Freeborn County Pork Ambassador Brett Mattson knows the pork industry, and hopes his knowledge will win him the title of State Pork Ambassador early next week.

Thursday, January 25, 2001

Freeborn County Pork Ambassador Brett Mattson knows the pork industry, and hopes his knowledge will win him the title of State Pork Ambassador early next week.

Mattson will compete against 17 other county pork ambassadors for the state title at this year’s Pork Congress Jan. 29-31 in Minneapolis.

To qualify for the state competition, Mattson wrote a profile and essay on a pork industry related topic. He will give a speech and personal interview Monday before a panel of judges to conclude the competition. His 10 minute speech and Power Point presentation will be on hog marketing and management, he said. Mattson is a freshman majoring in agribusiness at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis.

&uot;I hope to get a job with an agri-business firm in the area, if possible, a job closer to home,&uot; he said. &uot;Then, hopefully after a few years, go back to the family farm.&uot;

Mattson chose to compete to further his experience as Freeborn County pork ambassador. Win or lose, he will get a chance to brief himself and hear his peers speak on new issues and changes relating to the pork industry, he said.

&uot;It’s part of the program, but it is a choice too,&uot; he said.

Mattson will compete against pork ambassadors from Blue Earth, Brown, East Central, Fillmore, Kandiyohi, Le Seuer, Lyon, Martin, Nicollet, Renville, Scott, Sibley, Steele and Waseca Counties.

Most ambassadors entered in the state competition are from other southern or central Minnesota counties, Mattson said. As Freeborn County Pork Ambassador, Mattson does a variety of industry promotional and awareness projects from grilling pork products at fairs and home shows to answering the public’s questions about the pork industry.

&uot;I just try to promote the industry and if anyone has questions I try to answer them to the best of my ability,&uot; he said.

If he is selected state ambassador, his duties will be similar, but on a state level, he said. Mattson’s parents are Daryl and Sharon Mattson of rural Conger.