Young pork industry professionals selected for Pork Leadership Carolina program
RALEIGH (April 30, 2024) — The NC Pork Council has selected 17 young professionals in the pork industry to participate in a year-long leadership program.
“The North Carolina Pork Council is only as successful as the leaders available to us,” said Roy Lee Lindsey, CEO of NC Pork Council. “It is imperative we continue to develop members to fill leadership roles within the association, to be advocates for the industry, and help guide our future.”
The Pork Leadership Carolina program prepares pork industry professionals to serve as the next generation of leaders. The program educates individuals about the challenges and opportunities facing the NC pork industry, trains them to confidently engage with neighbors and the media about their farms, and prepares them to develop relationships with stakeholders to promote and protect the pork industry in North Carolina and beyond.
The program is open to professionals in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia, including farmers, students, and allied partners.
The program includes a two-day overview of the pork industry, meetings with state leaders in Raleigh, and a visit to Washington, DC to meet with the National Pork Producers Council and members of Congress.
“There are a lot of benefits to the PLC experience. Not only does it give you the opportunity to make professional connections, it also allows you to build those relationships to collaborate in the future,” said Mallory Strickland of Warsaw, an animal care program manager at Smithfield Foods Hog Production from Warsaw who participated in the inaugural program.
“It is also great because it is getting the next generation farmer involved on different levels of the industry including professional development classes, visiting with government officials to tell our story, and getting involved in NC Pork events.”
The list of participants includes:
Taylor Best: Independent Farmer, Whitehall Farms / Owner, R.D. Jones Packing
Yolanda Castelo: Continuous Improvement Manager, Smithfield Hog Production
Jennifer Coltrain: Livestock Extension Agent, NC Cooperative Extension
Benjamin Davis: Contract Grower, Smithfield (LC Farm)
Eston Easterling: Nursery/Finisher Production Resource Specialist, Smithfield Hog Production
Kaylee Gabriel: Agricultural Institute Recruiter, NC State
Carly Graves: Assistant Project Engineer, Agri-Waste Technology
Megan Jensen: Recruiter, Murphy Family Ventures
Austin Jones: Swine Research Technician, NCDA&CS Research Station
Hannah Jones: Sow Farm Manager, Murphy Family Ventures
Sherry Kennedy: Contract Grower, Prestage (Cabin Farm & Potters Hill Farm)
Sarah Large: Contract Grower, Smithfield (Cherry Hill Farm)
Rex Price: Contract Grower, Smithfield (R&S Price Hog Farm)
Samantha Raynor: IT Business Analyst, Smithfield Hog Production
Kaleb Sargent: Appraiser at AgCarolina Farm Credit
Ryan Varley: Compliance Auditor, Smithfield Hog Production
Justin Whitley: CEO, Drylet Inc. / Contract Grower, Smithfield (J&K Farms)
About the North Carolina Pork Council
The NC Pork Council is the voice of North Carolina’s pork industry, advocating for the family farmers and industry partners who work hard every day to produce quality pork the right way — safely, responsibly, and sustainably. North Carolina is one of the top pork-producing states in the country, ranking third nationwide and contributing $10.8 billion to our state’s economy each year. Whether through advocacy, education, or community outreach, the NC Pork Council works to support responsible, smart farming practices and to ensure the continued success of the industry. Learn more at www.ncpork.org.