Swine simulators Usher learning revolution at Northeast College

Exciting things are happening at Northeast Community College! Thanks to a partnership with the Nebraska Pork Producers Association, students studying animal science and veterinary technology have a cool new way to learn – using swine simulators!

This partnership started with a goal – to make farm learning even better at Northeast. When the folks from the Pork Producers saw the new Acklie Family College Farm, they got talking about boosting swine learning. Dr. Kassie Wessendorf, a teacher at Northeast, thought swine simulators would be a game-changer.

You see, Northeast has real swine for students to learn with, but not all year round. Swine needs lots of care to stay healthy, and it’s tricky to take students to swine facilities because of health rules. The Pork Producers understood this and generously helped buy two simulators, costing $5,653, from a company called Realityworks in Wisconsin.

Mark Wright, the president of the Pork Producers Association, believes working with colleges like Northeast is super important. It’s all about helping the young minds who will be the future stars of Nebraska agriculture.

These simulators are almost like the real thing! Students can practice different procedures on them before trying on real animals. One simulator is like a swine family, with baby piglets that students can practice various treatments on. The other simulator helps students learn about helping with births and artificial insemination – a key skill for those working with swine.

Dr. Wessendorf is thrilled about how lifelike the models are and how they help students get comfortable with the procedures. “It’s a great way for students to get interested in swine without risking the health of the animals,” she said.

These swine simulators are joining other animal models at Northeast, including a calf, a cow, some dogs, and even a robotic dog named Diesel! It’s all about giving students the best learning experience possible.

Nebraska Pork Producers are praised for their assistance, with Dr. Tracy Kruse from Northeast appreciating their contribution in using advanced technology to train future pork industry leaders.

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