About the Guests Drew Ott, a former Iowa Hawkeye football player, balances life on his Nebraska family farm with his wife, Kali, who he met at the University of Iowa where she played basketball. Married since 2017, Drew and Kali integrate modern agricultural techniques and traditional farming practices, navigating the challenges of family farming while ..read more

About the Guest Barb grew up on a diversified farm in west central Illinois where she was active in 4-H and then attended the University of Illinois where she majored in Ag Communications. Her career includes farming, livestock publication experience, animal health sales, and small business ownership. After college Barb worked in Omaha and Kansas City before moving to Cedar Rapids, Iowa to begin her animal health sales career. While working with dairy farmers and pork producers throughout Iowa, Barb met her future husband at a pork industry trade show. They were married in September 1981 and B ..read more

About the Guest Erin Brenneman is a passionate advocate for agriculture and a dedicated farmer. Raised in the suburbs of Chicago, Erin’s journey to the farming world began with her love for animals, sparked by horseback riding lessons during her high school years. She pursued her passion at Iowa State University, where she earned a degree in Animal Science and met her husband, Tim Brenneman Erin’s introduction to farming came through weekends spent at Tim’s family farm in Iowa, where she fell in love with the farm life and community. Over the years, Erin has become deeply involved in the opera ..read more

What can you expect to learn from this episode of Popular Pig? New World Pork Expo Format: How the two-day format affected attendance and engagement. Adoption of Innovations: The challenges of introducing new technologies in the swine industry. Labor and Automation: How labor shortages are pushing farms to adopt automation. Consumer Education: The need to educate the public about modern farming practices. Future Industry Trends: Predictions on the role of artificial intelligence and automation in modern farming  Guest Bio’s Alex Adams Bio: Alex Adams has over a decade of experience in t ..read more

What can you expect to learn from this episode of Popular Pig? New World Pork Expo Format: How the two-day format affected attendance and engagement. Adoption of Innovations: The challenges of introducing new technologies in the swine industry. Labor and Automation: How labor shortages are pushing farms to adopt automation. Consumer Education: The need to educate the public about modern farming practices. Future Industry Trends: Predictions on the role of artificial intelligence and automation in modern farming  Guest Bio’s Alex Adams Bio: Alex Adams has over a decade of experience in t ..read more

About the Guest Anne Miller from Montana earned the Paulson-Whitmore Award for State Executives. Miller’s loyalty to Montana agriculture led her down the path as a dual state executive for the Montana Pork Association and Wyoming Pork Producers Council. Her notable accomplishments included volunteering on the committee that developed the We Care® Ethical Principles; serving on the committee to hire two National Pork Board CEOs; and advocating for pork quality with meat processors in the state. What can you expect to learn from this episode of Popular Pig? Anne’s journey from AmeriCorps ..read more

About the Guest Distinguished Service Award Winner Dr. Paul Sundberg retired in 2023 from his notable career, which included practicing veterinary medicine, working for national pork industry organizations and leading the Swine Health Information Center (SHIC). The award is selected by past presidents of the National Pork Board and recognizes individuals who have made invaluable contributions to the pork industry, going above and beyond what is expected of them. What can you expect to learn from this episode of Popular Pig? Explore Dr. Paul Sundberg’s journey fr ..read more

About the Guest Mandy Dutton was born on a cattle ranch in Montana, setting the foundation for a lifelong engagement with agriculture. Her family moved to a small town in the Colorado mountains during her early years, where they continued their ranching lifestyle. After completing high school, Mandy relocated to Wyoming, marking a shift from cattle to swine as she began her career in a swine facility. She progressed through various roles in the swine industry, including department lead, farm manager, production manager and recently promoted into senior production at Carthage System, where she ..read more

About Dakota Steber: Dakota Steber, Assistant Manager at Borg Farms’ Newton Sow Farm in Illinois, has a deeply rooted connection to the agriculture sector, having been introduced to pig production at a very early age. Raised on the farm where his father worked, Dakota began assisting with chores when he was just six years old. Throughout his high school and college years, the farm remained a constant in his life. After a stint in the automotive industry in Alabama and serving six years in the United States Army Reserve, Dakota returned to his roots in 2018 to take on his current role. Known fo ..read more

About the Guest Ed Tice, a native of the Texas Panhandle, has established his home in the heartland of America. For 20 years, he resided in Tipton, Indiana, and now lives in Story City, Iowa, with his wife Emily and their two children. Ed’s professional journey in the pork industry spans nearly three decades. His career began with Tyson Fresh Meats, where he contributed significantly as a Senior Hog Buyer and a Corporate Auditor for FarmCheck, Tyson’s animal welfare program. Following this, Ed expanded his expertise at United Animal Health, holding the position of Sales and Business Developmen ..read more