Springdale, AR, swine veterinarian Gene Nemechek has been elected president of the National Pork Board. The board members also elected Richards, MO, pork producer Everett Forkner vice president. Both individuals will serve one-year terms effective July 1.
Nemechek is a swine quality assurance veterinarian with the swine division of the Tyson Pork Group Inc. for Tyson Fresh Meats Inc. In his role, Nemechek has a shared responsibility to work with the Tyson pork production systems in Arkansas, Oklahoma and Missouri plus customer quality assurance for the Tyson Pork Group weaned pig and feeder pig customers.
The current board vice president, Nemechek is serving his second, three-year term on the National Pork Board. He sits on the organization’s Budget Committee, Resolutions Committee, Pork Safety Committee and Swine Health Committee. Previously, he served as president and vice president of the North Carolina Pork Council.
Forkner was nominated for a second, three-year term on the Pork Board by Pork Act delegates at Pork Industry Forum in March, to be appointed by the secretary of agriculture.
Forkner is the owner and president of Forkner Farms, Inc., comprised of 500 purebred sows, which produces 8,000 market hogs annually. He has sold hogs in 27 countries. He also raises corn, soybeans and wheat on 2,000 acres.
National positions include chair of the board’s Budget Committee and member of the board’s Administrative Committee. He also serves on the Pork Checkoff’s Animal Science Committee and Niche Committee. He also serves on the Nutritional Efficiency Consortium. At the state level, he is a member of the Missouri Pork Association and serves on the board of directors.
