2026 Nicollet County Pork Ambassadors are announced

Dan Hayes, NCPP President (right) recognized Bruce Platz for his years of service to the NCPP Board of Directors.

NICOLLET – The Nicollet County Pork Producers (NCPP) introduced the 2026 Nicollet County Pork Ambassadors to the NCPP membership at their annual meeting on Sunday, at the Courtland Community Center.

The 2025 high school scholarship winners were also announced and received their scholarships.

This year, three local young adults will serve as pork ambassadors and help promote pork and the local pork industry. They are Logan Enter, the son of Jody and Jason Enter of New Ulm; Adam Mages, of Sleepy Eye, son of Greg and Mary Kay Mages; and Katelyn Soost, the daughter of Jeremy and Amy Soost of Nicollet.

Soost is a graduate of Nicollet High School and attends Dordt University, majoring in animal science. Mages is a senior at New Ulm Public High School and serves as the New Ulm FFA President. Enter is a senior at Minnesota Valley Lutheran High School who participates in soccer, golf, and FFA. Enter, Mages, and Soost all have hands-on swine experience working with farrowing, nursery, and/or finishing hogs.

As pork ambassadors, Enter, Mages, and Soost will serve as goodwill representatives for the pork industry, making appearances throughout the year to promote nutritious pork and the local industry. The pork ambassador program is funded through the Nicollet County Pork Producer organization, which works to create demand for pork products and is funded by local hog farmers.

Logan Enter, New Ulm, Nicollet County Pork Ambassador

The 2025 high school scholarship winners were announced, and each was presented with a $750 check from the NCPP. Recipients were William Bastian, son of Steve and Karen Bastian of Fairfax, and Katelyn Soost, daughter of Jeremy and Amy Soost of Nicollet.

Scholarships of $1,500 were also awarded to the 2025 pork ambassadors for their work. The 2025 NCPP Pork Ambassadors were Zelli Kamm, the daughter of Andy and El-Mari Kamm of Lafayette; Adam Mages, of Sleepy Eye, son of Greg and Mary Kay Mages, and Shannon Soost, the daughter of Jeremy and Amy Soost of Nicollet.

After the business meeting, the 2026 NCPP Board of Directors were announced as Dan Hayes, Josh Leonard, Ritchie Schaefer, Seth Melson, Jerad Michels, Garrett Platz, Carter Erickson, Mitch Vetter, Jared Blackwell, Connor Johnson, and Michael Moline. Bruce Platz of Lafayette was recognized for his years of dedicated service to the NCPP Board of Directors as a retiring board member.

For more information about the pork ambassador program or to schedule an ambassador appearance, please contact Michele Schroeder, NCPP Ambassador Coordinator, at 507-276-4810.