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Applications Now Open for 2026 Neil Dierks Scholarship Honoring Former NPPC CEO

By Abbey Canon

The National Pork Industry Foundation (NPIF), a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing research and education in the pork industry, is now accepting applications for the 2026 Neil Dierks Scholarship.

This $5,000 scholarship honors Neil Dierks, the longtime CEO of the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) and recognizes his remarkable leadership and dedication to the pork industry throughout his career. The scholarship is awarded annually to a graduate student enrolled at a land-grant university and pursuing studies that directly support the pork industry.

“Neil’s leadership and vision left a lasting impact on producers and the broader agricultural community,” said John Anderson, pork producer from Minnesota and NPPC representative on the NPIF board.

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Stress as a Nutrient Thief - Dr. Sarah Pearce

Video: Stress as a Nutrient Thief - Dr. Sarah Pearce


In this episode of The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Sarah Pearce, Research Animal Physiologist with USDA ARS, explains why stress can act as a nutrient thief in pigs. She discusses gastrointestinal health, barrier integrity, inflammation, feed efficiency, stress interactions, and emerging biomarkers that may help predict performance challenges before they occur. Listen now on all major platforms!

Click here to read the full research article: https://academic.oup.com/af/article/1...

"Stress can steal calories and nutrients because energy normally used for growth is redirected toward immune activation, gut repair, and other costly survival responses."

Meet the guest: Dr. Sarah Pearce / sarah-pearce-phd-3a5881a5 earned her M.S. and Ph.D. in Nutritional Sciences from Iowa State University and currently serves as a Research Animal Physiologist with the USDA Agricultural Research Service. Her research focuses on gastrointestinal physiology, nutrition, stress biology, immune function, and productivity in pigs and poultry. Learn more from Dr. Sarah Pearce on the Swine Nutrition Black Belt Podcast, available on all major platforms.