About the Center for Poultry & Livestock Excellence
Delivering Results That Strengthen Pennsylvania Farms
Pennsylvania’s livestock and poultry sectors are vital drivers of the state’s economy and rural communities. The state’s poultry, swine, sheep, lamb, and goat industries are booming, growing more than 25% in the past 5 years. The Center for Poultry & Livestock Excellence is helping power this $12 billion industry in Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvania's Center for Poultry and Livestock Excellence was launched in 2019 as a part of the historic Pennsylvania Farm Bill. A Board of Directors, representing the species served by the Center, as well as a diverse group of agriculture, animal health and academic stakeholders, guides the Center to fulfillment of the mission set forth by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. Administered by PennAg Industries Association, the focus of the Center is to assist poultry, swine, lamb, sheep and goat producers with priorities ranging from expanding processing capacity to biosecurity planning.
The Center for Poultry & Livestock Excellence is at the heart of efforts to protect and strengthen these industries. Through targeted, practical research and strategic partnerships, the Center helps ensure that Pennsylvania farmers have the tools, knowledge and innovations they need to thrive. Supported through state funding, the Center is a trusted, science-based resource that helps keep Pennsylvania’s animal agriculture resilient, competitive and prepared for the future.
Funding research where it matters
The Center’s recent work focuses on four strategic areas: biosecurity, animal ag infrastructure, applied research and food safety. This research directly addresses the most pressing challenges facing producers today. From improving animal health and disease preparedness to enhancing sustainability and on-farm efficiencies, the Center’s efforts translate into real-world benefits for farmers across the Commonwealth. Thousands of farmers and industry professionals have taken part in our programs, events, and outreach efforts.
With continued investment in the Center for Poultry & Livestock Excellence, Pennsylvania is not only holding its place as a leader in animal agriculture: we’re setting the pace. Our goal is to give farmers the tools they need to succeed and make sure families have access to safe, healthy food they can count on. The return on this investment is clear: healthier animals, stronger farm businesses, and a safer, more secure food supply for all Pennsylvanians.
"In this ever-changing industry, we're working to prepare today's producers for tomorrow's challenges with a unique variety of essential resources available through this Center. This partnership opens the door to a stronger animal ag sector in Pennsylvania and a future of opportunity."
- Pennsylvania Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Meet the
Jim Shirk
Chairman
Ceva US
Jim Shirk, Lancaster County, manages poultry vaccine sales across the Eastern United States for Ceva US. A ’93 graduate of Pennsylvania State University with a degree in Environment Resource Management, Shirk has a long history of serving agriculture in various professional and volunteer roles, providing leadership to positively impact poultry, swine, conservation, academia and other initiatives.
Tom Pastor
Vice Chairman
Central Life Sciences
Tom Pastor has worked in the swine industry for more than 35 years and also serves as a longtime director with the Pennsylvania Pork Producers Council. He has spent over two decades raising meat goats as well. Tom holds a degree in Animal Production from Penn State and currently is a Regional Sales Manager for Central Life Sciences, offering innovated insect pest management solutions for livestock and livestock production.
Chris Pierce
Treasurer
Heritage Poultry Management Services
As President of Heritage Poultry Management Services, Inc., Lebanon County, Chris Pierce ensures that both the traditional and cage-free egg laying industries provide for the care and well-being of hens, with a full understanding of the benefits and challenges to approaches. He's served on various state and national organizations dedicated to helping producers and the egg industry meet consumer expectations for responsible care.
Dr. Gary Althouse
University of Pennsylvania
School of Veterinary Medicine
Gary Althouse, PhD, DVM, serves as Associate Dean of
Sustainable Agricultural and Veterinary Practices at PennVet. A professor of Reproduction and Swine Herd Health, his primary areas of research include comparative theriogenology, swine production medicine, andrology and spermatology. He founded
and directs the Reference Andrology Laboratory, providing
quality control semen analysis for swine, cattle and equine.
Dr. Alex Hamberg
Pennsylvania Department
of Agriculture
As State Veterinarian, Director of the Bureau of Animal Health and Diagnostic Services and Executive Director of the Animal Health and Diagnostic Commission, Dr. Alex Hamberg is responsible for the safety and quality of the food supply by safeguarding livestock and public health, and the economic well-being of the domestic animal industry.
Dr. Rebecca Krisher
Pennsylvania State University Department of Animal Science
Dr. Rebecca Krisher heads the Department of Animal Science in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences.
Dr. Krisher has a wide range of professional experience working in reproductive biology and animal science, working both inside and outside academia.
Before accepting her position at Penn State, Dr. Krisher was global senior director of reproductive biology and gene editing for Genus Research and Development in DeForest, Wisconsin. She was research director for the Colorado Center for Reproductive Medicine, associate professor in the Department of Animal Sciences at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, and associate professor and assistant professor in the Department of Animal Sciences at Purdue University. She remains an affiliate faculty member in the Department of Biomedical Sciences at Colorado State University.
Dr. Cori Robinson
Best Veterinary Solutions
Cori Robinson, DVM, DACPV, is staff veterinarian at Best Veterinary Solutions.
Executive Deputy Secretary Greg Hostetter
Pennsylvania Department
of Agriculture
Executive Deputy Secretary for Animal Health and Food Safety Gregory Hostetter is responsible for the bureaus of Animal Health and Diagnostic Services, Food Safety and Laboratory Services and Dog Law Enforcement. He has served on the USDA’s Farm Service Agency Pennsylvania state committee, USDA’s NRCS State Technical Committee, DEP's Agriculture Advisory Board and has been active in the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau.
Ben Junkin
Junk-Inn Farms
Ben Junkin operates Junk-Inn Farms, Franklin County, along with his father, where they raise sheep, hogs and turkeys in addition to growing hay, corn and soybeans. Prior to returning to the farm, Ben worked as a staff member at the PA Department of Agriculture and the PA State Senate. Junkin is a graduate of Lock Haven University and now resides in Blairs Mills with his wife, Holly, and their children.
Mark Martin
Longenecker's Hatchery
Mark Martin, a partner at Longenecker's Hatchery and longtime poultry industry professional, is Vice President of their Broiler Breeders and Technical Services division, serving farmers and poultry companies in the Mid-Atlantic region. Mark's previous experience includes Influenza vaccine production, development and technical service with Wyeth, after obtaining a Master's in Avian Immunology/Virology from the University of Delaware.
J Mac Magee
Commercial Concepts AI, Inc.
Mac Magee has served as General Manager for Commercial Concepts AI, Inc. since 1997, offering industry-leading improvements for maternal and terminal swine genetics. Prior to joining Commercial Concepts, Mac was a Sow Barn Technician for White Oak Mills. He also owns a flock of commercial hair sheep and operates JM Club Lambs, raising quality club lambs that are competitive at local, state and national levels.
Phil Wise
Murray's Chicken
Phil Wise grew up on a sheep farm in Central PA and, after graduating from Penn State with a degree in Poultry Science, he worked in both the South and Midwest for Butterball and Tyson Foods. Wise returned to Pennsylvania to help run his family’s farm, helping to maintain a flock of 280 brood ewes, while also working for Murray’s Chicken as Plant Director. He is also active in the Pennsylvania Sheep and Wool Growers Association.