Welcome and Introductions
Dr. Laura Greiner, Associate Professor/Director of the Iowa Pork Industry Center

The Life-Changing Power of Your Rope Team
Gretchen Evans, CSM, Founder, Team UNBROKEN
As one of the most highly decorated women to serve in the U.S. Army, Gretchen Evans had thought she had achieved her dream when she was overseeing 30,000 troops as a Command Sergeant Major. But all of that changed in an instant during a rocket attack in Afghanistan when she suffered catastrophic injuries and became deaf. Gretchen's presentation will take you on a journey from her finding her purpose in the military, to her devastating injury, to her decision to reclaim her life with the support of her Rope Team that included a service dog and a select group of friends and supporters. Between her stories, Gretchen will offer her wisdom on topics of grit, resilience, hope, and overcoming any barrier. With a heartfelt message and some lighthearted humor, Gretchen provides a keynote that inspires all of us to find our own "rope team" and to live our best lives.

Leading the Charge: Harnessing Innovations in Genetics and Management
Dr. Matt Culbertson, COO, PIC
Driven by the contribution of industry leaders like Lauren Christian, our industry has continually evolved and improved. Matt will highlight opportunities and experiences from across the globe on where genetics and management can help take us in the future.

Break

Risk Management: A Producer's Perspective
Brady Reicks, Producer, Reicks View Farms
Thoughts and reflections after trading Ag commodities for 15 years. What is most important when deciding how to protect the margin in your business? That answer is probably not the same for everyone.

The Future of Pork Demand
Dr. David Newman, SVP Market Growth, National Pork Board

Lunch Provided
Scheman Building, 1805 Center Drive, Ames, IA 50011

Navigating the Changing Tides of Today's Ag Economy
Bernt Nelson, Economist, American Farm Bureau Federation
Bernt brings a unique perspective with a farm background, an economics degree and a career as an economist in Washington. This presentation will open up changes in the broader Ag economy, why it matters, and how leadership plays a role in navigating today's uncharted waters.

Producer Packer Buying Programs
Eli Hohbach

Break

Perfect Storm In Farm Transition
Steve Bohr, Columnist, Farm Financial Strategies, Inc.
There is a perfect storm brewing in production agriculture. The age of the land owner is increasing at a time when there are fewer producers who are willing and able to battle the significant barriers to enter or expand in the industry. With fewer producers and escalating values, the need has never been greater for a well thought out and communicated transition plan. We will discuss the issues and options needed to prepare a family for a transition that could influence not only your family but also your community for the next generation and beyond.

Property Insurance
Alex Weekly

Preparing for a Rainy Day…Is it Raining?
Dr. Bret Marsh, Dean, Purdue University
Preparedness planning is vital to surviving an emergency disease event. Learn what producers and veterinarians can do on individual farms to better prepare. Since pork industry leaders have a special role in preparing the industry for the challenges of a disease disaster, topics will be discussed that will provide better security for the entire industry.

COMPOSTING: Dead to Dirt in Days
Don Stromley, Sales & Engineering Research, Advanced Composting Technologies
Animal mortality is one of the more difficult components of animal agriculture. Advanced Composting Technologies has worked with producers, integrators, USDA-NRCS and others to develop a long lasting and environmentally friendly composting technology for onsite management of animal agriculture mortality. Our process is a simple to operate, bio-secure, time-tested design that guarantees optimum performance, transforming this environmental liability into a renewable resource that adds value to any farm.

Break

The ABC of Biosecurity
Dr. Karine Talbot, Sr. Director of Animal Health, Nutrition and R&D, HyLife
Access to barns, Biocontainment and Cleaning and Disinfection, 3 critical steps to Biosecurity no one should overlook for the health of our pigs!

Under Pressure: Barn Filtration Challenges and Opportunities
Dr. Brett Ramirez, Associate Professor, Iowa State University
We will examine the pressing challenges associated with barn filtration systems and explore opportunities to enhance their effectiveness. Attendees will gain valuable insights into design/management as well as implementing robust biosecurity measures to ensure the health and productivity of swine herds.

Technologies in the Swine Barn
Dr. Suzanne Leonard, Assistant Professor, North Carolina State University
Technologies can be used to improve pig and worker productivity, better track inventories, and optimize production systems. This presentation will provide practical tips for selecting and using technologies, as well as avoiding common pitfalls.

Harnessing Technology for Smarter Livestock Farming Solutions
Jeremy Robertson, Head of Operations, Brenneman Pork, Erin Brenneman, Day One Care Specialist, Brenneman Pork
The livestock agricultural industry continues to evolve, innovative technological advancements are transforming livestock management, improving efficiency, and building resilience. In this session, we will explore the latest technologies that Brenneman Pork is shaping their future of livestock farming and how they can lead to smarter, more productive solutions.

Break

Activism in the Swine Industry
Cody McKinley

Trust in Every Bite: The People, Animals and Climate of Tomorrow
Sam Wildman, Strategic Projects Director, Meat Institute
In today's market, consumer trust is paramount, especially in the food industry. This session will explore the critical role of transparency, credibility, and effective communication in earning and maintaining consumer trust. Attendees will gain insights into consumer trust research, learn about successful strategies implemented by industry leaders, and discover actionable steps to enhance trust and confidence. Join us to understand how you can contribute to a more transparent and trustworthy pork industry, helping consumers feel confident in every bite.

Reducing Disease Burden: Practical Approaches to Bacterial Control in Swine Herds
Dr. Maria Jose Clavijo, Associate Professor, Iowa State University
This talk will explore practical strategies for the control and elimination of key bacterial pathogens in swine, focusing on prevention, diagnostics, and targeted interventions. Emphasis will be placed on field-proven approaches, emerging tools like next-generation sequencing (NGS), and the role of tailored health programs in improving productivity and animal welfare.

Novel Swine Phenotyping for Breeding and Management Applications
Dr. Juan Steibel, Professor and J. Lush Endowed Chair of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Iowa State University
As precision livestock farming technologies are increasingly adopted by swine farmers and breeders, opportunities emerge for the use of the resulting data to inform management and selection of animals. One of those technologies is computer vision. In this talk I present several applications of computer vision in pig research, including the use of cameras to analyze the gait of pigs (for early lameness detection) and for investigating feeding behavior as well as to analyze animal interactions that affect their performance.

Break

Data Science Strategies for Precision Swine Health and Productivity
Dr. Edison Magalhaes, Assistant Professor, Iowa State University
This presentation will explore innovative data science strategies to enhance precision in swine health and productivity. By leveraging advanced analytics and data-driven approaches to addresses challenges in swine production systems, offering actionable insights to support the decision-making process and improve efficiency.

Research Program
TBD