Pork producers Dr. Howard Hill from Cambridge, Iowa, Dr. Ron Prestage from Camden, S.C., and John Weber, from Dysart, Iowa, today were elevated to the post of president, president-elect and vice president, respectively, for the National Pork Producers Council. The three were elected for one-year terms at NPPC’s annual business meeting – the National Pork Industry Forum – held here.
Hill is a consultant for Iowa Select Farms and has been with the company since 2000. His pork production business, H&K Enterprises, includes hogs and cattle, and Hill and his son farm 2,600 acres of corn, soybeans and alfalfa.
A native of southern California, Hill earned his bachelor’s and doctorate of veterinary medicine (DVM) degrees from the University of California-Davis; he received his Master’s degree and Ph.D. in veterinary microbiology from Iowa State University.
Hill, who serves on a number of NPPC committees, recently served on the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Advisory Committee on Animal Health. He is a member of the Story (Iowa) County Pork Producers, is on the board of directors of the Iowa Pork Producers Association and is past president of the American Association of Swine Veterinarians. Hill also is involved with the Iowa Veterinary Medical Association and the American Veterinary Medical Association.
Prestage, a graduate of North Carolina State University who received his doctorate in veterinary medicine from Auburn University, has served in leadership positions with a number of organizations, including the National Turkey Federation, U.S. Poultry and Egg Association, American Association of Swine Veterinarians, South Carolina Poultry Federation, Palmetto Agribusiness Council, Auburn College of Veterinary Medicine, South Carolina Chamber of Commerce and the North Carolina State University Board of Trustees.
Prestage is part of the family-owned Prestage Farms, which includes hogs, turkeys, cattle and cropland for hay. He’s primarily responsible for the sows and turkeys on the farms in South Carolina and the swine operation in Mississippi.
Weber manages with his son Valley Lane Farms Inc., a grain and livestock operation in Iowa. He has been with Cargill Pork since 1994 and is currently contract feeding with finishing facilities on three of his farms.
Weber has served on several NPPC committees, including the Strategic Investment Program marketing committee, the Environmental Policy committee and the Farm Bill Task Force. Weber also serves on the Iowa Pork Producers Association board of directors as well as several state committees. Weber holds a bachelor’s degree in Animal Science from Iowa State University.
“These well-respected gentlemen have proven track records of leadership in multiple capacities, across multiple areas of agriculture,” said NPPC CEO Neil Dierks. “I am confident each will continue to work hard and bring new ideas to the table that will be of great benefit to the U.S. pork industry.”