Dr Rebecca Robbins

Much like those who have preceded me, I find myself both surprised and honored by the nomination for vice president. Over the years, I have dutifully served in various aspects of the American Association of Swine Veterinarians including serving as a member and chair of the Pharmaceutical Issues Committee, participating in the Annual Meeting Program Planning Committee, and chairing several Annual Meeting sessions. Although membership on a professional board is not part of my resume, I assure you that I bring an unrivaled passion for representing the interests of swine veterinarians, promoting swine health, and championing our swine producers and the broader industry.

My journey into this field did not start with an agriculture or veterinary background, as is more common these days. I am here today because of the unwavering support and belief of individuals who saw my potential as a veterinary leader. As a veterinary and graduate student, Drs Glen Almond, Butch Baker, and Matthew Turner nurtured my early interest in swine medicine and production. They saw beyond my lack of practical experience in the swine industry and instead recognized my enthusiasm for population medicine. Thanks to their guidance, I went on to work at Murphy-Brown (now Smithfield Hog Production), then to Seaboard Foods, and currently, Pig Improvement Company.

To sustain the progress and prosperity of the AASV, we must actively engage and retain the next generation of individuals who are eager to mentor, supervise, and lead within our relatively small, yet influential association. Our member numbers are a quarter of the American Association of Bovine Practitioners and only 1% of the American Veterinary Medical Association’s member total; this highlights the need for each of us to be prepared to take on more responsibilities and wear a few more hats!

I was drawn to the profession by the breadth of roles and activities that a swine veterinarian can have. From food safety and antimicrobial resistance to pig behavior and business management, the scope of our professional responsibilities extends beyond bugs and drugs. I knew I would never be bored in a profession that has the power to influence so many aspects of pork production, agriculture, and veterinary medicine. A significant portion of this influential work is achieved by our members vol- unteering their time; I am thankful to my current and former employers for allowing me to advocate within the AASV, National Pork Board, Swine Health Information Center, and US Department of Agriculture.

While I cannot foresee the future, I anticipate the next vice president and executive team will have increasingly complex challenges to face on behalf of the membership. I view these inevitabilities as opportunities for the association to prepare for and not something which we should fear.

If elected, the primary areas I will encourage our association to focus on include:

1. Advocacy: Promoting committee membership, encouraging members to actively participate, and ensuring that our staff have the necessary resources, both financial and technical, to effectively represent the interests of practitioners.

2. Innovation: Securing financial stability that enables the organization and foundation to fund applied activities and groundbreaking research aimed at improving swine health and well-being.

3. Leadership: Fostering the abilities of our membership by encouraging their involvement in key national and international roles, not just within the swine industry, but in the broader veterinary and agriculture sectors.

4. Mentorship: Nurturing, supporting, and engaging student and new graduate programs that identify future leaders to sustain our field and the swine producers we serve.

5. Continuing education: Ensuring that we provide our members with material that interests them and addresses emerging issues to enhance our knowledge to better ourselves, our pigs, and our producer clients.

I would like to express my gratitude for considering me as your next vice president. If you would like to learn more about me, visit my LinkedIn profile (linkedin.com/in/rebecca-robbins-5ba10216) or reach out to me directly with any questions regarding my candidacy.

Dr Stephen D. Patterson

Keala Settle sings one of my all-time favorite songs, This is Me. Her words inspire me as I share my story with you today… this is me!

I am super excited and humbled to be nominated for AASV vice president. I am confident God has presented me with this opportunity for a purpose. He has opened a door and I am grateful for this chance to serve the AASV membership and will embrace whatever the outcome and future may hold.

I was raised on a diversified farm in northeast Missouri where my parents instilled my work ethic. By fifth grade, after reading James Herriot’s All Creatures Great and Small, I knew I wanted to be a veterinarian. Under the early tutelage and mentorships of Drs Art Griswold and Mac Wilt, I attended the University of Missouri - Columbia and earned my bachelor of science degree in 1986 and DVM in 1989. Post graduation, I worked with Dr Joe Connor at Carthage Veterinary Service and then returned to Missouri to start my own business. Professional milestones for me include:

• 1992 - Purchased Northeast Veterinary Service, a mixed animal practice.
• 1993 - Graduated in the pioneer class of EVP at University of Illinois.
• 1996 - Developed Boar Max Boar Stud starting with 2 boars and has grown to 650 boars.
• 2004 - Started Pest Pro Solutions, a pest control company my son Michael now owns.
• 2009 - Began Passion for Pigs Seminars and Trade Shows to promote client education and rela- tionship building with sponsors.
• 2016 - Developed Passion for Pigs Veterinary Service – the first 100% swine practice in Missouri.
• 2020 - Expanded Passion for Pigs Veterinary Service to Montana after hiring Dr Thomas Wurtz.

The AASV has been integral in my career growth and development. As a third-year veterinary student in 1988, I attended my first AASV Annual Meeting. I felt welcomed and left motivated, encouraged, and most importantly, felt at home with fellow swine practitioners.

The AASV has served me by not only providing education, but has also been the venue in growing my network and developing relationships with colleagues that are to this day some of my closest friends and confidants. I cannot express the feelings and emotions felt when AASV colleagues flew and drove all night to support me at my first wife Debbie’s funeral in 1997. My relationship with AASV colleagues go beyond deep – you are family.

I am extremely thankful to be living my dream of being a swine practitioner. While God has blessed me with tremendous opportunities and has seen me through multiple challenges, I am even more thankful and proud of my family. My wife Jennifer teaches children with special needs at Shelbina Elementary. My oldest son Matt, also a veterinarian, has joined me in Passion for Pigs Veterinary Service. My son Michael is an entomologist and runs his own pest control company, Pest Pro Solutions. My daughter Miranda just started college where she plays basketball and is working towards a career in chiropractic medicine.

We all know the quote from the poem To A Mouse by Robert Burns, “The best laid plans of mice and men often go awry.” But, should the opportunities allow and I am elected, I would like to personally and collectively promote our energies toward:

1. The challenges of recruiting and keeping young swine practitioners in our profession,
2. Continued emphasis on foreign animal disease prevention and protection measures, and
3. Efforts toward porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome preven- tion, treatment, and biosecurity, as we have all seen too many pigs and clients devastated by this disease.

This is me! I am thrilled to be nominated as a candidate for AASV vice president. I will work hard in tackling the challenges our organization faces these upcoming years knowing that I can lean on you, our AASV family, for guidance and wisdom in handling any situation we face. I am confident in leading our organization and humble in realizing one person does not do this alone. Our AASV organization will stand strong as we march into the future. I thank you for considering me for your next AASV vice president and I would very much appreciate your vote.