Fun and good times were had by all at the AASV Foundation annual fund-raising auction in Denver, Colorado. Combined, the silent and live auctions plus the button raffle raised a record $83,704.10 to support foundation programs including student travel stipends, research projects, scholarships, student externships, summer internships, awards, and other opportunities to enhance the personal and professional aspects of swine veterinary medicine.

Auctioneer and AASV Executive Director Dr Tom Burkgren called the auction with the assistance of AASV Student Delegate Shamus Brown (ISU). This year’s auction also included a raffle in which participants purchased numbered buttons for a chance to win one of three cash prizes. The raffle netted $2327.10 for the foundation. A list of the auction buyers and the selling prices is available on the AASV Foundation’s auction Web site at www.aasv.org/foundation/2012/auctionlist.htm.

Heidi Kaisand and daughters, Virginia and Goldie, family of AASV member Dr Jeff Kaisand, assisted Drs Warren Wilson and Tom Burkgren with drawing the winner of the button raffle Photo courtesy of Tina Smith

Surprise, surprise, last year’s pig tie showed up again. This time Dr Jim Bradford, who bought the tie last year, offered it up for sale, and ended up buying it back himself for $650. This tie has some history now and I wonder where it might turn up next. San Diego maybe?

Without a doubt, the auction has been the major fundraiser for the foundation. It’s also been a fun-filled social event for attendees at the annual meeting: 2012 was no different. The largest purchase of the evening went to Dr Mike Schelkopf with Bethany Animal Hospital. He purchased the EPI Technology units, donated by BEI, for $10,800. The second-largest purchase of the evening was made by Dr Ronald Horst – $6500 for four box seats at Lambeau Field for an upcoming Minnesota Vikings-Green Bay Packers regular season football game.

The silent auction, which concluded during the Monday night reception, raised over $20,000. One of the unique items included a complete set of “Hogg Sense” newsletters donated by Mrs Mary Lou Hogg. A consortium of AASV members banded together to purchase the rare collection for $2750.00. The consortium then donated the book back to Mrs Hogg who, in turn, donated it to the AASV. It is prominently displayed in the AASV office.

Buyers of “Hogg Sense” newsletters donated by Mrs Mary Lou Hogg. Seated, left to right: Peggy Anne Hawkins, Mary Lou Hogg, Teddi Wolff. Standing, left to right: Rod Johnson, Roy Schultz, Kerry Keffaber, Warren Wilson, Max Rodibaugh, Tom Gillespie, Randy Jones, R. B. “Butch” Baker, K.T. Wright, Ron Brodersen, John Baker. Not pictured: Robyn Fleck, Dale Hendrickson, Thayer Hoover, Tim Loula, Jim Lowe, Craig Rowles, Larry Rueff, Paul Yeske. Photo courtesy of Tina Smith

A special thanks goes to the ring men: Kent Andersen, Shamus Brown, Tom Burkgren, Howard Hill, Joel Kimpston-Burkgren, Darrell Neuberger, David Reeves, and John Waddell, who kept the bids coming, and the following, whose behind-the-scenes and front-end help were invaluable: Hannah Marburger, Karen Menz, Karen Richardson, Lee Schulteis, Sue Schulteis, Tina Smith, and Harry Snelson.

Dr Warren Wilson announced his retirement as chair of the AASV Foundation Auction Committee, but agreed to offer support and participation in next year’s auction. Dr Daryl Olsen agreed to accept the role of auction chair and work to maintain the success of recent foundation auctions.

AASV Foundation announces recipient of Hogg Scholarship

Dr Tim Snider was named the 2012 recipient of the American Association of Swine Veterinarians Foundation Hogg Scholarship. The scholarship was presented during the association’s annual meeting in Denver, Colorado.

Established in 2008, the scholarship is named for Dr Alex Hogg, who was a leader in swine medicine and pursued a master’s degree in veterinary pathology after 20 years in a mixed-animal practice. The scholarship, in the amount of $10,000, is awarded annually to an AASV member who has been accepted into a qualified graduate program to further his or her education after years as a swine practitioner.

Dr Snider is currently the owner and solo practitioner of Snider Veterinary Services, Inc, a 100% swine consultancy practice. He has spent his veterinary career in clinical swine practice. Following graduation from the University of Guelph in 1992, he worked as an associate veterinarian at Sheridan and Heuser Swine Health Services before starting Heartland Swine Health Services in Winnipeg, Manitoba, in 1995. His career has also involved working with an international breeding-stock company and a large production system with farms throughout Canada. He began Snider Veterinary Services in 2007.

While continuing to maintain his private consultancy practice on a part-time basis, Dr Snider is completing a residency in veterinary public health and a Master’s of Public Health at the Center for Animal Health and Food Safety (CAHFS) at the University of Minnesota. This 24-month program provides participants with the competencies to become board certified in preventive veterinary medicine. His goal is to complete the American College of Veterinary Preventive Medicine board exams in June 2013.

In reflecting on his veterinary career, Dr Snider noted that “I have always had a special interest in pursuing continued education with the intent of further contributing to the swine industry in a positive and effective way. I have observed other practitioners expand their knowledge base and their opportunities through more formalized continuing-education programs. I was inspired by their examples and felt positive that I would eventually find my opportunity. Dr Hogg’s career story was especially inspiring for me, because he undertook the challenge of continued education after being in practice for 20 years. I found myself in a similar position when my opportunity to join the team at CAHFS arose, and I consciously considered his path when I was making my decision.”

Upon graduation, he intends to pursue opportunities in the pork supply chain with the goal of combining the skills acquired during his veterinary public health training with the skills developed as a swine practitioner. Dr Snider commented that he “strongly believes that our industry needs people who understand the world of swine health and production and how it relates to public health. My goal is to bring a proactive and science-based voice to the dialogue that will positively contribute to both public health and the success of the swine industry.”

Mary Lou Hogg presents the Alex Hogg Scholarship award to Dr Tim Snider during the AASV Annual Meeting Photo courtesy of Tina Smith