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The American Association of Swine Veterinarians (AASV) held its 49th annual meeting in San Diego, California, March 3 - 6, 2018. The meeting, held at the Manchester Grand Hyatt, drew record attendance of 1220 total attendees, including 765 paid registrants (also a record) and 102 veterinary students from 22 colleges of veterinary medicine. The conference participants hailed from 30 countries, with 295 attendees (24% of the total) from outside the United States, including 60 from Canada and 79 from Mexico. The total attendance also included a record 305 exhibit representatives from 101 companies and organizations (another all-time high).
The meeting participants enjoyed the opportunity to attend numerous educational sessions, including 10 pre-conference seminars, two general sessions, three break-out sessions, research topics, three industrial partners sessions, the Student Seminar, and a poster session featuring 89 posters. In addition, 14 AASV committees met during the annual meeting. The Monitoring and Surveillance 2.0 seminar on Saturday afternoon was extremely popular (166 registrants), while the Antibiotic Alternatives seminar garnered the most attention of the seminars on Sunday morning (134 registrants). On Sunday afternoon, the participation by companies in the Industrial Partners sessions was extremely high this year - 3 sessions running every 15 minutes from 1:00 through 5:45 pm with no breaks.
Dr Lisa Tokach coordinated a social media competition at this year’s meeting to try to raise social awareness of our meeting in a positive way. Fourteen competitors competed across multiple social media platforms. An esteemed panel of judges, consisting of Drs. Katie Woodard, Brent Pepin, and Trevor Martin judged the contestants based on 5 categories: content of message, professionalism, creativity, interest level, and positive impact on AASV. The winners of the competition were: Rachel Schulte (1st place, $250), Chris Rademacher (2nd place, $100) and Shamus Brown (3rd place, $50).
Dr Bill DuBois opened the Monday general session with the Howard Dunne Memorial Lecture. His presentation, entitled “How geography, culture, and socioeconomic status affect global animal protein consumption: Applications for swine veterinarians” recognized that swine veterinarians are already involved in a global, multi-cultural industry. Dr DuBois explored the global impact veterinarians can have on livestock production and the opportunities this access affords AASV members to better understand the cultural influences of the food choices in those cultures.
Dr Rodger Main presented the Alex Hogg Memorial Lecture entitled “This is our time, the choices are yours.” His presentation explored the changes that have occurred in the U.S. pork industry and swine veterinary profession over the last 40 years. He discusses the importance of animal health and the impact of disease on production, trade and animal well-being and the role of the veterinarian in modern pork production.
The Monday afternoon concurrent sessions allowed attendees the opportunity to consider advances in technology and management practices, emerging disease issues, and management of endemic diseases. The Tuesday general session addressed the issues associated with antibiotic use in swine medicine.
Dr John Waddell presented the Heritage Award to Dr Conrad Schmidt during the luncheon on Monday. This is only the fourth time the Heritage Award has been presented. The AASV Awards Reception was held Monday night, followed by the AASV Foundation’s annual fund-raising auction. Dr Michelle Sprague, 2014 AASV president and chair of the 2018 Awards Selection Committee, introduced the recipients of the Swine Practitioner of the Year Award (Dr Mary Battrell), the Howard Dunne Memorial Award (Dr Dick Hesse), the Meritorious Service Award (Dr Liz Wagstrom), the Young Swine Veterinarian of the Year Award (Dr Adam Schelkopf), and the Technical Services/Allied Industry Veterinarian of the Year Award (Dr Gene Nemechek).
Swine Practitioner of the Year
Dr Mary Battrell was named 2018 Swine Practitioner of the Year. The award is given to the swine practitioner who has demonstrated an unusual degree of proficiency and effectiveness in the delivery of veterinary service to clients.
Dr Battrell was born and raised on a family farm in Albany, OH. Her family farmed 250 – 600 acres of cropland, had a cow-calf operation, raised 250 feeder steers each year and had a 100-head farrow-to-finish swine operation. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture from The Ohio State University followed by a Master’s degree in Animal Science with a focus in ruminant nutrition from the University of Tennessee. Upon graduation, she moved to Iowa and worked as a sales representative for the Upjohn Company.
Battrell earned her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Degree and a master’s degree in swine production medicine from Iowa State University in 1995. She began her veterinary career in North Carolina working for Dr. Fred Cunningham. A year later, she accepted a position with Brown’s of Carolina in Kenansville, NC where she worked for three years. Following her time at Brown’s, she was employed as a technical services veterinarian for Pharmacia before returning to Smithfield Hog Production at the Murphy Family Farms Rose Hill office in 2000. She is currently the staff veterinarian for Smithfield Hog Production’s East Central Region and is responsible for the health and well-being of 140,000 sows farrow to finish. She has been actively involved in the development of the Smithfield Animal Care Program and serves as chair for that committee.
Asked to comment about receiving this award, Dr Battrell replied, “Swine practitioners do an excellent job of caring for their animals and providing a safe and wholesome product for the consumer. It is incredibly humbling to be selected among them for this award. God has blessed me with a loving family, outstanding mentors, and co-workers that have guided me throughout my career. I am grateful for my Smithfield team, our care givers, and contract growers that work hard every day to put the pig’s needs first. I am proud to be a part of this industry. Thank you for the opportunities and for this recognition.”
Dr Battrell and her husband, Wayne Banks, reside in Garland, NC with their son Don Banks.
Howard Dunne Memorial Award
Dr Dick Hesse received the 2018 Howard Dunne Memorial Award which recognizes an AASV member who has made important contributions and provided outstanding service to the association and the swine industry.
Hesse was born in Mitchell, South Dakota. He attended Huron College where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1975 with a major in biology and minors in chemistry and education. From 1976 to 1979, he served as a Biological Research Assistant in the Virology Division at the United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Fort Detrick, MD where he received his training in classical virology. Following his time at USAMRIID, Hesse was a research assistant in the South Dakota State University Diagnostic Laboratory’s virology section until 1981 and then was a research scientist with Solvay Animal Health.
Hesse received a master’s degree in 1982 from South Dakota State University and a Doctor of Philosophy Degree from the University of Nebraska in 1993. Hesse was a scientist and Group Leader in the Virology Section at Schering-Plough Animal Health until 1997 and Manager of Virology Biologics, Research and Development at Intervet until 2006. Currently, Hesse is a professor in the Department of Diagnostic Medicine and Pathobiology in the College of Veterinary Medicine at Kansas State University. He is also the Director of Diagnostic Virology at the Kansas State Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory.
Hesse was awarded the Army’s Distinguished Service Medal for Lassa Fever research in 1979 and the Schering-Plough Excellence Award for the development of a PRRS vaccine. Additionally, he has received the Kansas Veterinary Medical Association Distinguished Service Award. Dr. Hesse has authored or co-authored more than 50 publications, presentations, and/or patents. In addition, he has led the development of at least 12 USDA-licensed vaccines. He has been active in a number of AASV committees and currently serves on the National Pork Board Swine Health Committee.
When asked what it meant to him to receive the Howard Dunne Memorial Award he responded, “I am blessed to be able to work with so many talented and dedicated people across the swine industry. To be recognized by them is the highest honor I have ever received and it means more to me than anyone will ever know.”
In 1974, Dick married Debby Anderson, his high school sweetheart. They lived a number of places but mostly raised the family in Omaha Nebraska. They have 4 children : Chris, Josh, Jacque and Andrea, and 11 grandchildren. Sadly, Debby passed away in 2014.
Meritorious Service Award
Dr Elizabeth Wagstrom was named the 2018 recipient of the American Association of Swine Veterinarians’ Meritorious Service Award. The award recognizes individuals who have provided outstanding service to the AASV.
Dr Wagstrom was raised in Montevideo, Minnesota, where she became an avid horse lover. This early interest in horses channeled her interest and education in the agricultural field. Wagstrom attended the University of Minnesota where she obtained Bachelor of Science degrees in Agricultural Economics and Animal Science. While living in Faribault, Minnesota, Wagstrom worked at a variety of jobs that revolved around the agricultural and science fields. One of the jobs was with Oxford Labs, a swine vaccine company headquartered in Worthington, Minnesota. Her time spent at Oxford Labs was a launching point for her work in the swine field. Wagstrom ultimately decided to return to school and obtained a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Iowa State University in 1999. During her time at ISU, she also earned her master’s degree in Veterinary Preventive Medicine.
Prior to earning her veterinary degree, Wagstrom worked as a marketing manager in swine biologics and diagnostics at Oxford Veterinary Laboratories in Worthington, Minnesota. She was a Graduate Research Assistant at ISU from 1996-1998 and then went on to be a Production Management/Veterinarian at Iowa Select Farms. In 2000, she was employed as a public health veterinarian and senior Epidemiologist and at the Minnesota Department of Health, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. From 2001-July 2004, she served as the Director of Veterinary Science at the National Pork Board in Des Moines, Iowa. From 2004-2010 she was an Assistant Vice President – Science and Technology at the National Pork Board.
In 2010, Wagstrom accepted a position as Associate Professor - Veterinary Public Practice-Residency Director at the University of Minnesota Center for Animal Health and Food Safety. Since 2011, she has been the Chief Veterinarian with the National Pork Producers Council in Washington, DC, and Des Moines, Iowa.
When asked to comment about receiving the award, Wagstrom responded, "I am honored to receive this award from my peers, and am so appreciative that the work I do with the National Pork Producers Council allows me to advocate not only on behalf of the pork industry but also the swine veterinary profession."
Dr Wagstrom and her husband, Brian, reside in Faribault, MN. They have two children: Andrew and Emily.
Young Swine Veterinarian of the Year Award
The American Association of Swine Veterinarian’s Young Swine Veterinarian of the Year Award was presented to Dr Adam Schelkopf. It is given annually to an AASV member five or less years post-graduation who has demonstrated the ideals of exemplary service and proficiency early in his or her career.
Dr Schelkopf received his DVM degree in 2012 from the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine. Following graduation, Dr Schelkopf accepted a position as an associate veterinarian with Pipestone Veterinary Services and is currently a partner in Pipestone Holdings. He serves as the Health Director for the Pipestone
System and Director of the East Region, working with independent producers across the Midwest.
In addition to his full-time commitment to practicing swine medicine, Dr. Schelkopf is finishing his master’s degree at Iowa State University. He has been involved in researching porcine epidemic diarrhea virus immunity in sows and piglets, with special consideration to antibody test interpretation. Schelkopf is a third-generation swine veterinarian.
Upon acceptance of the award, Dr Schelkopf commented, “I am honored and humbled to receive this award, and exceptionally thankful to the AASV. The AASV and the swine veterinary community are wonderful in how they embrace students and young practitioners, provide opportunities to learn and develop professionally, as well as create lifelong friendships. I owe tremendous gratitude to my parents, my mentors, and my colleagues at Pipestone. Pipestone instills a sense of passion for the industry, profession, and communities we work in, as well as a sense of family throughout the company which I am grateful to be a part of. Thank you to the AASV for this award and the opportunity to be a part of this organization.”
In his spare time, Dr Schelkopf enjoys golfing, water sports and hunting. He currently resides in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
Technical Services/Allied Industry Veterinarian of the Year Award
Dr Eugene Nemechek received the American Association of Swine Veterinarians’ Technical Services/Allied Industry Veterinarian of the Year Award. Established in 2008, the award recognizes swine industry veterinarians who have demonstrated an unusual degree of proficiency and effectiveness in delivery of veterinary service to their companies and their clients, as well as given tirelessly in service to the AASV and the swine industry.
Nemechek grew up on a family farm in Goodland, KS, one of eleven children. His interest in veterinary medicine was sparked at an early age by the veterinary practitioner on his family’s farm. He earned his animal science and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degrees at Kansas State University. Upon graduation in 1976, he practiced in a rural mixed animal practice before stepping into a role specializing in the swine industry.
In 1985, Nemechek left private practice to accept a position as a staff veterinarian at Cargill Pork in Wilson, NC where he remained until 2005. Upon leaving Cargill, he was hired by Genetic Improvement Services in North Carolina as Director of Health and Production. Subsequently, he joined Tyson Fresh Meats in Springdale, Arkansas as a Quality Assurance Veterinarian before joining Pfizer (Zoetis) in 2011 where he currently serves as a Pork Technical Services Veterinarian.
Dr. Nemechek has also served on the AASV Board of Directors, the North Carolina Pork Council board, and the National Pork Board, where was president in 2010-11. He is also extremely active as a presenter for Operation Main Street at the local and national level.
When asked to comment on what the award meant to him, Dr Nemechek said, “I was truly honored to receive this award from the AASV association and my colleagues. It is amazing to be recognized for doing the things every day that you enjoying doing, especially serving a great industry and swine veterinary profession. It makes life fun and worthwhile. ”
Dr Nemechek and his wife, Susan, reside in Wilson, NC. They have 4 children Sarah Nemechek, Molly Nemechek, Megan Inskeep , and Jeremiah Nemechek. children and 4 grand-children.
Annual Business Breakfast
American Association of Swine Veterinarians President Dr Alex Ramirez reported on the association’s membership and activities during the annual breakfast on Tuesday, March 6th. The 2018 AASV officers, Drs Scanlon Daniels, President; Nathan Winkelman, President-elect; Jeff Harker, Vice President; and Alex Ramirez, Past President, were installed. The board welcomed newly-elected district directors: Dr Melissa Billing (District 1), Dr Darryl Ragland (District 4), Dr Locke Karriker (re-elected District 6). Dr Ramirez also welcomed Jonathan Tubbs (Auburn University, 2020), incoming Alternate Student Delegate to the AASV Board of Directors, and thanked outgoing Student Delegate Brent Sexton (Iowa State University, 2018). Jordan Gebhardt (Kansas State University, 2019) assumes the role of Student Delegate. Honored guests at the business breakfast included Dr Michael Topper (AVMA President), Dr John Howe (AVMA Liaison and candidate for President), Dr Patrick Webb (NPB) and Dr Liz Wagstrom (NPPC). The audience heard updates from each organization. Approximately 250 people attended the breakfast.
