Though Mower County’s representative won’t be Minnesota’s 2011 pork ambassador, he still proved he knows a lot about the pork industry.

Lee Kloeckner, 19, of Adams, was the winner of the essay portion of this year’s 2011 pork ambassador competition in Morgan, Minn., this week. His essay about food safety and its misconceptions won him a $250 scholarship. Kloeckner will attend the University of Minnesota this fall as a freshman and plans to pursue his pre-vet degree. He hopes to be a large animal veterinarian someday.

To become the top pork ambassador, each county ambassador must pass an interview, give a presentation and write an essay about a topic affecting the pork industry. Katie Winslow of Fillmore County will be this year’s pork ambassador and the recipient of the $1,500 scholarship. Ryan Strobel of Blue Earth county received runner up with a $750 scholarship, and Natalie Johnston from Stevens County received second runner up with a $500 scholarship.

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