Niman Ranch Awards College Scholarships Totaling $30,000

Sustainable agriculture leader honors family farmers at its 13th Annual Hog Farmer Appreciation Dinner

DES MOINES, Iowa--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Niman Ranch celebrated its more than 550 U.S. family hog farmers and awarded 16 Next Generation Scholarships this weekend in Des Moines, Iowa, at its 13th Annual Hog Farmer Appreciation Dinner. Niman Ranch established the Next Generation Scholarship Fund in 2006 to preserve the integrity of U.S. family farms by supporting the children of rural communities who wish to attend college and pursue an education focusing on sustainable or environmental practices and who intend to return to the family farm upon graduation.

“The goal of this scholarship is to provide these students with the means to pursue a higher education and encourage them to apply their new found knowledge to bettering their land management practices on their family farms.”

The Next Generation Scholarship Fund receives contributions from sustainable food advocates including Chipotle Mexican Grill, Whole Foods Market and many members of Niman Ranch’s distributor network. Since 2006 more than $100,000 in scholarships have been awarded to 60 students. This year, Niman Ranch provided 16 deserving students scholarships ranging from $5,000 to $1,000 each.

“My family has been farming for five generations, and the $5,000 David Serfling Niman Ranch Memorial Scholarship makes me realize that people honor what coming back to the farm means,” stated Aaron Spenner, a student from West Point, Neb., who is currently studying diversified agriculture at North East Community College in North Fork, Neb. “My family has been raising hogs for 11 years for Niman Ranch, and this will help cover a college education that will help me return to the family business. I feel like I have a whole group of people supporting me.”

This year’s other Niman Ranch Next Generation scholarship recipients are from Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Minn., Mich., Missouri., and Neb. and will be attending colleges including: Univ. of Missouri, ISU, and MSU.

"We understand that the state of sustainable agriculture relies on the next generation of young farmers,” states Niman Ranch founding hog farmer Paul Willis of Thornton, Iowa. “The goal of this scholarship is to provide these students with the means to pursue a higher education and encourage them to apply their new found knowledge to bettering their land management practices on their family farms.”

Also at the appreciation dinner, 11 farmers were honored for superior hog production, with Ron Moen from Decorah, Iowa, recognized for raising hogs with the highest pork quality, and Larry Kass from Summer, Iowa, named Farmer of the Year. Additionally, 13 farmers celebrated 10 years raising hogs for Niman Ranch.

High-resolution images of the recipients are available upon request.

Niman Ranch is a network of more than 675 sustainable U.S. family farmers and ranchers who raise livestock traditionally, humanely and sustainably to deliver the finest-tasting proteins in the world. Niman Ranch’s independent family farmers practice the highest standards of animal husbandry and environmental stewardship. Niman Ranch’s fresh, smoked and prepared meats are available at fine restaurants and select grocery stores nationwide.

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