During the National Pork Industry Forum in Indianapolis, the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) awarded scholarships to five college students who intend to pursue careers in the pork industry. NPPC administers the scholarship selection process; the CME Group sponsors the scholarships, which first were awarded in 1990 to celebrate CME’s then-25 years in the live hog futures market.

The 2016 winners of the $2,500 Lois Britt Memorial Pork Industry Scholarships are:
· Matt Kerns, Clearfield, Iowa, senior at Iowa State University.
· Lexi Marek, Riverside, Iowa, junior at Iowa State University.
· Kaleb Sargent, Raleigh, N.C., senior at North Carolina State University.
· Madison Shafer, Goodhue, Minn., freshman at South Dakota State University.
· Morgan Weinrich, Yuma, Colo., junior at Colorado State University.

“These outstanding young people represent the future of the U.S. pork industry,” said NPPC President John Weber, a pork producer from Dysart, Iowa. “They are the next generation of leaders, and NPPC and the CME Group are pleased to recognize their commitment to the pork industry with these scholarships.”

“Over the past 26 years, this scholarship program has let us invest in the next generation of our nation’s food producers,” said Tim Andriesen, CME Group’s managing director of agricultural commodities and alternative investments. “NPPC is a critical partner in advancing risk management education to future pork industry leaders.”