Economist and Educator Recognized with Distinguished Service Award

Career Focused on Building Understanding Makes Significant Impact on U.S. and Global Pork Industry

Dr. Ron Plain, professor emeritus and extension economist in the Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics at the University of Missouri- Columbia, was recognized as National Pork Board’s Distinguished Service Award recipient at the 2023 Pork Forum.

A Passion for Education and Helping Pig Farmers

Plain, who started his career as a high school agricultural education instructor, spent most of his professional career focused on helping producers understand the economic forces related to their pork production business.

Plain’s career in academia began just before the farm crisis and the major changes to the pork industry. During his 35 years as a professor and extension economist, Plain made more than 2,100 presentations to U.S. farm audiences and also traveled internationally, sharing his insight on how to manage pig farming as a business.

Missouri Pork Association Executive Director Don Nikodim, who grew up with Plain and taught agricultural education with him, said Plain made an incredible impact on the industry.