Wisconsin Pork Association Elects New Board Members and Officer Team
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Photo courtesy of Anna Boschert
Newly elected board members, from left: Ryan Cain, Mikayla Wehrle and Alicia Prill-Adams.
The Wisconsin Pork Association (WPA) held its annual meeting on February 6, 2020, during the 2020 Wisconsin Corn/Soy/Pork Expo. The meeting included the president's report, focusing on year-end activities, discussing upcoming events, presentations from participants in the mentorship program, NPB CEO as well as election of directors, recognition of directors and award winners.
Elected to a three-year term on the WPA Board were Alicia Prill-Adams, Platteville; Ryan Cain, Osseo; and Mikayla Wehrle, Oshkosh.
Alicia Prill-Adams has been employed at UW-Platteville's Pioneer Farm for 30 years, starting out managing the Swine Facility and overseeing consortium research projects in that facility. She was later named Assistant Farm Director and has evolved into the WI Beef Improvement Association's test station manager while still managing students and full-time employees in the swine and beef units. She assisted in the planning on construction of the Heidenreich Swine Facility, built in 2005. The facility serves as an educational facility that allows access for tours and hands-on opportunities through classes at UWP, SW Tech and other educational institutions. She developed and continues to direct UW-Platteville's Pre-Veterinary Camp for the last 15 years and will be hosting Agriculture Camp this June as well. Alicia is the key contact for the Grant County Pork Partners and serves on the WPA Youth Committee. Her goal is to continue to give back to Wisconsin's pork industry through a position on the WPA Board of Directors. Alicia and her family own a small farm west of Platteville.
Ryan Cain was born and raised in a small farming community in southern Minnesota. He currently serves as General Manager at Old Fashion Pork, located in Thorp. He began his career in 1994, on a small farrow to finish gilt multiplier in southern Minnesota. He has had many great opportunities to manage in every phase of pork production. He plans to continue to grow the Whole Foods market through Old Fashion Pork and pursue marketing Old Fashion Pork brand to local community supermarkets in the Thorp area. He is passionate about training and developing the people around him to ensure there is a responsible group of future leaders to represent our great industry. Ryan currently serves on the WPA Producer Outreach Committee. Ryan would like to contribute to the sustainability and future growth of Wisconsin Pork through supporting producers and industry affiliates. Also, focus on working with youth groups to promote involvement in the pork industry and agriculture in general. Ryan and his wife, Amanda, currently reside in Osseo and have three children, Emily (13), Reid (10), and Rorik (4).
Mikayla Wehrle received her BS in Animal Science with a meat emphasis from UW-River Falls. Mikayla was a part of the 2017 Pork Leadership cohort. She has participated in the WPA mentorship program where she learned about lobbying in Washington, D.C. She has represented WPA at the state and federal level. Mikayla is a member of the WPA Producer Outreach and Youth Committees. Mikayla currently runs a 20 sow show pig operation and works at a meat processing facility in Oshkosh.
Three board members completed terms on the board and were thanked for their dedicated service. Completing terms on the board were Shannon Wolf of Lancaster, Mike Salter of Black Creek, and Tom Knauer of Avalon. The board convened with a meeting on February 25th to elect their 2020 officer team. Board of Directors named their 2020 officer team: Jim Magolski, President; Zeb Ray Ibeling, Vice President; Christina Meylor, Secretary; Brian Klubertanz, Treasurer. At-Large Directors include Nathan Brickl, Bob Spurley, NPPC Representative-Howard AV Roth, Ryan Cain, Mikayla Wehrle, and Alicia Prill-Adams.
WPA also announced the following 2019 award winners at the 2020 Expo including: Agri-Communicator - Fabulous Farm Babe, Pam Jahnke, Distinguished Legislator - Senator Howard Marklein; Producer Honoree - Howard AV Roth; and Industry Honoree - Dave Wade of Hanor.
The mission of the Wisconsin Pork Association is to promote and protect the state's pork industry in order to ensure its success now and in the future.
