-- NORTH MANKATO, Minn. - Mower County Pork Ambassador Peter Thome will serve as the 2007 Minnesota Pork Industry Ambassador. A three-judge panel selected Thome from a field of 14 county pork ambassadors during competition held in conjunction with the recent Minnesota Pork Congress in Minneapolis. Thome is enrolled at Riverland Community College in Austin, Minn., and plans to transfer to the University of Wisconsin to complete degrees in animal science and agricultural education. Thome will receive a $1,500 scholarship from the Minnesota Pork Board. He will represent Minnesota's 5,000 pork producing families at various pork-related functions across the state. Thome also is a Minnesota state FFA officer and is active in 4-H. His future plans include returning to this family's hog farm, in addition to teaching agricultural education. The first runner-up is Jamie Millmann, who represented the Faribault County Pork Producers Association. Millmann attends South Dakota State University in Brookings, majoring in agronomy. As first runner-up, she will receive a $500 scholarship. Second runner-up was Kate Richter, representing the Le Sueur County Pork Producers Association. Richter majors in animal science and agricultural education at South Dakota State University. Richter will receive a $250 scholarship. Rebecca Peichel of Fairfax, Minn., representing the Nicollet County Pork Producers Association, submitted the winning essay, "Agricultural Illiteracy: Educating the Uneducated Consumer." She received a $100 scholarship for her efforts. Peichel is a pre-law and political science major at the College of St. Benedicts in St. Joseph, Minn.
American Agri-Women honor Richard Pombo-- MODESTO, Calif. - Each year, the American Agri-Women presents its 2006 Veritas Award to an individual who gives public witness to "the pursuit of truth" in accordance with the principles enunciated in the AAW Statement of Philosophy. The AAW Call to Power, written by Sister Thoms Moore Bertels, states in part, "the constant pursuit of truth must lie at the heart or our purpose and actions." Rep. Richard Pombo, R-Calif., exemplifies a person who is dedicated to truth and fairness, particularly in regard to improving the Endangered Species Act, Agri-Women says. He was nominated for this award by California Women for Agriculture and Illinois Agri-Women voted to second the nomination. Pombo represents the 11th District of California and is a member of the House Agriculture Committee, as well as chairman of the House of Resources Committee. He also is former chairman of the Congressional Western Caucus, through which he was active in various issues such as private property and water rights. The primary reason Pombo was selected for the AAW Veritas Award was his work to reform the Endangered Species Act. His approach to reforming the 1973 Act is based on sound science, adopting a solid recovery plan for endangered species while protecting private property rights. His bipartisan approach led to passage of the rewrite in the House of Representatives last September on a 229-193 vote.
- Agweek Staff and Wire Reports
