Dr. Mike Tokach
United Animal Health presented Dr. Mike Tokach with the 2025 John B. Swisher Leadership Award on Thurs., June 5 at World Pork Expo, celebrating his lifelong contributions to the swine industry.
The John B. Swisher Leadership Award is awarded annually during World Pork Expo to an individual who has significantly contributed to the advancement of the swine industry and who has exhibited extraordinary leadership qualities throughout their career.
“Mike has made a significant impact on the swine industry through swine nutrition and production management research and developing future leaders,” mentioned Matt Ritter, Senior VP of Research & Development at United Animal Health. “He is closely connected to the needs of commercial swine producers and is always researching timely and relevant topics.”
Tokach completed a Bachelor’s degree in Animal Science at North Dakota State University in 1986 and earned a Master’s degree in swine nutrition at Kansas State University in 1988. He continued his education by earning a doctorate in swine nutrition at the University of Minnesota in March 1991. Tokach specializes in practical swine nutrition research and works with producers to facilitate the quick adoption of technology by the industry. He has a deep understanding of the day-to-day issues that livestock producers may face and takes the opportunity to work through those issues using his swine nutrition and research knowledge. Tokach is an esteemed individual due to his dedication to the industry paired with his unmatched experience.
“I am delighted to honor the remarkable work of Dr. Mike Tokach this year,” commented Doug Webel, Ph.D., President and CEO of United Animal Health. “Tokach is devoted to this industry and brings value into what he does, especially through all the graduate students he has mentored at KSU and led to success.”
“The John B. Swisher Leadership Award has been awarded to some of the greatest movers and shakers in the swine industry and Dr. Mike Tokach would fit right in with past winners,” stated Devin Goehring, Associate Research Scientist at United Animal Health. “Dr. Tokach has a true passion for our industry and is a natural lifelong learner who has never turned away from new ideas or concepts.”
“I am honored and humbled by the nomination and selection,” Tokach stated. “United Animal Health has honored some outstanding people with this award over the years. Any success that I have had has been because of the team of people that I have been fortunate to be associated with. I am thrilled to accept the award in recognition of those team efforts.”
As a part of this award, United Animal Health will donate $5,000 in Tokach’s honor to the university of his choice for graduate student training — Kansas State University.