BROOKINGS South Dakota State University Extension has announced the hiring of Rafe Royall as a new assistant professor and SDSU Extension swine specialist and Kaylyn Rudy as an Extension swine field specialist.
Rafe Royall
Based on the SDSU campus in Brookings, Royalls role will include providing relevant, up-to-date research to South Dakota swine producers, and promoting the benefits of pork production and consumption to the public.
Originally from a small town in west Texas, Royall said he is excited to build relationships with local and regional pork producers.
From the time I stepped on campus, it has been clear that the pork producers of South Dakota are passionate people who are driven to be leaders in the industry and expect the same out of the SDSU research and extension professionals they work with, he said. I look forward to collaborating with the producers of the state to continuously advance our industry.
Royall has a bachelors degree in animal science from Texas Tech University and earned both his masters and doctorate degrees in animal science from Kansas State University. His professional experience includes working for Beyers Farms Texas, Texas Pork Producers, Kansas State University and JBS Live Pork, where he managed a research team on a 7,500-head sow farm.
He grew up immersed in Extension programs through his dad, a longtime county extension agent and administrator. He showed livestock and competed in livestock judging in 4-H and in college; since graduating, he has helped coach youth judging activities.
Sandy Smart, SDSU Extension Agriculture and Natural Resources Senior Program Leader and professor, praised Royalls mix of academic and hands-on experience in swine science and production.
Rafe comes to SDSU with a strong academic background in swine science, and judging wool, meat, livestock and animal evaluation. Also, he understands production-oriented research that managers need to be more efficient and productive, Smart said. We are lucky to have Rafe join SDSU Extension.
Kaylyn Rudy
Rudy is based in Mitchell and will work to identify the needs of swine producers and provide research-based information to producers and industry partners.
I look forward to helping producers and their operations thrive, Rudy said. I am also excited about creating educational opportunities for all and encouraging the next generation of agriculturalists and swine producers.
A native of Illinois, Rudy grew up on a farm and showed horses and cattle in 4-H. She has a bachelors degree in agricultural science with an animal science emphasis from Western Illinois University, and a masters in swine reproductive physiology from Purdue University. Her research has included swine fetal development and how a common swine disease, porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV), is transmitted from a pig to its piglets during pregnancy.
Rudy has worked as head of animal care at Premier BioSource, a biomedical swine facility, and as a swine service technician for Indiana Packers Corporation. Sandy Smart, SDSU Extension Agriculture and Natural Resources Senior Program Leader and professor said Rudys professional and academic experience make her ideal for the role.
Kaylyn Rudy joins the SDSU Extension team with great academic training and real-world experience in the swine industry, Smart said. We are very excited to have her join us to improve the swine industry in South Dakota and the surrounding region.
For more information, contact Rudy at 605-995-7378 or [email protected] and Royall at 605-688-5165 or [email protected].
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