At our last annual meeting in Denver, during the Past President’s Breakfast, several of us were visiting about how important the AASV organization and fellow swine practitioners have been to all of our careers. In no small way, our organization has been instrumental in various aspects of all our careers. We all agreed that the same opportunities presented by membership in AASV must be continued for future generations. Out of that discussion sprang the idea to challenge our past and present officers of AASV and the foundation to “recruit” at least three current members to become new Leman, Heritage, or Legacy fellows.

Just a couple of years ago, Dr Daryl Olsen challenged us to grow the foundation-endowed funds to $2 million in time for AASV’s 50th anniversary in 2019. To accomplish this challenging goal, everyone will need to help. The AASV members always step up and this will be no exception! If each past and current member of the executive and foundation boards accept our challenge to recruit three new fellows to the Leman, Heritage, or Legacy levels, we are certain to meet the challenge.

So, when someone comes asking you to support the foundation, remember how much AASV has done for you and help pass on the heritage and legacy from which you have benefited since you first decided to accept the challenge of becoming a pig vet!

The past presidents have all the information to answer your questions and all the materials needed to sign you up! I challenge you!

John Waddell, DVM
Chairman, AASV Foundation

Everybody bid!

The AASV Foundation Auction Committee is counting on AASV members’ shared sense of purpose to “SEAL the Deal” for another successful fundraising auction in San Diego this March. The annual auction proceeds are a major source of revenue to support ongoing foundation programs, including scholarships, swine research grants, travel stipends for veterinary students, swine externship grants, tuition grants at the Swine Medicine Education Center, ACAW board certification efforts, and more.

YOU can help “SEAL the Deal” by participating in the auction! Here’s how:

Make sure to check out the items up for bid at www.aasv.org/foundation. While you’re there, bookmark the mobile bidding Web site on your phone or tablet, and start bidding! If you’re not ready to bid, you can “follow” items that you’re interested in – but go ahead, be brave and enter your “max” bid! The app will bid incrementally for you, without revealing your limit to others. You’ll receive notifications to let you know if you’re winning or losing your coveted items.

It’s easy – and fun! And, most importantly, you’ll be supporting the foundation with every dollar you spend, since all of the auction items have been donated.

The auction items will be on display in San Diego on auction day, Monday, March 5. Remember, you don’t need to be in San Diego to participate. With mobile bidding, you can bid from anywhere! It will be “all-in, all-done” when the silent auction closes at 7:00 pm Pacific Standard Time, followed by the live auction, which will be held after the Awards Reception.

Foundation earmarks $60,000 for research: Proposals due January 16

As part of its mission to fund research with direct application to the profession, the American Association of Swine Veterinarians Foundation is accepting research proposals to be considered for funding in 2018. Proposals are due January 16, 2018, and may request a maximum of $30,000 (US$) per project. A maximum of $60,000 will be awarded across two or more projects. The announcement of projects selected for funding will take place at the AASV Foundation Luncheon in San Diego, California, on Sunday, March 4, 2018 (awardees will be notified in advance).

Proposed research should fit one of the five action areas stated in the AASV Foundation mission statement (see sidebar).

The instructions for submitting proposals are available on the AASV Foundation Web site at https://www.aasv.org/foundation/2018/research.php. Proposals may be submitted by mail or e-mail (preferred).

A panel of AASV members will evaluate and select proposals for funding on the basis of the following scoring system:

• Potential benefit to swine veterinarians/swine industry (40 points)
• Probability of success within timeline (35 points)
• Scientific/investigative quality (15 points)
• Budget justification (5 points)
• Originality (5 points)

For more information, or to submit a proposal:

AASV Foundation, 830 26th Street, Perry, IA 50220-2328; Tel: 515-465-5255; E-mail: aasv@aasv.org.

Hogg Scholarship applications due February 1

The American Association of Swine Veterinarians Foundation is pleased to offer the Hogg Scholarship, established to honor the memory of longtime AASV member and swine industry leader Dr Alex Hogg. Applications for the $10,000 scholarship will be accepted until February 1, 2018, and the scholarship recipient will be announced on Sunday, March 4, during the Foundation Luncheon at the AASV 2018 Annual Meeting in San Diego.

The intent of the scholarship is to assist a swine veterinarian in his or her efforts to return to school for graduate education (resulting in a master’s degree or higher) in an academic field of study related to swine health and production.

Dr Alex Hogg’s career serves as the ideal model for successful applicants. After 20 years in mixed-animal practice, Dr Hogg pursued a master’s degree in veterinary pathology. He subsequently became Nebraska’s swine extension veterinarian and a professor at the University of Nebraska. Upon “retirement,” Dr Hogg capped off his career with his work for MVP Laboratories. Always an enthusiastic learner, at age 75 he graduated from the Executive Veterinary Program offered at the University of Illinois.

The scholarship application requirements are outlined below and on the AASV Web site at https://www.aasv.org/foundation/hoggscholarship.htm.

Hogg Scholarship application requirements

An applicant for the Hogg Scholarship shall have

1.  Five or more years of experience as a swine veterinarian, either in a private practice or in an integrated production setting, and

2.  Five or more years of continuous membership in the American Association of Swine Veterinarians.

Applicants are required to submit the following for consideration as a Hogg Scholar:

1. Current curriculum vitae,

2. Letter of intent detailing his or her plans for graduate education and future plans for participation and employment within the swine industry,

3. Two letters of reference from AASV members attesting to the applicant’s qualifications to be a Hogg Scholar.

Applications and requests for information may be addressed to AASV Foundation, 830 26th Street, Perry, IA 50220-2328; Tel: 515-465-5255; E-mail: aasv@aasv.org.