Posted March 7, 2012

The Chicago Mercantile Exchange has awarded scholarships to four college students who intend to pursue careers in the pork industry.

The announcement came at the annual business meeting of the National Pork Producers Council – the National Pork Industry Forum – held in Denver March 1-3. NPPC administers the scholarship selection process.

Karl Kerns from Clearfield was awarded one of the $2,500 Lois Britt Memorial Pork Industry Scholarships – named after the late NPPC vice president from Mt. Olive, N.C. The son of former IPPA President Steve Kerns and his wife, Becky, Karl is majoring in animal science with an emphasis on reproductive physiology at Iowa State University. The sophomore also received a Britt Scholarship last year.

The other scholarship winners are:

• Jennifer Haugland from Belgrade, Mont., a junior at Montana State University.
• Becca Moest from Winslow, Ill., a junior at Iowa State University.
• Anna Marie Samson from Three Forks, Mont., a senior at Montana State University.

This is the 22nd year of the CME scholarship program, which recognizes outstanding youth in the pork community. To be eligible, students must be undergraduates in a two-year swine program or a four-year college of agriculture, provide a brief letter describing their expected role in the pork industry, write an essay on an issue affecting the pork industry and submit two letters of reference from professors or industry professionals.

“These outstanding young people represent the future of the U.S. pork industry,” said outgoing NPPC President Doug Wolf, a pork producer from Lancaster, Wis. “They are the next generation of leaders, and NPPC and the Chicago Mercantile Exchange are pleased to recognize their commitment to the pork industry with these scholarships.”