Maple Leaf Hands out Awards
Recently at their yearly producer meeting in Lethbridge Maple Leaf handed out local producer awards. In addition to the award presentation Charlotte Shipp from Alberta Pork presented information on Code of Practice and some Growing Forward projects.
Christina Carley from Alberta Pork reported on the new universal manifest that was developed.
Jason Manness the Director of Procurement for Maple Leaf gave a presentation on the state of the industry.
Sev Habetler the plant manager in Lethbridge gave an update on plant initiatives.
Ralph Miller presented the following awards to producers.
Transportation and Delivery Performance—Albion Ridge Colony; Weight in Core---Big Bend Colony and Blue Ridge Colony; Meat Quality---Keho Lake Colony; High Index----Elmspring Colony and Maple Leaf Signature Award---OK Colony •
SASK Pork Symposium Hands out Awards of Distinction
Brian Andries is presented with the Production Research Award.
Lee Whittington, President and CEO of the Prairie Swine Centre presented the Production Research Award to Brian Andries, BSA, Manager Operations PSC, who joined the Prairie Swine Centre (PSC) 35 years ago when the facility was a new pig barn, located on Floral Road and operated by the U of S College of Agriculture. The operation is now known across Canada and beyond as the Prairie Swine Centre and Brian is continues to manage the site and research projects carried out in the barns.
Since the beginning, PSC has begun a new project every 9 to 11 days, an important statistic affecting the operations of the barn when we consider the logistics of pig age, weight, location in the barn are all determined by the Manager Operations. Brian has been at the "centre" of what happens at the "Centre".
Swine research within a commercial swine barn is, at times, a mixing of oil and water -- balancing the competing needs to manage a commercial-like operation while meeting the research mandate of the Centre. Brian's commitment can be summed in one statement "We want to be as close to commercial as possible, while having world class research going on".
The Saskatchewan pork industry congratulates Brian Andries, a deserving recipient of the Production Research Award for his dedication to the management of the Prairie Swine Centre barns but also his dedication to the Canadian pig industry.
Sylvia Meszaros is presented with the Production Excellence Award.
Sylvia Meszaros Barn Manager has ran a 1200 sow farrow to finish multiplier unit for Cudworth Pork Investors Group for 19 years. She leads a production team that consistently exceeds expectations in the pigs' reproductive performance (94 % farrowing rate); growing herd performance, exceptional consistency in marketing of quality breeding gilts to commercial farms, and on-farm feed mill coordination.
Sylvia practices life-long learning and the understands the value of staff training, teamwork and excellent Human Resources practices. Her dedication to the industry and sincere commitment to her employer, staff, the animals and industry stakeholders is what sets Sylvia apart from others in this role.
The Saskatchewan pork industry congratulates Sylvia Meszaros, a deserving recipient of the Award of Distinction for Production Excellence, and for the value and vision she brings to her organization and the pork industry. •