Ralco Celebrates 50th Anniversary
Ralco owners Brian & Mindy Knochenmus and Jon & Niter Knochenmus along with founder Lou Galbraith celebrated the company’s 50th anniversary Wednesday, April 21 with employees at their corporate headquarters in Marshall, Minnesota.
Ralco’s humble beginnings started out of Bob & Lou Galbraith’s garage in Marshall in 1971 and has now become a leading global provider of natural solutions that maximize nutrient conversion in plants and animals. •
Manitoba Pork Names New Chair
After 24 years of service, including 15 years as a director and seven years as chair, George Matheson stepped down from his role with the organization. Rick Préjet, a producer from Notre Dame de Lourdes, has been elected as the new chair of Manitoba Pork. Joining Préjet on the executive are Rick Bergmann (vice-chair), Scott Peters, and Margaret Rempel.
“I am deeply honoured to have been elected to be the chair of Manitoba Pork,” Préjet said upon being named chair. “I look forward to lending my voice to support producers across our province to ensure that our sector remains a key contributor to the provincial economy and will continue to greatly enhance the lives of all Manitobans.” •
AVL/Solvet welcomes Western Canada Innovation Manager
AVL/Solvet is proud to announce and welcome Wendy Dittmer as the company’s Western Canada Innovation Manager. Dittmer will be responsible for managing key accounts, veterinary technical consultants and the sales team in Western Canada.
Dittmer’s position will also support the development and implementation of internal customer service and marketing processes.
Dittmer joins AVL/Solvet from Kane Veterinary Supplies – a Canadian wholesale and distributor of products to the veterinary, pet, agricultural and equine markets across the country.
Dittmer graduated with a B.Sc. Agr. Animal Science in 1999. She began her career as a nutritional consultant for dairy, beef and equine species. Joining Kane in 2006, Wendy continued working in animal health overseeing sales, marketing and manufacturing partner support.
AVL/Solvet is the only Animal Health Company based in Alberta and is growing rapidly. •
Manitoba Pork Producers Support Harvest Manitoba
Announced after press time of last edition. Manitoba Pork and H@MS Marketing Services Co-op Inc. have made a donation of a combined $10,000 worth of product and financial support to Harvest Manitoba, supporting communities across the province with high-quality protein and much needed healthy pantry staples.
Harvest Manitoba feeds 80,000 Manitobans each month across the province and collects and shares 11 million pounds of healthy and nutritious food to feed those who are food insecure. 1 in 8 Manitobans lives in a food insecure home.
Manitoba’s hog sector is proud to make a meaningful social impact by supporting sustainable food security. While our job is to provide a high-quality, affordable protein to the world, we are passionate about supporting the well-being of the communities where we live and work. Every year Manitoba Pork donates more than two tonnes of pork products to those in need. •
John Patience Retires
After he 46 dedicated years to the swine industry John Patience retired. Although been employed by Iowa State University since 2008 first as a associate professor, then to professor in 2010 many of Prairie Hog Country readers remember him from his time at Prairie Swine Centre.
Patience spent 21 years at the Prairie Swine Centre, a swine research facility at the University of Saskatchewan, but his career in the swine industry began in 1975 when he was hired as a provincial swine specialist for the Saskatchewan Department of Agriculture. •
