The Pork Podcast

People across the globe know Brett Stuart as the go-to mind for global protein trends, famous for his sharp data, honest delivery and on-the-ground market research. But his grounded perspective wasn't born in a high-rise office—it was forged on a cattle ranch out West. When his father passed away from cancer at age 57, Brett faced a defining crossroads. Armed with a fresh accounting degree,...

In modern pork production, market swings, rapid tech shifts and sheer volumes of data can quickly become overwhelming. How do the best leaders cut through the noise, embrace the chaos, and ask the bold questions that move the needle? In this episode of The PORK Podcast , host Jennifer Shike sits down with Andy Rash , Vice President of U.S. Specialty Ingredients at Alltech. Andy reflects on his jou...

If you ask Dr. Hyatt Frobose what he wants written on his headstone someday, it isn’t corporate titles—it’s simply "Stockman." In this candid and thought-provoking conversation, Jennifer Shike catches up with longtime friend, industry leader, and Kansas stockman Hyatt Frobose. As North America Commercial Director for Jyga Technologies (makers of Gestal smart feeding systems), Fro...

What can a 25-year trial lawyer, a University of Chicago MBA, and a former coal mining executive teach us about the future of the pork industry? A lot more than you might think. In this episode of The PORK Podcast , host Jennifer Shike sits down with Jackie Bowman Ponder, owner and chief legal officer of Bowman Family Holdings, and board member for both the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) a...

How do we bridge the gap between highly complex genetic science and practical, bottom-line solutions for commercial pork producers? In this episode of The PORK Podcast, host Jennifer Shike sits down with Dr. Clint Schwab, Vice President of Technology and Customer Success at AcuFast Genetics. A lifelong stockman, builder, and academic, Schwab shares his incredible career trajectory—from growi...

How do you lead over 3,000 family pig farms into the next generation while keeping your own boots dirty on the farm? In this episode of The PORK Podcast , host Jennifer Shike sits down with Jill Resler , the CEO of Minnesota Pork . Jill isn't just an executive leading from a boardroom; she is a Southwest Minnesota farm kid, a pig farmer, a crop grower, a wife, and a mother of three daughters. Jill...

When you walk the aisles of the Indiana State Fair or San Antonio, the name Knauth is synonymous with champion banners and high-selling lots. But what does it take to build a powerhouse sow herd from the ground up? In this episode of The Pork Podcast , host Jennifer Shike sits down with Kyle and Ellen Knauth of Knauth Show Pigs to discuss the reality of life in the trenches of the show pig industr...

How does a PhD microbiologist end up leading the Iowa pork industry through its greatest modern crisis? In this milestone 50th episode of The PORK Podcast , host Jennifer Shike sits down with Mike Paustian—a man who sits at the unique intersection of cutting-edge science and generational farming. Paustian takes listeners behind the scenes of his 2020 Iowa Pork Producers Association presidenc...

In Episode 49 of The PORK Podcast , host Jennifer Shike sits down with two heavyweights of the industry: Dr. David Newman , CEO of the National Pork Board, and Dr. Glynn Tonsor , Agricultural Economist from Kansas State University. The goal? A radical vision called "One More Pound." If every American consumed just one more pound of pork per year without a price decline, it would inject over $1.5 b...

In this episode of the Pork Podcast, host Jennifer Shike sits down with Ashley Hengen, human resources manager for PIC North America, to explore the intersection of human resilience and modern agricultural operations. Ashley’s path to the swine industry was anything but linear—spanning from kinesiology studies to public policy work—but a pivotal mountain hike and a life-altering...

In this episode of the Pork Podcast , host Jennifer Shike sits down with Joe Dykhuis of Dykhuis Farms in Holland, Mich. Although Dykhuis has deep roots in pork production, he’s not stuck in how things have always been done. As the owner of a large sow farm that relies on contract growers to finish 450,000 pigs a year, he has a unique perspective on how to align people, resources and the pigs...

In 2022, Maddison Caldwell shared a story of survival that resonated deeply across the pork industry and rural America. In honor of National Mental Health Month, host Jennifer Shike catches up with Maddison for a raw and powerful conversation on the reality of long-term healing. Read her story here: https://www.porkbusiness.com/news/industry/her-own-hand-farm-girls-miraculous-journey-death-hope Fr...

Dr. Anna Forseth didn’t just follow a path; she carved one. In this episode, National Pork Producers Council’s Director of Animal Health shares how her Montana upbringing forged the grit necessary to bridge the gap between local farms and global policy. From the front lines of disease defense to high-level trade negotiations in Paris, Forseth discusses the critical stakes of protecting...

What does it take to move the needle in the pork industry? For North Carolina State University professor Mark Knauer, it takes the same discipline he learned wrestling under legendary coaches at Iowa State University: the commitment to the "grind." In this episode, we explore how Knauer is bringing elite-level precision to sow management. We discuss: The Sow Caliper: How this simple tool is saving...

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After 20 years in the U.S. Army and multiple deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, Michael Williford was ready to retire—but he wasn't ready to slow down. In this episode, he shares his incredible journey from serving in the military to becoming a contract hog grower in Clinton, Ky. Discover how he used the discipline of the military to master swine management and how he’s using "black...

Every small decision matters. Whether Dusty Oedekoven, chief veterinarian for the National Pork Board, is talking about wrestling or swine health, he says progress starts with belief. He outlines the newly adopted path forward for the National Swine Health Strategy to help the U.S. pork industry stop living with PRRS and PEDV. Drawing on historical successes like pseudorabies eradication and his o...

Dan Hamilton, senior director for product performance at PIC, explores the vital intersection of swine genetic innovation and personal resilience. He shares how digital phenotyping and AI are revolutionizing the industry—from analyzing the "social networks" of pigs to improve welfare to using camera-based algorithms that enhance sow longevity by removing human subjectivity. While discussing...

Building trust is key to retaining top talent in the pork industry. Melanie Langley, director of people care at Fine Swine, discusses how you can transform barn culture through empathy. Langley shares her three Ps framework—protection, purpose and presence—to show how prioritizing the person behind the pig is the ultimate key to success. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informat...

From the DC suburbs to the heart of Iowa, Harrison Furlow’s journey into the pork industry is anything but conventional. Discover why he believes producer-led advocacy is the key to a sustainable future in agriculture and how he’s helping build a more resilient industry in his new role at the Iowa Pork Producers Association. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After a challenging 2023, Chet Mogler of Pig Hill Farms is shifting his focus from physical expansion to professionalizing operations through enhanced biosecurity and innovative grower incentives. Learn what’s happening with their new meat company, Iowa Craft Meats, and how their farm is focused on building a resilient and sustainable foundation for the next generation of pork producers. He...

As Sylvester Stallone’s character Rocky says, “Life's not supposed to be sunshine and rainbows.” But Jennifer Tirey, Illinois Pork Producers Association executive director, points out what he has to say next about moving forward is the most important part of that famous quote. Tirey is no stranger to struggles in this world. She opens up about her fight with cancer when she was a...

Professors Bob Goodband and Mike Tokach are retiring after 30 years dedicated to the swine industry at Kansas State University. Discover how these legends prioritized people over publications, shaping the next generation of industry leaders with their selfless mentorship and innovative research. Tune in to hear their reflections on a lifetime of impact, the evolution of swine production, and their...

Chelsea Schminke Grieder, Director of Team Purebred, shares her unique and resilient journey on The PORK Podcast. Her path to leading the national youth swine organization was shaped by significant life experiences, including caring for her mother during a kidney transplant. Grieder brings a unique perspective, offering encouragement as she discusses life's ups and downs. See omnystudio.com/listen...

No one wants their family business to look like the Dutton family’s in Yellowstone. Todd Wiley created a succession planning tool to avoid unnecessary drama and position his four children for success in their family pork operation in eastern Iowa. He believes being able to understand everyone's strengths and weaknesses will help them achieve greater success together. See omnystudio.com/liste...