Saturday got started with breakfast speaker Pamela Bartholomew, agritourism marketing specialist for the Tennessee Department of Agriculture in Nashville, Tenn., who talked about the use of social media in promoting agriculture. The group then boarded a bus for to Lake City, Ark., where they spent the day touring Cobb Farms. The Cobb family hosted lunch, provided tours of their showpig operation, and also hosted dinner.
“The kids really enjoyed the entire Cobb experience – from the tours of the farm, to the tremendous hospitality from the entire family,” said Duttlinger. “We really appreciate all they did for the NJSA.”
Other workshops Saturday afternoon included a second session from Williamson, as well as a discussion of swine disease from Dr. Steve Copeland of Paragould, Ark., and a seminar on the exporting U.S. purebred swine genetics to foreign countries from exporter Tony Clayton of Jefferson City, Mo.
“Tony’s presentation was very interesting and well-received,” said Duttlinger. “He shared a lot of intriguing stories about his experiences transporting swine internationally, which was interesting, but I think the kids were also inspired by the international market potential for our purebred genetics.”
Sunday started with breakfast and an inspirational message from Ray Perryman of Shallowater, Texas, followed by a panel discussion on securing an internship. Moderated by NSR CEO Darrell Anderson, the panel featured Poliska; Bartholomew; Rachel Stine, NSR assistant editor; and Alicia Keller, NJSA director of Corfu, New York. Williamson presented a concluding leadership workshop to wrap up the successful conference.
The 2010 NJSA National Youth Leadership Conference was sponsored by the National Pork Board, ADM Alliance Nutrition, Inc., Cobb Farms, Honor Show Chow Show Feeds, Indiana Yorkshire Breeders, Intervet-A Division of Schering-Plough, Kent Feeds, Small Town Genetics, Darrell and Merlene Anderson, Golden State Genetics, Pork Power Farm, Jim Hamilton, Tempel Genetics, Tom Farrer and Family, and Zehr Farms.
For photos from the 2010 NJSA National Youth Leadership Conference, click here.