Effingham County Native Wins First Pork Issues Meet

Emma Kuhns, right, won the National Pork Producers Council’s inaugural Young Pork Advocates Issues Meet held during World Pork Expo at the Iowa State Fairgrounds June 5-6. Twelve competitors aged 17-22 from around the country competed, with Kuhns, an Effingham County native and University of Illinois graduate, taking home the top prize. (Photo courtesy of NPPC)

BY TAMMIE SLOUP FarmWeek

An Effingham County native won the National Pork Producers Council’s inaugural Young Pork Advocates Issues Meet held during the World Pork Expo in Des Moines.

Emma Kuhns, 22, bested 11 other competitors from around the country in the competitive speaking event for pork industry enthusiasts aged 17-22. Participants engaged in research, problem-solving, collaborative discussion and mock motion drafting while exploring industry issues and NPPC’s producer-led policy development process.

Kuhns, who grew up on a hog operation and graduated from the University of Illinois in May, told FarmWeek the competitors tackled issues including Proposition 12, labor and animal health during multiple rounds on June 5-6.

“I can remember some of these discussions happening at my dinner table,” said Kuhns, who also won Illinois Farm Bureau’s 2023 Collegiate Discussion Meet.

Event facilitator, NPPC’s Seth Mitchell, said the meet attracted diverse competitors from eight states.

“We think it’s just an incredible opportunity to bring young people into the industry and prepare them to be our future leaders,” said Mitchell, an Illinois native.Prizes include: First place, $2,500 scholarship and paid trip to the NPPC legislative action conference; second place, $2,000 scholarship; third place, $1,500 scholarship and fourth place, $1,000 scholarship. The meet was sponsored by Novus and Nutra Blend.