Swine Spotlight Program
IPPA values the hard work done by pig farmers and employees to provide nutritious protein to consumers. To highlight these dedicated employees, we have created the Swine Spotlight Program in partnership with Boehringer Ingelheim.
Each month we are inviting farm owners or employers to nominate their employees that work on and off the farm that go above and beyond. Each employee chosen monthly will receive recognition on our social channels, recognition in Chop Talk, and be entered to win the grand prize selected in Pork Month in October.
*Nominations are rolling
January Swine Spotlight
We are pleased to recognize Jason Propst, Swine Enterprise Specialist at FS Total Livestock, for his outstanding contributions to the pork industry.
Jason played an integral role in the planning and execution of the Regional Swine Meetings held in Morton and Teutopolis this past December, which attracted a combined attendance of nearly 100 participants. These successful events featured distinguished speakers, including Dr. Jim Lowe of the University of Illinois, Luke Wells of Professional Ag Marketing, and Steve Malakowsky of Compeer Financial. The strong turnout and positive feedback from producers would not have been possible without Jason’s leadership, dedication, and attention to detail.
With more than 29 years of service in the pork industry, Jason has consistently demonstrated a deep passion for his work and a steadfast commitment to building meaningful relationships with producers.
Clare Thorpe shared, “When I joined IPPA three years ago, Jason was serving on the Board of Directors, having previously held the role of Board President in 2017. From the outset, his enthusiasm for the industry was evident, and I greatly value the opportunity to learn from his insights and experience.”
At the national level, Jason has served on the NPPC Investor Member Relations Committee and the NPPC Nominating Committee. He also remains actively engaged as a volunteer within the Cumberland County community.
“Jason is passionate about keeping the grassroots structure of our organization strong,” said Jennifer Tirey, IPPA Executive Director. “I appreciate his willingness to take time out of his busy schedule to help make these events successful and valuable for our producers.”
Congratulations Jason!
December Monthly Swine Spotlight
We are recognizing Ryan Brinkman, Genetic Selection Specialist for AcuFast in Valmeyer, IL, for the December Monthly Swine Spotlight.
Ryan is the type of person who never gives up; he has a desire to learn and grow, but also the strive to improve anything he has set out to do, says nominator Abby Detmer, Manager of Genetic Production AcuFast. Starting as an animal caregiver, Ryan has shown remarkable progress and was recently promoted to Genetic Selection Specialist. Even though Ryan has new responsibilities with data collection on the farm, he has not missed a beat with animal care and health. Abby says “Ask Ryan a question about how pigs are doing, and he will tell you specifics, not just down to the pen level, rather down to the individual pig. On a finishing site of 5,500 head of growing boars - that is an impressive attribute.” His attention to detail carries over into his data work as well. Thanks to Ryan’s consistency and accuracy, the farm has maintained a data accuracy score above target for well over a year.
Congratulations Ryan!
November Monthly Swine Spotlight
We are recognizing Dr. William Johnson, a veterinarian in Pittsfield, IL, for the November Monthly Swine Spotlight.
Dr. William Johnson is exceptionally dedicated, a leader, and a valuable contributor to swine health and welfare. Nominator Cheryl Walsh, from Cowser Inc. says, “Dr. Johnson has consistently demonstrated a commitment to advancing swine veterinary medicine through innovative health management, strategies, outstanding client education, and unwavering advocacy for animal well-being.”
Cheryl continues with “Dr. Johnson has played a vital role in implementing a biosecurity program that significantly reduced PRRS outbreaks across multiple operations and led research on antimicrobial stewardship in swine herds.” Their collaboration with producers, researchers, and industry stakeholders has made a measurable impact on herd productivity and sustainability.
Dr. Johnson is not only a trusted Veterinarian but also a mentor and leader who inspires others in the field with his passion for swine medicine and community engagement.
Congratulations Dr. William Johnson!
2026 Swine Spotlight of the Year
Freddy Torres
The Illinois Pork Producers Association (IPPA) has selected Fredy Torres from Borgic Farms as the IPPA Swine Spotlight of the Year!
Fredy Torres has worked with Borgic Farms for 20 years. He has worked in almost all positions throughout the sow farm and currently serves as an Assistant Sow Farm Manager for the Nokomis Sow Farm. When asked what got him into working with pigs, Fredy said that his father-in-law worked for Borgic Farms and that he brought Fredy in as an applicant. Once Fredy met Phil and started his training, he knew that this was his passion. Phil Borgic commented, "I have known Maria (Fredy's wife) for 23 years. When her dad started working for us, she was still in high school. Then this guy started hanging around her, and before he knew it, Fredy and Maria were married. Besides watching Fredy grow in his pig production and leadership skills, it has been impressive seeing firsthand Fredy's development and growth to be a tremendous father to his five children and mentor to his teammates."
When asked what his favorite part of working at Borgic Farms is, Fredy says, "Being able to work with a company that truly cares about their animals, workers, and community. Personally, I like to give my best, set goals, and achieve them as a team, which is what motivates me the most." Director of Human Resources Suzi Steber said that Fredy is incredibly driven to learn more about the industry, technology, and people. "Fredy is truly a sponge soaking up everything we pour into him and asking for more."
Fredy has been married for 22 years to his wonderful wife, Maria, and they have five beautiful children: Yazmin (20), Jackie (17), Carmen (12), and twins Alex and Kaylee (8).
Fredy closed by saying, "I just want to thank the Borgic Family for the opportunity they have given me to be part of this great te