Category: National Pork Board Candidates

Biography Brandon Schafer is the president and CEO of his family’s seven-generation farm, which raises 400 beef cow/calf pairs and 2,200 sows, accompanied by wean-to-market production. The farm also manages 90,000 pigs per year, focusing on multiplication. The family was honored with Minnesota Pork Family of the Year in 2021. Off the farm, Schafer is

Biography Jeremy Burkett operates a farrow-to-feeder farm at Casper College in Wyoming. As a full-time professor at Casper College, Burkett specializes in teaching and conducting research in animal science and meat science. He is a former livestock judging coach (2009-2024) and volunteered on the National Junior College Livestock Judging Coaches Association (2009-2023), including a presidential

Biography Christopher “Chris” Mulder has 35 years of experience in the supply chain. He is currently serving as the senior vice president of The Wenger Group and as president of the Wenger Food Group. In February 2020, Mulder was appointed Leidy’s president and CEO, resulting from a planned succession. In 2022, Leidy’s was acquired by

Biography Chad Groves is the president and CEO of Seaboard Foods, an integrated processor marketing 7.5 million hogs annually from its 336,000 sows. Seaboard Foods markets and sells pork for Triumph Foods, Seaboard Triumph Foods and Daily’s Premium Meats. Groves has a diverse background in sales, marketing and business for food, including pork, from his

Biography John Rauser has been involved in farming all his life. He currently cares for 25 purebred duroc females, sells market hogs, weaned pigs and seed stock, and cooks whole hogs for events. He has been involved in the Montana Pork Producers Council for 31 years, including as president (2014-2023), vice president (2024) and interim

Biography Jessica “Jess” Stevens owns Carroll Creek Farms, LLC, with $1 million in gross revenue. The farm markets 300 pigs per year directly to consumers through affiliate stores, wholesale freezer meats, its on-farm store and the local farmers market. Additionally, Stevens raises 100 head of cattle, 200 sheep, 6,000 broilers, 200 turkeys and 400 layers.

Biography Martin Sauer is the CEO of Danish Crown’s North American operations, a leading Checkoff-paying importer. He started with Danish Crown in 1993, which led him to Germany and the United Kingdom. Sauer spent eight years with Tulip UK Limited, establishing their export department and looking after markets like China and the U.S. The company

Biography Dwight Mogler is a senior partner in his family’s diversified livestock and crop farm. The family harvests 3,000 acres of row crops, markets 200,000 head of hogs from their farrow-to-finish operation, manages 3,000 head of market beef cattle from their feedlot operation and handles more than 4 million bushels of grain through their county

Biography Paul Ayers has 15 years of experience with The Maschhoffs LLC, a leading Illinois-based operation with approximately 130,000 sows and market hog production sites in five states. He has valuable business experience in overhead budgets, project management, and employee training and development, having worked cross-departmentally and within the animal care team. He leads foreign

Biography Since 2006, Daniel Tubbs has been a niche producer, raising 30 sows farrow-to-finish. On his farm, he manages 365 acres of pasture and timber, including 100 tons of hay, and raises 30 cow/calf pairs and 150 feeder calves annually. He has been a certified animal welfare specialist with Validus since 2011. In addition to