KANSAS CITY, Mo., March 6, 2026 — During the National Pork Industry Forum held in Kansas City, Missouri, the National Pork Producers Council revealed the winners of three major scholarship programs totaling $90,000 in financial support. The awards include the 2026 Lois Britt Memorial Pork Industry Scholarship, the Neil Dierks Scholarship, and the newly launched U.S. Pork Center of Excellence (USPCE) Swine Legacy Scholarship. CME Group and the National Pork Industry Foundation (NPIF) sponsor these programs that honor outstanding students pursuing careers in America’s pork sector.
Duane Stateler, departing NPPC president and Ohio pork producer, expressed enthusiasm about the scholarship recipients. “These young leaders represent the very best of our industry’s future,” Stateler commented. “At Forum each year, we are reminded the strength of U.S. pork is not only in our farms and businesses but in the people who are stepping up to serve it. Their work ethic, integrity, and commitment to agriculture give me great confidence in where we are headed. NPPC is proud to support them as they carry this industry forward.”
John Ricci, managing director and global head of agricultural products at CME Group, highlighted his company’s long-standing commitment to the industry. “We have proudly supported NPPC and its commitment to the pork industry and its next generation of leaders through the Lois Britt Memorial Pork Industry Scholarship since 1990,” Ricci stated. “We congratulate this year’s recipients and applaud their success and ongoing dedication to the field of agriculture.”
Lois Britt Memorial Pork Industry Scholarship Recipients
Ten students earned the $2,500 Lois Britt Memorial Pork Industry Scholarship for 2026:
- Trell Amoss — Oklahoma State University
- Elizabeth Anderson — Iowa State University
- Avah Burke — Pennsylvania State University
- Jenna DeRouchey — Iowa State University
- Halle Evans — Iowa State University
- Georgia Horosky — Wilmington College
- Drew Mickey — Kansas State University
- Abigail Morse — South Dakota State University
- Kylee Reed — Iowa State University
- Joshua Wiley — Iowa State University
CME Group and NPIF jointly fund the Lois Britt Memorial Pork Industry Scholarship, which supports undergraduate students enrolled in two-year swine programs or four-year agricultural college programs. The scholarship program began in 1990 and received its current name in 2006 to honor Lois Britt, a former NPPC board director. Britt dedicated her career to agricultural advancement, serving 34 years with the North Carolina Cooperative Extension before working 15 years in public and government relations with Murphy-Brown LLC, now known as Smithfield. Her contributions earned her induction into both the NPPC Pork Industry Hall of Fame and the North Carolina Pork Council Hall of Fame, along with the North Carolina 4-H Lifetime Achievement Award.
Neil Dierks Scholarship Winner
Emma Zwart from Iowa State University received the $5,000 Neil Dierks Scholarship for 2026.
The National Pork Industry Foundation administers the Neil Dierks Scholarship, which was established in 2021 and provides funding for current or incoming graduate students in swine-related programs. The scholarship honors Neil Dierks, who led NPPC as CEO for 20 years before retiring in December 2021 after three decades with the organization. During his tenure, Dierks helped establish NPPC as a prominent advocacy organization and the international voice of the U.S. pork industry. His achievements were recognized with his induction into the NPPC Pork Industry Hall of Fame in 2022.
USPCE Swine Legacy Scholarship Recipients
Four students received the inaugural $5,000 USPCE Swine Legacy Scholarship in 2026:
- Rebecca Brown — The Ohio State University
- Jenna DeRouchey — Iowa State University
- Kory Storm — South Dakota State University
- Trell Amoss — Oklahoma State University
The National Pork Industry Foundation manages the USPCE Swine Legacy Scholarship, which was created in 2026 following the closure of the U.S. Pork Center of Excellence after two decades of operation as a public-private partnership serving the pork industry. Through a competitive application process, the organization’s remaining financial resources were transferred to NPIF to establish an endowed scholarship program. This scholarship assists students pursuing careers in research, education, or veterinary science with an emphasis on the swine industry, providing funding for one graduate or professional track student and three undergraduate students annually. The program is structured to continue for the next 40 years, preserving the Center’s mission by supporting the next generation of industry professionals.
Additional information about the scholarship application process is available through NPPC’s education programs.
