$5,000 Scholarship Offered for Grad Students in Pork Industry

Oct 08, 2025
By Farms.com

Apply Now for the 2025 Neil Dierks Pork Industry Scholarship

The National Pork Industry Foundation is now accepting applications for the 2025 Neil Dierks Scholarship, created to honor the former NPPC CEO and his lasting contributions to the U.S. pork industry. The foundation, managed by NPPC, supports research and education that strengthens the pork sector.

This $5,000 scholarship is awarded each year to a graduate student enrolled at a land-grant university who is pursuing studies that directly benefit the pork industry.

Applicants have the opportunity to advance their education while contributing to the future of U.S. pork production.

Applications are due by December 31, 2025. The scholarship recipient will be announced at NPPC’s annual business meeting, the National Pork Industry Forum, scheduled for March 4-6, 2026, in Kansas City, Missouri.

For eligibility details or to apply, visit the NPPC website. Questions can be directed to Lucy Russell, NPPC Manager of Producer Engagement, at 515-864-7983 or russelll@nppc.org.

Photo Credit: national-pork-industry-foundation

Video: New Solution Powers Efficient Pork Growth

Alltech has introduced Olerix, an innovative phytogenic blend created to promote growth and feed efficiency in pigs. Through a proprietary coating process, the bioactive blend of phytogenic compounds used in Olerix is designed to outlast the manufacturing process, ensuring consistent outcomes from feed to finish. The result is a high-impact efficiency solution that provides consistent support for gut health, feed efficiency, immune function and growth performance. Olerix is backed by validated trials conducted under modern pork production conditions.

“As the industry searches for technology to drive profitability forward in a more sustainable manner, we’re thrilled to join that effort with our Olerix technology,” said Mark Hulsebus, general manager for U.S. pork at Alltech. “Our work in this phytogenic space is yielding very encouraging results, and we’re excited to make this new opportunity available to pork producers focused on optimizing feed efficiency and growth rates.”

“Olerix represents the next generation of phytogenic technology — combining feed efficiency, livability and immune support into a practical commercial solution producers can implement today,” said Andy Rash, U.S. monogastric director at Alltech.