Jennifer Daniels, 2023 Pork Producer of the Year

Mar 27, 2023

Meeting Jennifer Daniels for the first time, it’s her lucky pig earrings that initially stand out.

“The earrings were gifts to me from a couple of girls who I call my grandchildren,” says Daniels, noting that the girls are actually no kin to her. “They knew how much I love pigs, and I am happy that the earrings are the first thing people see when they meet me.”

But the earrings are not the most enduring thing people remember about the NC Pork Council’s 2023 Outstanding Pork Producer of the Year. It’s her infectious enthusiasm that stands out regarding all aspects of her life, including her outstanding contributions to the pork industry.

Just understand her priorities. Faith. Family. Farm.

Receive an email from Daniels, and it will conclude with a passage of scripture. Her favorite is Matthew 5:16, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”

Daniels is fully committed to the Union Grove Baptist Church in Salemburg, where she wears many hats. In fact, she wears most of them, serving as music director, worship leader, women’s group leader and Sunday School teacher.

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Video: Next Mile Ep 1: Navigating Disease Prevention

The Next Mile, host Dr. Meredith Petersen, Director of Swine Health at the National Pork Board, sits down with Dr. Cara Haden, Director of Animal Welfare and Biosecurity at Pipestone, to unpack the National Swine Health Strategy and what it means for producers across the country.

Meredith walks through how the strategy came together: a producer-led effort launched in March 2025 in response to input gathered at the National Pork Industry Forum, built around two core goals, keeping foreign and emerging diseases out of the U.S. herd and reducing the impact of domestic diseases already here, including long-term elimination targets for PRRSV and PEDV.

Cara then brings the conversation down to the farm level, sharing how Pipestone scores biosecurity across seven key areas: air, feed, water, people, supplies, trucks and pigs, plus everything within the farm perimeter. She and Meredith dig into why farm leadership and daily culture, not just protocols on paper, ultimately determine whether biosecurity efforts stick.

Whether you're a producer, veterinarian, or anyone invested in herd health, this episode offers a grounded look at where the industry is headed and what everyday habits make the biggest difference.