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Minnesota Pork Congress to be Feb. 21-22

Event in Mankato includes annual meetings, trade show, seminars and an awards banquet.

Kevin Schulz, Editor

February 16, 2023

1 Min Read
small pigs in a pen
GET UP AND GO: Make your way to Mankato for the Minnesota Pork Congress.Photo by National Pork Board

Minnesota pork producers will descend upon Mankato for the annual Pork Congress on Feb. 21-22 at the Mayo Clinic Event Center.

More than 240 exhibition spaces are spread throughout the center, offering attendees plenty of room to roam to meet with company representatives. In addition to the trade show, producers can attend a number of seminars over the two days.

A complete schedule of seminars can be found online. Some highlights include:

  • demographic considerations of workforce shortages

  • panel discussion on sustainability through the pork and ag value chain

  • 2023 hog market outlook

Official business of the Minnesota Pork Board and the Minnesota Pork Producers Association takes place on Feb. 20, as each organization holds its annual meeting that afternoon. The MPB annual meeting is at 12:30 to 2:30 p.m., and the MPPA annual meeting follows at 3 to 5 p.m.

The best of Minnesota’s pork industry will be honored at an invitation-only awards reception from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Feb. 20. Annual awards recognize Environmental Steward of the Year, Swine Manager of the Year, Family of the Year, Pork Promoter of the Year, Distinguished Service and Legislator of Distinction.

More information can be found on the Minnesota Pork Congress website.

The Minnesota Pork Board and Minnesota Pork Producers Association contributed the information for this article.

About the Author(s)

Kevin Schulz

Editor, The Farmer

Kevin Schulz joined The Farmer as editor in January of 2023, after spending two years as senior staff writer for Dakota Farmer and Nebraska Farmer magazines. Prior to joining these two magazines, he spent six years in a similar capacity with National Hog Farmer. Prior to joining National Hog Farmer, Schulz spent a long career as the editor of The Land magazine, an agricultural-rural life publication based in Mankato, Minn.

During his tenure at The Land, the publication grew from covering 55 Minnesota counties to encompassing the entire state, as well as 30 counties in northern Iowa. Covering all facets of Minnesota and Iowa agriculture, Schulz was able to stay close to his roots as a southern Minnesota farm boy raised on a corn, soybean and hog finishing farm.

One particular area where he stayed close to his roots is working with the FFA organization.

Covering the FFA programs stayed near and dear to his heart, and he has been recognized for such coverage over the years. He has received the Minnesota FFA Communicator of the Year award, was honored with the Minnesota Honorary FFA Degree in 2014 and inducted into the Minnesota FFA Hall of Fame in 2018.

Schulz attended South Dakota State University, majoring in agricultural journalism. He was also a member of Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity and now belongs to its alumni organization.

His family continues to live on a southern Minnesota farm near where he grew up. He and his wife, Carol, have raised two daughters: Kristi, a 2014 University of Minnesota graduate who is married to Eric Van Otterloo and teaches at Mankato (Minn.) East High School, and Haley, a 2018 graduate of University of Wisconsin-River Falls. She is married to John Peake and teaches in Hayward, Wis. 

When not covering the agriculture industry on behalf of The Farmer's readers, Schulz enjoys spending time traveling with family, making it a quest to reach all 50 states — 47 so far — and three countries. He also enjoys reading, music, photography, playing basketball, and enjoying nature and campfires with friends and family.

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