Manitoba Pork Honours Valuable Industry Partners at AGM 2017

At Manitoba Pork’s Annual General Meeting on April 5, 2017, Chair George Matheson presented Manitoba’s Chief Veterinary Officer, Dr. Megan Bergman, with a 2017 Pork Industry Award in recognition of her exemplary support of the industry as it met recent swine health challenges, through her strong leadership, knowledge, and genuine empathy in dealing with Manitoba pork producers.

Dr. Bergman has rural roots, growing up on a mixed farm in the Interlake area and helping her dad with his cattle herd, vaccinating and calving. Her passion for animal care grew from there, and she has dedicated her career to working with animals.

The pork producers of Manitoba sincerely thank Dr. Bergman for all of her contributions to our industry.

Also handed out was 2017 Award of Distinction to Manitoba Pork’s Dr. Laurie Connor in recognition of her outstanding contributions to the hog industry in teaching and mentoring the next generation of livestock specialists, while advancing swine research provincially and nationally, at all times with passion and integrity.

Throughout almost three decades at the University of Manitoba, first as an associate professor before becoming a full professor in 1999, Dr. Laurie Connor has been an exemplary advocate for agriculture while also pushing for continuous improvement in animal care practices. She has been a positive driving force behind the pork industry: a staunch advocate while at the same time offering us constructive criticism when required.

Manitoba Pork has enjoyed a longstanding and valuable relationship with Laurie, and have always appreciated the commitment and energy that she brought to solving some of the challenges we face. On behalf of the pork producers of Manitoba, we present our 2017 Award of Distinction to Dr. Connor and sincerely thank her for her many contributions to our industry. •

Penner Farm Systems AB Expands Team

Keith Vaandrager General Manager of Penner Farm Services Alberta, is pleased to welcome Ralph Tuck to his team. Ralph joins Penner with a vast array of experience in the swine industry over the last 40 years. He will represent Penner as a Swine Specialist in both Alberta and Saskatchewan.

Ralph has been a active part of the industry including being a previous board member of both Banff Pork Seminar and Alberta Pork Congress.

Ralph looks forward to meeting with current and future customers to help with all your swine product needs. •

Manitoba Pork Helps Siloam Mission ‘Make Room’

On April 5, Manitoba pork producers and industry partners gathered for the 2017 Manitoba Pork Annual General Meeting and Banquet. The highlight of the event came when Chair George Matheson presented a cheque for $50,000 to Siloam Mission’s Garth Manness, Capital Campaign Chair, and Judy Richichi, Director of Major Gifts and Corporate Relations, for Siloam’s Make Room campaign . Siloam Mission gives folks the support they need to regain their dignity and become contributing members of society, by alleviating hardships and providing opportunities for change. In 2010, Manitoba Pork was tremendously proud to be the first top-level sponsor to sign on as a Partner for Change with Siloam Mission’s Sponsor the Meal program, an opportunity for local businesses to provide meals to Winnipeg’s less fortunate. Each year we provide the Mission with a cash donation and approximately one tonne of high-quality, nutritious pork products.

As the demand for Siloam’s help in the community has grown over the years, the organization has increasingly experienced capacity shortage for all of their much-needed services. And so it was, when Siloam launched their Make Room campaign in 2016 to raise funds for expansion, Manitoba Pork was quick to sign on for kitchen duties: a new walk-in cooler.

“It is with great pleasure that Manitoba Pork takes part in Siloam Mission’s Make Room campaign by sponsoring a new walk-in cooler,” said Chair George Matheson. “It may be our job to provide high-quality, reasonably priced protein to the world, but it is our passion and commitment to help ensure food security here at home. We are proud to partner with this amazing organization and connect with our community by offering a hand up to those in need.”

“Siloam Mission is so grateful for Manitoba Pork’s on-going partnership and tremendous gift towards the Make Room capital campaign,” noted Jim Bell, Siloam’s CEO. •