As part of its mission to fund research with direct application to the profession, the American Association of Swine Veterinarians Foundation awarded $100,000 in funding for research. Dr Ross Kiehne, chair of the AASV Foundation, announced the selection of four research proposals for funding during the Foundation’s luncheon on February 27th held during the AASV Annual Meeting in Indianapolis. The Foundation granted funds to support efforts by principal researchers, all from Iowa State University.

The Foundation granted $30,000 to Dr Marcelo Almeida and co-investigators to fund the proposal “Comparison of the pathological and clinical effects of an F18 enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli containing a tia adhesin gene against a contemporary F18 Escherichia coli strain.” The two objectives of the study are to compare the clinical impact and to assess the efficacy of a commercially available F18 E coli competitive exclusion product in controlling postweaning diarrhea caused by an ETEC-F18+/tia+.

Dr Jianqiang Zhang and co-investigators received $30,000 to fund the proposal “Evaluation of the protective efficacy of three PRRSV MLV vaccines against the newly emergent PRRSV 1-4-4-L1C variant strain in weaned pigs.” The objective of this study is to evaluate the protective efficacy of three porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome modified live virus vaccines against the newly emergent PRRSV 1-4-4 L1C variant strain in a weaned-pig model.

Dr Daniel Linhares and co-investigators were awarded $21,736 to fund the project “Assessment of population-based sampling for detection of influenza A virus RNA in breeding herds.” The two objectives of this project are to compare the probability of detection of influenza A virus-swine (IAV-S) RNA between individual and population-based samples and to establish the probability of identifying IAV-S positive litters by using different sample sizes.

The Foundation granted $18,264 to Dr Gustavo Silva and co-investigators to partially fund the project, “Comparing herd-level sensitivity to detect PRRSV outbreaks among different surveillance methods.” The overarching goal of this study is to assess herd-level sensitivity among different surveillance samples to detect PRRSV outbreaks. A secondary objective is to characterize the impact of PRRSV.

Investigators will share results at various swine meetings and in peer-reviewed publications.

Dr Teddi Wolff chaired the scientific subcommittee responsible for reviewing and scoring the 11 proposals received for consideration, and she joins the Foundation in thanking Drs Monte Fuhrman, Amber Stricker, Todd Wolff, Eva Jablonski, and Brett O’Brien for their participation on this important subcommittee.

An overview of past and current projects funded by the AASV Foundation is available at aasv.org/foundation/research. The Foundation will issue its next call for research proposals in fall 2022.

AASV Foundation Legacy, Heritage Fellows recognized

The American Association of Swine Veterinarians Foundation is committed to fund research, scholarships, externships, tuition grants, and other programs and activities that benefit the profession of swine veterinary medicine. The Foundation relies on the generous support of donors to fulfill this commitment.

During the recent AASV Foundation Luncheon held February 27^th during the AASV Annual Meeting, AASV Foundation Chair Dr Ross Kiehne announced new Legacy and Heritage fellows.

This year, Dr Rodney “Butch” and Emma Baker were recognized as Legacy Fellows. Drs Angela Baysinger, Kent Schwartz, Michael Senn and Stephanie Gibson-Senn, and Richard Sibbel were recognized as Heritage Fellows.

Leman

Named for the late industry leader and former AASV president Dr Allen D. Leman, this giving program confers the title of Leman Fellow upon those who contribute $1000 or more to the Foundation endowment.

Heritage

The Heritage Fellow program recognizes contributions of $5000 or more. In addition to monetary donations, other giving options such as life insurance policies, estate bequests, and retirement plan assets may be used.

Legacy

A donor, multiple donors, or a veterinary practice may establish and name a Legacy Fund with a gift of $50,000 or more. The fund may be named after the donor or another individual or group. The donor designates which of three Foundation mission categories the fund’s proceeds will support: 1) research, 2) education, or 3) long-range issues.

If you are ready to lend your support and help build the endowment to ensure future support of the swine veterinary profession, visit aasv.org/foundation or contact the Foundation by phone, 515-465-5255, or email, aasv@aasv.org.

AASV Foundation announces recipients of Hogg Scholarship

Drs Neal Benjamin and Jessica Seate were named the 2022 recipients of the American Association of Swine Veterinarians Foundation Hogg Scholarship during the American Association of Swine Veterinarian’s 53^rd Annual Meeting in Indianapolis on February 27^th.

Established in 2008, the scholarship is named for Dr Alex Hogg who was a leader in swine medicine and pursued a master’s degree in veterinary pathology after 20 years in a mixed-animal practice. The scholarship is awarded annually to an AASV member who has been accepted into a qualified graduate program to further their education after years as a swine practitioner. Former Hogg Scholarship recipients Drs Meghann Pierdon, Angela Baysinger, Kate Dion, and AASV Foundation Chair Ross Kiehne reviewed the 2022 applications.

After receiving his DVM in 2016 from the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine, Dr Benjamin worked exclusively as a swine veterinarian at Carthage Veterinary Services. In June 2021, he became the Director of Health and Production at Valley Pork. With a strong desire to improve individual and herd immunogenetics and overall herd health, he is pursuing a PhD in genetics at the University of Illinois’ Program in Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology. With a passion for teaching, he would like to serve as a liaison between veterinarians and geneticists.

Dr Seate earned her DVM from Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2011. She has dedicated her career to swine medicine, providing veterinary services to one of the world’s leading swine producers as well as technical veterinary service for two world-renowned animal health companies. She is currently the Director of Veterinary Science at Animal Science Products, Inc. Dr Seate has been active in the AASV since veterinary school. She is an active member of the AASV PRRS Task Force and Pork Safety, Early Career, Student Recruitment, and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committees. She has been a member of the Program Planning Committee twice. She plans to use the Hogg Scholarship to help fund her master’s degree in veterinary science at the University of Illinois.

AASV members receive Dr Conrad and Judy Schmidt Family Student Debt Relief Scholarship

Three $5000 scholarships were awarded to early-career swine practitioners through the Dr Conrad and Judy Schmidt Family Student Debt Relief Endowment. Recipients Drs Brandi Burton, Chris Deegan, and Allison Knox were announced February 27^th during the American Association of Swine Veterinarian’s 53^rd Annual Meeting in Indianapolis.

The purpose of the $5000 scholarship is to help relieve the student debt of recent veterinary graduates engaged in swine practice who still have significant debt burden. Qualified applicants must have been engaged in private practice with at least 50% of their time devoted to swine, providing on-farm service directly to independent pork producers. All three recipients have been continuous members of the AASV since joining as students, and each attended the Annual Meeting 4 times during their veterinary education.

Dr Burton, a University of Illinois graduate, has been a veterinarian at Suidae Health and Production since graduation in 2019. She provides veterinary services for independent producers in Iowa, Minnesota, and Nebraska. Dr Burton currently cochairs AASV’s Early Career Committee where she had led the development and implementation of new resources for early-career swine veterinarians. She credits AASV’s student engagement and support for her participation in the association.

Dr Deegan, a 2018 University of Minnesota graduate, also joined Suidae Health and Production as a veterinarian after graduation. His passion is to help independent producers of all sizes be as successful as possible. Dr Deegan said his activities within AASV as a student drove him to a career in swine medicine. He enjoys participating in the AASV Foundation Auction Committee and supporting students through activities at the Annual Meeting like the Vet Hunt.

Dr Knox is a 2019 graduate of the University of Illinois. She is a partner and veterinarian at the Walcott Veterinary Clinic in Iowa where she provides on-farm services to family-owned farms in Iowa and northwest Illinois. She enjoys connecting with her producers to help implement new herd health protocols, adapt to evolving disease challenges, and prepare for continued success in the industry. Connections made while attending the AASV Annual Meeting as a student helped her secure internships, scholarships, and ultimately her position in her current practice. She appreciates learning new information and sharing knowledge at the AASV Annual Meeting.

The AASV Foundation thanks Drs Ross Kiehne, Lisa Tokach, and Nathan Winkelman for reviewing the applications.

The scholarship was initiated with a generous $110,000 contribution to the Foundation by the Conrad Schmidt and Family Endowment. Dr Schmidt, a charter member of the American Association of Swine Practioners, explained, “Together, Judy and I noticed that many new DVM graduates interested in swine medicine begin their professional life with heavy educational debt obligations. As a long-time AASV member and animal industry supporter, it was our desire to help AASV members who have dedicated their professional skills to swine herd health and production. We hope that this endowment will grow over time to assist in reducing the educational debt load of AASV members as they begin their professional journeys.”

Merck Animal Health supports future swine practitioners through partnership with AASVF

Merck Animal Health, known as MSD Animal Health outside the US and Canada, continued its commitment to the swine industry’s next generation of veterinarians by partnering with the American Association of Swine Veterinarians Foundation (AASVF) to sponsor the 2022 recipients of the AASVF/Merck Animal Health Veterinary Student Scholarships.

“At Merck Animal Health, we have an unconditional commitment to the veterinary profession, and that means supporting the next generation of veterinary leaders,” said Justin Welsh, DVM, Executive Director, Livestock Technical Services, Merck Animal Health. “Through our partnership with AASVF, we are helping to build students’ knowledge of swine health and well-being as they prepare for a career in this important field.”

The 2022 recipients of the $5,000 scholarship were announced on February 28, 2022, and include:

• McKenna Brinning, Iowa State University, class of 2024
• Lucas Buehler, The Ohio State University, class of 2023
• Sam Gerrard, Virginia-Maryland Regional CVM, class of 2023
• Hannah Lathom, North Carolina State University, class of 2024
• Lindsay Miller, University of Minnesota, class of 2023
• Justin Moeller, The Ohio State University, class of 2023
• Kyle Nisley, Iowa State University, class of 2023
• Katie Parker, Iowa State University, class of 2024
• Kaci Way, The Ohio State University, class of 2024
• Allyson Witt, Iowa State University, class of 2023

The scholarship program assists the foundation’s mission to support the development and scholarship of students and veterinarians interested in the swine industry. Second-and third-year students enrolled in American Veterinary Medical Association-accredited or recognized colleges of veterinary medicine in the US, Canada, Mexico, South America, and the Caribbean islands are eligible for the scholarship. The AASV Foundation thanks Drs Clayton Johnson, Jason Kelly, Ross Kiehne, and Teddi Wolff for judging this year’s applications. Learn more at aasv.org.

Auction fundraiser nets over $112,000

Even though items were not on display at the meeting, the 2022 AASV Foundation Auction was hugely successful, raising a total of $112,199 to support foundation-funded scholarships, research grants, travel stipends, externship grants, student debt relief, and more. The annual fundraiser was held in conjunction with the AASV Annual Meeting in Indianapolis.

Silent auction items were described on the AASV and ClickBid websites and featured on signs and the auction leaderboard display at the Annual Meeting. The 61 donated items generated $15,149 in winning bids. Donors shipped the items directly to the winning bidders after the auction, saving the Foundation transportation and postage costs.

Auctioneer and AASV member Dr Shamus Brown called the ever-popular live auction, which featured a wide variety of hunting and fishing trips, firearms, sporting events, tools, and more. Dr Brown was assisted in the auction by Wes Johnson, who served as auction clerk, and ring men Drs Bill Hollis, Ross Kiehne, David Reeves, Chase Stahl, Jon Van Blarcom, and John Waddell. The 2022 Auction Committee was led by cochairs Drs Chase Stahl, John Waddell, and Butch Baker.

One item, the “tailgate palooza,” prompted bidding competition between university alumni to secure football tickets and a tailgating experience at the college of their choice. Drs Erin and Jim Lowe won the bidding war with a bid of $3500 to claim the University of Illinois experience offered by the “Praise the Lard” tailgating team of Drs Clayton Johnson and Aaron Lower. Additional bidders stepped up to claim the tickets and tailgates at Kansas State University, Iowa State University, University of Minnesota, and North Carolina State University. All told, the tailgate palooza contributed $15,500 towards the live auction proceeds, which totaled $53,350.

The auction proceeds included an additional $43,700 in generous monetary contributions made by AASV members and sponsors. See aasv.org/foundation/2022/auctionlist for the full list of donors and auction items, including the winning bid and bidder for each.

And the winners are…

Thank you to ALL who made a contribution, donated an item, or placed a bid on items in the auction. Thanks to your generosity, the auction raised $112,199 for the AASV Foundation!

We are pleased to recognize the winning bidders who purchased one or more items at the auction:

David A. Schoneweis Scholarship awarded to Kansas State University veterinary student

Random (Rahyne) Bolda, a second-year student at Kansas State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, was awarded the David A. Schoneweis Scholarship during the American Association of Swine Veterinarians Annual Meeting held in Indianapolis, Indiana.

The children of the late Dr David Schoneweis established a scholarship in his memory to benefit swine-interested students from Kansas State University (KSU) and Oklahoma State University (OSU). The $1000 scholarship is awarded to a student or students from KSU or OSU who participate in the student oral or poster presentations during the AASV Annual Meeting, based upon a selection rubric prepared with the oversight and approval of the Schoneweis family.

Bolda presented her research, “Identifying pathways of entry of African swine fever virus into sow farms and potential improvement in biosecurity to prevent viral entry,” during the AASV Student Poster Session. She was one of 21 students presenting a poster.

Dr Schoneweis was born in Clay Center, Kansas and earned his DVM from Kansas State University in 1956. He served two years in the Army Veterinary Corps before teaching clinical sciences at Oklahoma State University for six years. After two years in private practice in Lawrence, Kansas, he joined the KSU College of Veterinary Medicine faculty in 1966, where he received his master’s degree in surgery and medicine in 1971 and taught food animal medicine for 30 years. Dr Schoneweis was a charter member of the American Association of Swine Practitioners (AASP) and served on the association’s board of directors in the late 1970s and early 1980s. In 1997, he received the AASP Meritorious Service Award for his lifetime of support for the association and in recognition of his work with students as a professor of food animal medicine at KSU and OSU.

Thankful for the scholarship, Bolda said, “I am both thrilled and honored to have been selected for this scholarship. It is a privilege for my work to be acknowledged and my deepest thanks to the family of Dr David Schoneweis.”

Save the date!

AASV Foundation Golf Outing

August 31, 2022

Veenker Memorial Golf Course

Ames, Iowa

Registration opens in July