Swine Farms: A Great Place to Work theme for Oct. 18 workshop, Mankato

Seminar planned for swine farm owners, employees and managers

• Oct. 18
• Mankato, Minn.
• 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
• $20 before Oct. 10/$40 at the door
• Register at http://www.mnpork.com/producers/index.php

• So, You Want to Date My Daughter: Bruce Vincent, nationally recognized agricultural advocate
• Euthanasia Training: John Deen, DVM, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota
• Working In a Filtered Barn: Darwin Reicks, DVM, Swine Vet Center, St. Peter
• Fight, Flight or Engage: Employee Conflict Management: Donna Rae Scheffert, Leadership Tools
• With Vision, There is Hope: Bruce Vincent, nationally recognized agricultural advocate

Swine Farms: A Great Place To Work is the theme of this year’s Workforce Development Seminar set for Oct. 18 at the Country Inn & Suites, Mankato. The seminar runs from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Keynote speaker will be Bruce Vincent, the founder of Provider Pals and a nationally recognized agricultural advocate. Vincent’s opening talk, "So, You Want to Date My Daughter," looks at how understanding society’s environmental and animal husbandry concerns is critical to engaging the public.

At his afternoon talk, "With Vision, There is Hope," he will discuss how Americans are taught that getting your hands dirty at work is an unfulfilling career choice. Vincent will discuss why this outlook is risky for those who feed, clothe, and shelter humanity and why reversing this trend is important to workforce competency, and economic and environmental health.

Additional seminar speakers will be John Deen, DVM, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, who will discuss current swine care research; Darwin Reicks, DVM, Swine Vet Center, St. Peter, who will provide information on swine barn filtration systems and filtered barn biosecurity practices; and Donna Rae Scheffert of Leadership Tools, who will discuss tactics and strategies for handling and preventing conflict.

Although the seminar is geared towards those who work in pork production, the speakers will provide beneficial information for anyone involved in livestock care and agriculture.

Preregistration is encouraged, although at-the-door registration will be accepted if space is available. The preregistration fee is $20 per person, if paid by Oct. 10. Registration at the door will be $40. Registration includes materials, lunch and refreshments.

For online registration and seminar details go to http://www.mnpork.com/producers/index.php or contact MPB Assistant Executive Director Jeremy Geske at (507) 345-8814. The Minnesota Pork Board and the Pork Checkoff are seminar sponsors.