’s Tuscarora Council Centennial Distinguished Citizen Award

2007: Received the North Carolina Association of County Ag Agents “Service to Agriculture Award”

2008: Received the “Harry Carlton Community Service Award” by the Wallace Chamber of Commerce

2012: Received the George Whitfield Hall of Fame Award

2013: Received the North Carolina Chamber’s “Award for Distinguished Citizenship”

2013: Received the Bill Dooley Triangle East Chapter of North Carolina “Distinguished American Award”

2013: Served as a member of North Carolina State Board of Trustees

2014: Received the NCSU “Menscer Cup Award” along with wife Linda

2014: Inducted into the NCSU “Sports Hall of Fame”

Wendell says, “I’ve lived the American dream and it all happened because of my parents.  Dad was the most honest hard working man I’ve ever known.  He not only taught me to work, but to enjoy working. Over the years my motto has been:  Do a lot better job than average and a little better than the best.”

Chase grew up on a farm near Clarion, IA. He graduated from Clarion-Goldfield High School in 2004 and completed his undergraduate studies at Drake University in 2008 with dual degrees in Biochemistry and Environmental Science. While in the initial years of veterinary school, Chase was employed at the Iowa State Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory and later served as a summer intern at the Fairmont Veterinary Clinic in 2010. Shortly after graduating from the Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2012, Chase spent a year working as a Staff Veterinarian with Iowa Select Farms.

In 2013, Dr. Stahl joined the Fairmont Veterinary Clinic. He and his wife Summer were married in Fairmont on April 5, 2014. They have one dog, a Yellow Labrador named Stella. Chase is an avid outdoorsman with a passion for hunting. He also enjoys gardening and fishing with his bride.

Mike grew up in Fairmont, MN received a Bachelor’s degree in Financial Economics and Public Accounting in 2010 from Gustavus Adolphus in Saint Peter, MN. In May of 2014, he joined the PCM team as a Financial Controller and now serves as CEO.

Mike and his wife Emily have 3 kids, Ella (11), Evan (7), and Gavin (2). Mike loves being outside, enjoying the lakes in Fairmont (fishing and boating), being involved in anything sports-related and is a proud supporter of The Iowa Hawkeyes.

Named among the 50 people who have made the greatest impact in the U.S. swine industry in the last 50 years, Mike Tokach, professor of animal sciences and industry, is a swine nutrition researcher and extension specialist at Kansas State University. Tokach joined K-State in 1991. In 2013, he earned the title of university distinguished professor. Tokach is the author of more than 350 articles in scientific journals, nine book chapters, and more than 1,000 extension and non-refereed articles. Tokach has received more than $20 million in research grants and gifts. He also has been awarded seven patents for his research and has given more than 300 invited lectures at national and international conferences.

Tokach has also advised and mentored over 100 advanced-degree students and visiting professors since joining the university. Mike’s wife Lisa also specializes in Swine as a veterinarian. Together, they have three children, Sage, Rogan, and Fiona.

Bob and Kristy Walker have been in partnership for over 28 years taking on adventures ranging from parenting, youth group leaders, and authoring textbooks to taking on the challenge of a diversified farm and winery with the vision: A boundless venue for an agricultural and culinary delight. Their Walker Homestead is an 85-acre farm, field to fork farmer’s table, with gardens, orchards, vineyards, winery, and pasture playground, producing a variety of foods and wines, raising animals and honey, and growing herbs and flowers using techniques that protect the environment and help foster the development of healthy living.

When not enjoying the farm with the tremendously talented team who keep everything going and their lovely guest, they both stay busy teaching at the Tippie College of Business at the University of Iowa. 

“Our mission statement is to build community through agriculture, education, and culinary delight. We have engaged with our community…”

“We did virtual wine tastings and wine deliveries. We were able to sell and deliver our food and have people come out for pickup. As others were shut down without a revenue stream, we had a revenue stream coming in.”

“Value added creativity is key to achieving profitability…”

“The number one attributor to success is your people and the diversification of your talent pool.”

More information: walker-homestead.com

P.J. Corns is a pork producer and production advisor from Iowa who currently lives near Barcelona, Spain. He is the owner of Global Swine Solutions with clients throughout Europe, Asia, and Russia. Besides the family’s Century Farm near What Cheer, Iowa that includes row crops and wean to finish operations, P.J. consults large, vertically integrated swine production systems on production optimization, Biosecurity, standard operating procedure development and implementation along with business and development projects with the largest genetic companies in the world.

P.J. has spent his entire career forging world-class results with every step from managing a sow farm with Smithfield Foods shortly out of college to Director of Sow Production for one of the largest swine producers in the world. P.J. moved from the direct live production side of the industry to become Director of Technical Services, Europe for Genus PIC prior to starting his own company where his involvement has been key for clients with results seen as industry-leading in both production and profits in all the regional areas he is involved in.

P.J. continues to be involved in many international organizations speaking or presenting globally, information on various topics related to production successes, Building an SOP Culture, African Swine Fever Mitigation Plans for the Real World and Biosecurity systems as a few examples.

The value of relating his hands-on experiences with real and tangible results for the largest and most profitable production systems in the world is the cornerstone of P.J.’s involvement with his clients and partners worldwide.

“They rented 60 person busses that carried 18 employees to work, all to help enforce social distancing and…”

“Live animal transportation has been interesting. We have developed green lines meaning that animals will not sit at a border for…”

“I do not think that the introduction of ASF to Europe is a matter of if but when, and then how prepared are we for that. We have to be…”

Dr. Schneider received a DVM from Iowa State College of Veterinary Medicine in 2012. He’s been employed by Innovative Agriculture Solutions since graduation where he works with a varied group of pork producers. A large percentage of pigs Dr. Schneider sees are raised for a niche market.

In addition to working with pork producers across the country, he is also engaged with his family’s farm in northeast Iowa, raising pigs, corn, and beans. Dr. Schneider lives in Hudson, IA with his wife and two children.

“How can we meet the welfare needs of pigs that simply have no place to go?”

“All these things that we are trying to do to prevent Covid in the swine industry, we have been doing for a long time.”

“I have had a number of conversations with producers, either independent or others that are having to euthanize hogs, and they get very emotional. There are people that you never…”

“You can’t shy away from the fact that mental health is a real thing. Yep, we are all tough, especially us guys, but these things are real and they are long-lasting.”