Amanda Ostrem of Iowa was named the 2026 Young Pork Advocates Issues Meet Champion, earning a $10,000 scholarship and a trip to Washington, D.C., to attend the NPPC Legislative Action Conference.
DES MOINES, Iowa — For Amanda Ostrem, the 2026 Young Pork Advocates Issues Meet was about far more than winning a scholarship.
“It is so much more than just a contest,” Ostrem said. “It’s a great opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals from across the country, push yourself outside of your comfort zone, and become well-versed in policy and the impacts it has.”
That mindset helped propel the Iowa native to the top of the competition during the 2026 World Pork Expo, where she was named champion of the National Pork Producers Council’s Young Pork Advocates Issues Meet. Sponsored by Novus and Nutra Blend, the annual scholarship competition brings together pork industry youth ages 18 to 22 for two days of presentations, policy discussions, leadership development and hands-on experience navigating the NPPC policy process.
Twenty-three young pork industry leaders from across the United States participated in the 2026 Young Pork Advocates Issues Meet during World Pork Expo in Des Moines, Iowa. The competition helps develop the next generation of pork industry advocates through policy discussions, presentations, and leadership development.
Twenty-three contestants from across the United States participated in this year’s event. Following several rounds of competition, a panel of judges selected four finalists to participate in a public forum discussing critical pork industry issues. Ostrem earned first place, receiving a $10,000 scholarship and a trip to Washington, D.C., to attend the NPPC Legislative Action Conference this fall
Other finalists included Vivi Ruppenthal of Maryland, who received a $7,500 scholarship, Mary Lanoue of Minnesota, who received $5,000, and Brooke Reininger of Texas, who received $2,500.
The Young Pork Advocates Issues Meet continues to gain momentum as one of the premier youth leadership events at World Pork Expo. Organizers say the program is designed to prepare future pork industry leaders by strengthening advocacy, communication and policy skills. “I want to encourage pork industry youth to participate in this program next year and the years ahead,” Rob Brenneman said. “It’s a tremendous learning opportunity, a great way to gain experience and network with future leaders, producers and allied industry.”
Growing up exhibiting pigs and working on her family’s swine operation helped inspire Amanda Ostrem’s passion for pork production, agricultural communications, and industry advocacy.
For Ostrem, returning to the competition was a natural decision after participating during its inaugural year.
“I chose to compete because I believe it is valuable that students learn to use their voice to speak fluently and accurately while advocating for agriculture,” she said. “Having done the contest in its inaugural year in 2024 and then spending the last year working with organizations like NPPC and the Iowa Pork Producers Association, I was excited to come back and discuss the ever-changing policy topics that impact the swine industry.”
Her connection to the pork industry runs deep.
“I grew up helping with my family’s swine finishing operation in addition to breeding and raising our own show pigs,” Ostrem said. “That’s where my love for the industry truly comes from.”
Among the many topics discussed during the competition, one issue stood out above the rest.
“All of the topics we had throughout the meet have such relevance to the pork industry today,” she said. “However, the one that stood out to me the most was discussing the political risks to the pork industry that come in areas with high people populations and low animal agriculture populations, leading to state-driven ballot initiatives and policies that regulate interstate commerce, a well-known example being Proposition 12 in California.”
The discussion focused on how the pork industry can better engage consumers and policymakers while defending against patchwork regulations that impact producers nationwide.
“The most important part of this topic was working through how NPPC can work to better engage in these areas and be proactive in defending against patchwork regulations,” Ostrem said. “It was very fun to share thoughts and ideas with the other finalists and come up with realistic actions that can be taken to tackle the issue head on.”
While policy discussions were central to the competition, Ostrem said the people she met may have left the biggest impression.
“The biggest lesson I learned was to appreciate the unique perspective that each individual brings to the swine industry and how those perspectives can work together to shape the future of agricultural advocacy,” she said.
She added that hearing the experiences of other participants reinforced the importance of collaboration.
“I learned so much from the other contestants, hearing their experiences, stories and ideas. Everyone brings a valuable and different point of view, and we need those ideas to have industry-wide collaboration.”
That collaborative spirit extended beyond the competition itself.
“I thoroughly enjoyed connecting and building friendships with the other students in the contest,” Ostrem said. “It was inspiring to be a part of a group of students with the same passions, interests and drive.”
Even though only one person would ultimately be named champion, Ostrem said the atmosphere felt much bigger than a contest.
“Even though we were technically competing against each other, we were all working together for a common goal, and I am honored to have been a part of that.”
When her name was announced as the winner, the moment took time to sink in.
“When the announcement was made, I was both shocked and filled with joy at the same time,” she said. “We had such a great discussion in the final round and I believed it could have been any one of the final four.”
The victory carried special significance because of where her journey began.
“It was truly a great honor knowing that I am able to use what I have learned to be a strong voice within the industry,” Ostrem said. “It made it that much more special to be able to say that I am from Iowa, the number one pork-producing state, that I grew up on a family swine operation, and that all of my experiences combined helped lead me to that moment.”
As part of her prize package, Ostrem will travel to Washington, D.C., this September to attend NPPC’s Legislative Action Conference, where she will meet with policymakers and advocate on behalf of pork producers.
“I am beyond excited to take the advocacy skills I have learned through this contest to the national level,” she said. “It is important now more than ever that politicians understand the direct impact legislation has on every pork producer of every scale and how those policies impact the entire industry.”
Ostrem believes producers themselves play a critical role in shaping agricultural policy.
“True impact is made when pork producers themselves go and tell their story,” she said. “I look forward to bringing my perspective as a producer and student to the table.”
As she prepares for that opportunity, she hopes other young people will consider participating in future competitions.
“If you are considering participating in the Issues Meet next year, I could not recommend it enough,” Ostrem said. “No matter the outcome, it is an amazing educational opportunity that will benefit your future career in any path you take.”
She also expressed gratitude to the organizations and individuals who helped make the experience possible.
“I would like to thank Novus International and Nutra Blend for sponsoring the competition and helping create opportunities for students to continue to grow into strong future industry leaders and advocates,” she said. “Additionally, thank you to the staff at NPPC for planning and putting on the Issues Meet and for their continued support of the next generation.”
About Amanda Ostrem
This summer, Ostrem is serving as an intern with the Choose Iowa program at the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship. In her role, she helps connect consumers with Iowa-grown food products while supporting efforts to expand markets for Iowa farmers.
She will begin her senior year this fall at Iowa State University, where she is majoring in Agricultural Communications and International Agriculture. Following graduation, Ostrem plans to pursue a master’s degree while building a career dedicated to telling agriculture’s story and advocating for the future of the industry.
As the pork industry continues to invest in leadership development, advocates like Amanda Ostrem represent the next generation of voices prepared to tell agriculture’s story, engage policymakers, and help shape the future of pork production in America.