Mower County Pork Ambassador James Roe of LeRoy, the son of Rick and Jean Roe, will promote the nutritional qualities of pork to Minnesota consumers and will further educate the public on swine production practices as first runner-up in the recent Minnesota Pork Ambassador competition.

Roe, a diversified agricultural major at South Central College, Mankato, will receive a $750 scholarship from the Minnesota Pork Board for his year-long commitment as pork ambassador.

David Berning, the son of Mark and Julie Berning, represented the Wright County Pork Producers Association, and will serve as Minnesota Pork Ambassador. Fillmore County Pork Ambassador Aaron Gillespie of Fountain, the son of Jeff and Jackie Gillespie, was named second runner-up. Judges selected the three from a field of 15 county pork ambassadors.

Berning, Roe and Gillespie will represent the state’s 4,400 pork producing families at various functions throughout their term as pork ambassadors, including consumer and producer educational events, and promotional activities that encourage pork consumption and public understanding of swine production. They will also have opportunities to enhance their understanding of the U.S. pork industry and to expand their leadership and communication skills.

The Minnesota Pork Ambassador program, funded through the Pork Checkoff and sponsored by the Minnesota Pork Board, strives to develop young pork industry leaders.