Posted March 10, 2014

Hill                                         Weber

Two Iowa hog farmers were elected last weekend to top positions on the National Pork Producers Council.

Dr. Howard Hill of Cambridge was elected president and John Weber from Dysart was elected vice president at NPPC’s annual business meeting – the National Pork Industry Forum – held in Kansas City. Both will serve one-year terms.

Hill is a consultant for Iowa Select Farms and has been with the company since 2000. His pork production business, H&K Enterprises, includes hogs and cattle. Hill and his son also farm 2,600 acres of corn, soybeans and alfalfa.

A native of southern California, Hill earned his bachelor’s and doctorate of veterinary medicine degrees from the University of California-Davis. He received his master’s degree and Ph.D. in veterinary microbiology from Iowa State University.

Hill, who serves on a number of NPPC committees, recently served on the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Advisory Committee on Animal Health. He is a member of the Story County Pork Producers, is on the board of directors of the Iowa Pork Producers Association and is past president of the American Association of Swine Veterinarians. Hill also is involved with the Iowa Veterinary Medical Association and the American Veterinary Medical Association.

Weber, along with his son, manages Valley Lane Farms, a grain and livestock operation, near Dysart. He has been with Cargill Pork since 1994 and is currently contract feeding with finishing facilities on three of his farms.

Weber has served on several NPPC committees, including the Strategic Investment Program marketing committee, the Environmental Policy committee and the Farm Bill Task Force. Weber also serves on the Iowa Pork Producers Association board of directors as well as several state committees. Weber holds a bachelor’s degree in animal science from Iowa State University.

Dr. Ron Prestage from Camden, S.C., was elevated to the post of president-elect for a one-year term. He is part of the family-owned Prestage Farms, which includes hogs, turkeys, cattle and cropland for hay.

“These well-respected gentlemen have proven track records of leadership in multiple capacities, across multiple areas of agriculture,” said NPPC CEO Neil Dierks. “I am confident each will continue to work hard and bring new ideas to the table that will be of great benefit to the U.S. pork industry.”