The Manitoba Pork Council honoured two Manitobans recently for their contributions to the industry.
The late Larry Friesen of Hangar Farms was recognized for his passionate pursuit of free trade in hogs. He became the first director of Manitoba Pork’s Weanling Exporters in 2001, a position he held until his accidental death due to a fall in April 2010.
Friesen worked with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency to remove the service fee for weanlings crossing the U.S. border. He also served on the Canadian Pork Council board, and several committees advocating on market and trade issues.
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Friesen and his wife Bonnie raised hogs at Marquette, St. Malo and at the former Rivers Air Force base.
Also recognized was Dr. Mike Sheridan, a southeastern Manitoba veterinarian who has specialized in swine-related veterinary medicine. He has always maintained a strong interest in pig diseases and pig behaviour, even riding in trucks with the pigs to better understand their behaviour and comfort during transport.
Sheridan has also worked with international students from Brazil, Spain and the U.S. who have sought out his expertise.
“These two men couldn’t be more different,” said pork council chair Karl Kynoch in a release. “But they have each brought a single-minded focus to their work – Larry in pursuit of free trade and Mike in helping producers raise healthy, high-quality hogs.”
The awards were announced during the council’s annual meeting April 13.
