REGISTRATION

AGENDA

GETTING THERE

A Note from our Keynote:

36TH ANNUAL SWINE CONFERENCE

Oakley-Lindsay Center, Quincy, IL

September 1, 2026

BREAKFAST BEGINS AT 7AM | CONFERENCE 8AM-4PM

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.

We are Never Settled

The past year made one thing clear: the swine industry does not wait. Markets moved fast. Input costs stayed volatile. Consumer expectations kept shifting. Every operation felt the pressure, and the ones that kept moving forward made a choice not to stand still.

That is what Never Settled is all about.

The 2026 Annual Carthage Swine Conference is built for producers, partners, and industry leaders who are not interested in reacting, they are focused on staying ahead. This is where real conversations happen, where practical strategies are shared, and where the next set of decisions starts to take shape.

You will hear from experts and peers who are navigating the same challenges, making real-time adjustments, and finding ways to protect margins while improving performance. From herd health and nutrition to data, labor, and risk management, every session is designed to bring back ideas you can put to work immediately.

Never Settled is not just a theme. It is a mindset. It is about pushing past what has always been done and building systems that are more resilient, more efficient, and ready for what is next.

Industry partners are a key part of that progress. As expectations increase and margins tighten, the value of strong partnerships, innovative solutions, and shared knowledge becomes even more critical. This conference brings those connections together in one place.

If you are serious about moving your operation forward, this is where you need to be.

Join over 70 sponsors/exhibitors, over 40 speakers and over 500 attendees at this year’s conference!

36th Annual Swine Conference

The Day at a Glance

One day, three rooms, and 500+ pork industry leaders. Two general sessions plus six breakout tracks — including two in Spanish. Choose the sessions that fit your operation.

Monday Opening Research & Nutrition Leadership Health Producción Production Salud (Esp) Afternoon

Monday

Day Before · McCain Hall

9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Exhibitor Move-In

5:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

The Official Monday Night Social

Following the conclusion of the Pork Chop Open

Opening General Session

McCain Hall

8:00 a.m.

Welcome

Aaron Lower, DVM

Carthage Veterinary Service, LTD

8:10 a.m.

Market Outlook — Industry Variation

Luke Wells

Professional Ag Marketing

8:30 a.m.

PRRS — What Happened?

Gustavo Silva, DVM, MS, PhD

Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine

8:50 a.m.

PRRS — What Do We Know Now?

Phil Hord

Hord Family Farms

9:10 a.m.

Awards

Aaron Lower, DVM

Carthage Veterinary Service, LTD

Research & Nutrition

McCain Hall · Morning

9:30 a.m.

Project

Julian Arroyave, PhD

Carthage Innovative Swine Solutions

9:50 a.m.

Sow Group Housing: Review of Alternatives to Mitigate

Katelyn Gaffield, PhD

Kansas State University

10:10 a.m.

How Nutritional Programs Have Evolved

Casey Neill, MS

Carthage Innovative Swine Solutions

10:25 a.m.

Key Tools for High-Performance Feeding Program Execution

Nathaniel Stas

PIC

Leadership & Human Resources

Theatre · Morning

9:30 a.m.

What Makes a Great Leader: Reflections On a Career of People Development

Twyla Stevens

9:50 a.m.

Eating Ambiguity for Breakfast: Embracing the Possibilities to Find the Opportunities

Phil Borgic

Borgic Family Farms

Health

McCain Hall · Afternoon

12:30 p.m.

Protecting the Fortress

Claire Mtezankuni, DVM, MS & Elise Toohill, DVM

Carthage Veterinary Service, LTD

1:00 p.m.

Preserving Parity Structure Through PRRS Elimination

Laura Dalquist, DVM

Swine Vet Center

1:20 p.m.

Elimination Protocol Changes to Meet a Changing PRRS Virus

Jason Kelly, DVM

Suidae

1:40 p.m.

Managing PRRS Positive Pigs in Finishing

Chris Sievers, DVM

Swine Vet Center

Producción — Sesión en Español

Lindsay Room · Mañana

9:30 a.m.

Manejo y Alimentación para la Cerda Lactante en Climas Cálidos

Marcelo Medina

Keken

9:50 a.m.

Strategies to Optimize Feed Usage During Gestation

Julian Arroyave, PhD & Pastor Vilchez, MS

Carthage Innovative Swine Solutions & Carthage System

10:20 a.m.

El Camino hacia el Crecimiento: Personas, Propósito y Resultados

Edgar Larios

Carthage System

Production

Theatre · Afternoon

12:30 p.m.

Today’s Data for Tomorrow’s Production System

Caleb Grohmann, PhD

Carthage Innovative Swine Solutions

12:50 p.m.

Managing Pigs vs. Managing KPIs

Tyler Fledderman

Keystone Cooperative, Inc.

1:10 p.m.

What Actually Matters in the First 72 Hours Post-Wean?

Chance Cochran

Carthage Innovative Swine Solutions

1:30 p.m.

Day 1: Where Lifetime Performance is Won or Lost

Mandy Dutton

Carthage System

Salud & Bioseguridad — Sesión en Español

Lindsay Room · Tarde

12:30 p.m.

Del Brote a la Recuperación: Actualizaciones del Programa de Manejo de PRRS

Ana Paula Serafini Poeta Silva, DVM, MS, PhD

Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine

12:50 p.m.

Isolate Selection For Killed Autogenous Vaccines

Jose Suarez

Carthage LATAM

1:10 p.m.

Endemic Pathogen Control Using Killed Autogenous Vaccines

Felipe Bedoya

Keken

1:30 p.m.

Improving Sow Longevity

Sergio Canavate

PIC

Afternoon General Session

McCain Hall · Afternoon

2:15 p.m.

Matt Eversmann

Topic to be announced

Eversmann Advisory

September 1, 2026 · Oakley-Lindsay Center, Quincy IL. Program subject to change; afternoon general session time to be confirmed.

72

SPONSORS & EXHIBITORS

43

SPEAKERS

525

ATTENDEES

Add to Your Calendar!

We look forward to seeing you again this year! Click on your preferred calendar icon below to add the event to your calendar today:

Follow Calendar

AGENDA

New this year - Expanded Spanish Content

New this year at the Annual Swine Conference! Join us the evening before for a fun-filled evening. It is to replace our traditional Trade-Show Tailgate that historically took place at the completion of conference. Details about the Official Monday Night Social are above.

EXHIBITORS / SPONSORS

Sponsorships

Advancing our shared industry is a team effort and by working together, we enable producers in their mission to continue supplying a growing global population with nutritious protein raised with high standards.

We could not offer such an impactful, education event without the contributions of our Sponsors. Thank you to the following for your continued support!

Platinum Sponsors

INSPIRE WITH KNOWLEDGE

CONFERENCE SPEAKERS

Featuring a diverse group of thought leaders and experts from within the Swine industry. Whether you're seeking insights on emerging trends, practical strategies for success, or thought-provoking perspectives on the future, this year’s lineup of speakers promises to deliver valuable takeaways for all attendees.

Gold Sponsors

Silver Sponsors

MSP[RS]Resistant Starch

National Pork Producers Council

MAXIMUS

Nutra Blend - Fortiva

Ani-Tek LLC

Topigs Norsvin USA

DNA Genetics

Energy Panel Structures

SAM Nutrition

Novus International

BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND!

Whether you spent the day on the greens or are in town for the 36th Annual Swine Conference, Monday night is for YOU.

Enjoy heavy appetizers, drinks, and conversation with pork industry friends from across the world. We’re combining the Illinois Pork Producers Golf Dinner with the Tradeshow Tailgate into a one-can’t-miss evening event.

This is a separate social event — open to all Monday and Tuesday attendees.

What You’ll Experience:

Catered heavy appetizers + drinks
Visiting with swine industry peers
Entertainment

AGENDA

AUGUST 27TH 2024

PORK CHOP OPEN IS BACK!

Returning this year, the conference will be held in conjunction with the Illinois Pork Producers Association Pork Chop Open the day before, on Monday, August 31!