Meet the Expert – Jessica Patterson

I grew up in a small village in Michigan where I participated in 4-H for several years and took all animal classes I could in school. I then went to Michigan State University and graduated with a Bachelor of Science with a focus in swine and poultry management. I began working with pigs in 2012 and knew it was an industry I wanted to pursue and grow in. I have worked in the commercial industry, and in research, but I began my swine technician role with Hypor at the beginning of 2023. With this role, I can combine my love for the commercial industry and research and have greatly enjoyed the variety of work I get to do.

Once I began working part time at a sow farm over the summer while in college, I quickly grew to love the work and the animals. Being able to assist sows in their birthing process and watching those piglets grow and be successful was so rewarding in a way I had not experienced before.

I would say my superpower is my patience and understanding. Everyone works differently and has different ideas on how to get things done, and I enjoy the challenge of figuring out how to slightly adjust their methods to be more successful. One size does not fit all, and I pride myself in working with the processes the customer is already comfortable with, plus giving them additional tools and/or knowledge to push their production to the next level.

The most rewarding project I have worked on so far was the China export that we were successful with last fall. We were able to send almost 900 animals of varying ages and breeds over to China, which entailed multiple testing sessions and countless hours of data collection and monitoring of the animals. I was also given an opportunity to work with multiple individuals from the USDA and learned a lot about the regulations of transporting live animals across borders. We are on track to do more this year, and I'm very eager to be a part of these large export projects!

I foresee the swine industry evolving more to the standard Hypor is already setting, which is improved sustainability and welfare standards. Consumers are more and more conscious of how their food is being produced and demand for all animals to be treated with the greatest respect and in environments that are more attuned to their nature habitats. At Hypor we continue to be proactive with this evolution and want to set the standard for all other companies.

I am incredibly passionate about birds and poultry. Avian species are another great love for me. I continue to stay up to date on that industry's trends, and I am an avid bird watcher at home. I also enjoy donating and volunteering with wildlife rehabilitation centers around the area where I live. It's amazing to see a community come together to protect and care for the wildlife that needs a little extra help. 

Check out the whitepaper on animal welfare:
Animal Welfare: A Non-Negotiable in Sustainable Breeding and Genetics - Hypor