By Pork Prospect team, The Ohio State University and University of Minnesota
In the world of agriculture education, few moments are more powerful than when a student sees a pig – really sees it – for the first time. Not just as an animal or as a future product; rather, as a symbol of an entire industry, a living link to a professional future they had never considered, until that moment.
Pork Prospect (2024 – 2025), a swine-focused extension initiative funded by the National Pork Board and developed by The Ohio State University and the University of Minnesota, set out to create exactly that kind of moment.
One student, Taylor (pseudonym), an animal science major, captured that shift in perspective perfectly following her participation in Swine Discovery Day, Pork Prospect’s signature event: “This was super informative and definitely a positive experience that made me more likely to consider working in the swine industry in the future.”
Taylor was already well into her undergraduate program – by all accounts, someone you’d assume had already encountered the swine industry. But her experience suggests a different story. Before Swine Discovery Day, she only somewhat agreed that she had a good understanding of swine production and its related career opportunities. Afterward, she strongly agreed that the experience had broadened her awareness and made her more likely to see herself in the field.
And Taylor wasn’t alone. Her shift reflects a broader trend among participants—one that will be explored further in an upcoming publication. What we observed reveals a deeper issue in agricultural education today: even students pursuing animal science degrees often progress with little or delayed exposure to swine. In some cases, it appears late in their coursework; in others, it’s entirely absent.
For a field as foundational to American animal agriculture as swine production, that absence is telling – and costly. When students like Taylor reach their junior or senior year without seriously considering swine, it’s a missed opportunity for both the student and the industry.
Swine Discovery Day was designed to change that – starting with students like Taylor, already in animal science programs but with limited exposure to swine, and extending to high school students who haven’t yet chosen a path, as well as those in other disciplines who bring fresh perspectives to the field.
Built as an immersive, hands-on and replicable program, Swine Discovery Day offers participants a full day of interaction, professional conversations, and guided tours of biosecure swine facilities. Donning personal protective equipment, stepping into farrowing barns, handling pigs, and connecting with veterinarians, producers and scientists, students gain knowledge and experience the swine industry in a tangible, meaningful way. For many, it’s not about confirming an existing interest; it’s about discovering one. Swine Discovery Day invites participants to see the pig, and themselves, in a whole new light.
And for those who feel that initial spark, the journey doesn’t end there. Pork Prospect’s second core experience, Swine Bootcamp, offers deeper, short-term internships lasting anywhere from one day to two weeks. Tailored to students’ interests and availability, these placements range from commercial farm stays and university diagnostic labs to professional conferences.
Since 2024, approximately 150 students have benefited from Swine Discovery Day across both universities, with a subset of students continuing into Swine Bootcamp for deeper, hands-on learning. With six successful iterations completed, the Pork Prospect team has developed a comprehensive handbook designed to help other institutions create their own version of the program.
The goal is simple: to ensure more students have the opportunity to see the pig and, perhaps, to see themselves in a new light. Because once that door is opened, once a student like Taylor feels that spark, the future of the swine industry begins to shift. One pig. One student. One Swine Discovery Day at a time.
Planning to build your own Swine Discovery Day? The full Pork Prospect handbook will be published soon!
Pork Prospect team: Kara Flaherty, Jaqueline Holting and Talita Resende (The Ohio State University) and Samira Chatila, Pedro Urriola and Maria Pieters (University of Minnesota)
This article was originally published in the National Hog Farmer.