Swine Practitioner of the Year
Given annually to the swine practitioner (AASV member) who has demonstrated an unusual degree of proficiency and effectiveness in the delivery of veterinary service to his/her clients.
Dr. Matt Allerson is the 2024 Swine Practitioner of the Year
Dr. Allerson earned a Bachelor of Science from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. He received a Master of Public Health, Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, and PhD from the University of Minnesota.
Dr. Allerson is a veterinarian at Holden Farms, based out of Northfield, Minnesota, where he leads a team of veterinarians for one of the largest family-owned production systems in the country. He has presented many scientific abstracts at AASV annual meetings and other swine health meetings. Not only is Dr. Allerson known nationally and internationally for his work in disease control, health, and production, he also stands out for his outstanding teaching, mentorship, natural team leadership, and approachability. "His ability to navigate and lead through challenging situations with a calm and positive outlook reflects his resilience and unwavering commitment to the well-being of the swine industry," said one of his nominators.
Asked to share his thoughts about receiving this award, Dr. Allerson replied, "I am honored to receive this award from the AASV. I am very grateful for the team at Holden Farms that I have had the pleasure to work with in the past 13 years. Additionally, I appreciate all of the mentorship I have received from members of the AASV and the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine. I am also thankful for my wonderful wife and family and all the support they have provided for me during my career."
As noted by colleagues and clients, Dr. Allerson's passion for swine is second only to that of his family. He is very proud of his wife Jenna and three children, Owen, August, and Adeline. He considers it a joy to watch his family grow and spend time with them.
Swine Practitioner of the Year Award recipients:
| 1977 | C. Kent Kislingbury | |
| 1978 | James Allison | |
| 1979 | John Coltrain | |
| 1980 | Ralph Vinson | |
| 1981 | Steven Henry | |
| 1982 | Rodney Johnson | |
| 1983 | Jason James | |
| 1984 | Wayne Brown | |
| 1985 | Conrad Schmidt | |
| 1986 | Roy Schultz | |
| 1987 | R.F. (Dick) Taylor | |
| 1988 | James Sawatsky | |
| 1989 | Jim Dick | |
| 1990 | Tim Loula | |
| 1991 | Paul Armbrecht | |
| 1992 | Don Westercamp | |
| 1993 | Camille Moore | |
| 1994 | Al Davis | |
| 1995 | Joe Connor | |
| 1996 | Scott Dee | |
| 1997 | Neil Shantz | |
| 1998 | Paul Yeske | |
| 1999 | Randy Jones | |
| 2000 | Gordon Spronk | |
| 2001 | Max Rodibaugh | |
| 2002 | Larry Rueff | |
| 2003 | Ron Brodersen | |
| 2004 | Tom Wetzell | |
| 2005 | Mike Sheridan | |
| 2006 | Mark FitzSimmons | |
| 2007 | Bernie Curran | |
| 2008 | Lisa Tokach | |
| 2009 | John Waddell | |
| 2010 | Tom Gillespie | |
| 2011 | John E. Baker | |
| 2012 | George Charbonneau | |
| 2013 | Barry Kerkaert | |
| 2014 | Matthew Turner | |
| 2015 | Larry Coleman | |
| 2016 | Luc Dufresne | |
| 2017 | Michael Eisenmenger | |
| 2018 | Mary Battrell | |
| 2019 | William Hollis | |
| 2020 | Joel Nerem | |
| 2021 | Jeremy Pittman | |
| 2022 | Dyneah Classen | |
| 2023 | Tara Donovan | |
| 2024 | Matt Allerson | |