The AASV Foundation Auction Committee is off and running with plans to hold yet another successful fundraising auction in 2022. But they will need more than cheers from the crowd to get to the finish line next February – they will need participation from AASV members and industry stakeholders who are willing to contribute to the team effort.
This past year’s auction raised over $100,000; the committee hopes to repeat that success in 2022. Donating an item or cash for the auction is one way members can help propel the foundation to its goal.
Donate auction items by December 1
The Auction Committee is reaching out to potential donors to solicit auction items or cash donations for this year’s auction, but don’t wait - please contact a member of the committee if you are interested in supporting the auction this year. To ask questions or discuss possibilities, contact one of the committee members listed at aasv.org/foundation/2022/auctioninfo.php.
To donate, download the donation form at aasv.org/foundation/2022/Donationform.pdf and submit a description and image of your item(s) by December 1. Your contribution will be recognized in the auction catalog as well as on the auction website, and your name will appear in the JSHAP full-page spread recognizing our auction item donors. Plus, there’s a good chance you may read about your donation in the AASV e-Letter!
Similar to last year, the silent auction will be conducted virtually via ClickBid, and auction donors are asked to retain their donation for shipment to the winning bidder after the auction. The live auction will be held after the Monday evening awards reception at the 2022 AASV Annual Meeting, as in the past.
The auction proceeds are put to immediate use to fund the many foundation activities that receive annual support. See the sidebar for a partial list of how the foundation is currently benefiting those engaged in the swine veterinary profession.
Foundation seeks to support members pursuing ACAW board certification
Have you considered pursuing board certification in the American College of Animal Welfare? If so, you may qualify for financial support from the AASV Foundation.
Recognizing the need for swine veterinarians to be leaders in the field of animal welfare, the AASV Foundation continues to accept applications from AASV members seeking board certification in the American College of Animal Welfare (ACAW). Applicants must have a DVM or VMD degree and at least 5 years of continuous membership in the AASV.
To apply, the applicant must submit a curriculum vitae, an ACAW-approved program plan, and three letters of reference (one of which must come from the applicant’s mentor). There is no submission due date, but there is a limit to the amount of funding available each year. A selection committee reviews applications as they are received.
The scholarship will provide annual reimbursements for actual expenses related to the ACAW program, including travel, course fees, and textbooks, with a maximum reimbursement amount of $20,000. Reimbursement will not cover lost income. An incentive payment of $10,000 will be issued upon successful and timely completion of the ACAW Board Certification.
For more information, contact the AASV office: Tel: 515-465-5255; Email: aasv@aasv.org.
Sunshine, fun, and foundation fundraising
For the third time in as many years, participants enjoyed picture-perfect weather at Veenker Memorial Golf Course for the annual AASV Foundation golf outing fundraiser. Forty-seven golfers on 12 teams vied for top honors in the best-ball contest held Wednesday, September 1st in Ames, Iowa.
The team composed of David Bomgaars, Tyler Holck, Nathan Schaefer, and Tom Wetzell bested the rest of the field, coming in at ten under par to claim first place in the top flight. Golfers Pete Houska, Jeff Kindwall, Derrick Sleezer, and Greg Thornton took second place overall (9 under par), while Daryl Hammer, Jim Lovin, and Dan Rosener combined their efforts to take third place at 5 under par.
Veenker Pro Shop gift cards were awarded to members of the first-, second-, and third-place teams in 3 flights of golfers. A variety of individual contests scattered across the course complemented the team competition and provided golfers with the opportunity to win additional prizes for exceptional driving, chipping, and putting.
The success of the fundraiser is due in no small part to the generous support of faithful sponsors. Once again, Boehringer Ingelheim sponsored the awards dinner, APC funded the box lunches, and Zoetis hosted the beverages for the day. Fourteen golf-hole sponsors participated in this year’s event by providing on-course giveaways, raffles, games, and contests for the golfers to enjoy. Please join the foundation in thanking AgCreate Solutions, Aurora Pharmaceutical, Chr Hansen, Huvepharma, Insight Wealth Group, Kemin Animal Nutrition and Health, LeeO, Merck Animal Health, National Pork Producers Council, Pharmgate Animal Health, Phibro Animal Health Corp, Ralco, and Topigs Norsvin USA for their support of the 2021 outing.
Additional thanks to Dr Josh Ellingson for coordinating the golf outing (again!) and working to ensure a successful fundraiser for the foundation. Proceeds from the 2021 outing totaled more than $15,000 and will help support a variety of foundation activities, including scholarships, research grants, student debt relief, swine externship grants, travel stipends for students attending the AASV annual meeting, and more.
And the winners are:
First flight
First place team: Dave Bomgaars, Tyler Holck, Nathan Schaefer, and Tom Wetzell
Second place team, hosted by NPPC: Pete Houska, Jeff Kindwall, Derrick Sleezer, and Greg Thornton
Third place team: Daryl Hammer, Jim Lovin, and Dan Rosener
Second flight
First place team, hosted by Aurora Pharmaceutical: Keith Bretey, Jim Murray, Grant Weaver, and Mark Weaver
Second place team, hosted by Norbrook: Leland Brown, Matt Garvin, Brad Gulker, and Brian Van Beek
Third place team, hosted by Phibro Animal Health Corp: Dennis Dwyer, Ron Kaptur, Brian Roggow, and Mark Rooney
Third flight
First place team, hosted by AMVC/Zoetis: Josh Ellingson, Jason Hocker, Steve Schmitz, and Nick Weis
Second place team, hosted by Iowa State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory: Marcelo Almeida, Eric Burrough, Drew Magstadt, and Loni Schumacher
Third place team, hosted by Fast Genetics: Marcus Kehrli, Kent Schwartz, Steve Sornsen, and Ron White
Individual contests
Hole #3, Longest putt: Amber Stricker
Hole #4, Drawing winner, sponsored by LeeO: Michelle Sprague
Hole #5, Closest to the target, Tyler Holck
Hole #6, Closest to the pin, sponsored by Merck Animal Health: Brian Roggow
Hole #7, Chipping contest, sponsored by Kemin Animal Nutrition and Health: Mike Bauer and Steve Schmitz
Hole #9, Longest putt, sponsored by Aurora Pharmaceutical: Brian Van Beek
Hole #11, Closest to the pin, sponsored by Huvepharma: Drew Magstadt
Hole #14, Longest drive, sponsored by Topigs Norsvin USA: Derrick Sleezer
Hole #15, Bottle opener putting contest, sponsored by NPPC: Brad Gulker
Hole #17, Closest to the pin, sponsored by Chr Hansen: Dan Rosener
Hole #18, Longest putt: Nathaniel Carney
Hole #18, Raffle winner, sponsored by Pharmgate Animal Health: Mitch Christensen
Early career swine practitioners invited to apply for debt relief
Applications are now being accepted for three $5000 scholarships to be awarded to early-career swine practitioners through the Dr Conrad and Judy Schmidt Family Student Debt Relief Endowment. The scholarship recipients will be announced during the 2022 AASV Annual Meeting.
The scholarships are available to AASV members who are between 2 and 5 years post graduation from veterinary school, engaged in private practice, and who carry a significant student debt burden.
The scholarship program was initiated three years ago with a $110,000 contribution to the foundation by the Conrad Schmidt and Family Endowment. Strong interest by applicants prompted the foundation board to increase the number of scholarships awarded to three, beginning in 2021.
The scholarship application form is available at aasv.org/foundation/debtrelief.php. Applications are due January 31, 2022. The following criteria will be used to select the scholarship recipient:
1. Joined AASV as a student enrolled in an AVMA-recognized college of veterinary medicine
2. Attended the AASV Annual Meeting as a student
3. Maintained continuous membership in AASV since graduation from veterinary school
4. Is at least 2 years and at most 5 years post graduation from veterinary school (2017, 2018, 2019 DVM/VMD graduates)
5. Has been engaged in private veterinary practice, 50% or more devoted to swine, providing on-farm service directly to independent pork producers. Veterinarians who work for production companies, pharmaceutical companies, or universities are not eligible for the scholarship.
6. Has a significant student debt burden
For more information, contact the AASV Foundation: aasv@aasv.org, 515-465-5255.
Swine practitioners: Apply for Hogg Scholarship to pursue graduate degree
The American Association of Swine Veterinarians Foundation is now accepting applications for the prestigious Hogg Scholarship, established to honor the memory of longtime AASV member and swine industry leader Dr Alex Hogg.
The intent of the $10,000 scholarship is to assist a swine veterinarian in his or her efforts to return to school for graduate education (resulting in a master’s degree or higher) in an academic field of study related to swine health and production. Fifteen swine practitioners, recognized at aasv.org/foundation/hoggscholars.htm, have been awarded the scholarship since it was established in 2008.
Applications for the scholarship will be accepted until January 31, 2022. The scholarship recipient will be announced Sunday, February 27 during the 2022 AASV Annual Meeting.
Dr Alex Hogg’s career serves as the ideal model for successful applicants. After twenty years in mixed animal practice, Dr Hogg pursued a master’s degree in veterinary pathology. He subsequently became Nebraska swine extension veterinarian and professor at the University of Nebraska. Upon “retirement,” Dr Hogg capped off his career with his work for MVP Laboratories. Always an enthusiastic learner, at age 75 he graduated from the Executive Veterinary Program offered at the University of Illinois.
The scholarship application requirements are outlined below, and on the AASV website at aasv.org/foundation/hoggscholarship.htm.
Hogg Scholarship Application Requirements
An applicant for the Hogg Scholarship shall have:
1. Three or more years of experience as a swine veterinarian, either in a private practice or in an integrated production setting
2. Five or more years of continuous membership in the American Association of Swine Veterinarians
Applicants are required to submit the following for consideration as a Hogg Scholar:
1. Current curriculum vitae
2. Letter of intent detailing his or her plans for graduate education and future plans for participation and employment within the swine industry
3. Two letters of reference from AASV members attesting to the applicant’s qualifications to be a Hogg Scholar
Applications and requests for information may be addressed to:
AASV Foundation 830 26th Street Perry, IA 50220
515-465-5255 aasv@aasv.org
Ten $5000 scholarships to be awarded; Applications due December 31
In an effort to assist future swine veterinarians with their educational expenses, the AASV Foundation and Merck Animal Health are pleased to offer the AASVF-Merck Animal Health Veterinary Student Scholarships. Ten $5000 scholarships will be awarded to sophomore and junior veterinary students in 2022. Applications are due December 31, 2021 for scholarships that will be announced during the 2022 AASV Annual Meeting.
Second- and third-year veterinary students enrolled in AVMA-accredited or -recognized colleges of veterinary medicine in the US, Canada, Mexico, South America, or the Caribbean Islands are eligible to apply. All applicants must be current (2021-2022) student members of AASV. Students who have previously been awarded one of the scholarships are not eligible to reapply. Previous scholarship recipients are recognized at aasv.org/foundation/scholarshipwinners.htm.
To apply, students submit a resume and the name of a faculty member or AASV member to serve as a reference, along with written answers to four essay questions. The application and instructions are available at aasv.org/foundation/2022/AASVF-MerckScholarships.php.
A committee of four conducts the selection process. Two AASV Foundation board members and two AASV members-at-large rank the applicants by scoring their past and current activities, level of interest in swine veterinary medicine, future career plans, and financial need. The scholarship recipients will be announced during the 2022 AASV Annual Meeting in Indianapolis, and the scholarship funds will be disbursed after the conference.
The AASVF-Merck Animal Health Veterinary Student Scholarship Program is part of how Merck Animal Health and the AASV Foundation fulfill a shared mission of supporting the development and scholarship of students and veterinarians. For more information on scholarships and other AASV Foundation programs, see aasv.org/foundation.
AASV Foundation issues call for research proposals
As part of its mission to fund research with direct application to the profession, the American Association of Swine Veterinarians Foundation seeks research proposals for funding in 2022. Proposals are due by 12:00 pm Central Time on January 14, 2022, and may request a maximum of $30,000 (US$) per project. The announcement of projects selected for funding will take place during the AASV Annual Meeting on Sunday, February 27, 2022. Up to $100,000 will be awarded across three or more projects.
Proposed research should fit one of the five action areas stated in the AASV Foundation mission statement (see sidebar).
The instructions for submitting proposals are available on the AASV Foundation Web site at aasv.org/foundation/2022/research.php.
A panel of AASV members will evaluate and select proposals for funding, based on the following scoring system:
- Potential benefit to swine veterinarians/swine industry (40 points)
- Probability of success within timeline (35 points)
- Scientific/investigative quality (15 points)
- Budget justification (5 points)
- Originality (5 points)
A summary of the research funded by the foundation over the past 15 years is available at aasv.org/foundation/research.htm.
For more information, or to submit a proposal:
AASV Foundation 830 26th Street Perry, IA 50220-2328 515-465-5255 aasv@aasv.org