(NAFB.com) – The National Pork Industry Foundation is accepting applications for the 2026 Neil Dierks Scholarship. The $5,000 scholarship honors Neil Dierks, longtime CEO of the National Pork Producers Council, and recognizes his leadership and dedication to the pork industry. “This scholarship reflects his commitment to fostering future leaders and ensures that graduate students with a passion for strengthening the pork industry have the opportunity to build on that legacy,” said John Anderson of the National Pork Industry Foundation Board. “Neil’s leadership and vision left a lasting impact on producers and the broader agricultural community.” Scholarship applications are due by December 31, 2025, and the recipient will be announced at the National Pork Industry Forum, March 4-6, 2026, in Kansas City, Missouri. Full eligibility requirements and applications are available at NPPC’s online form. To learn more about the scholarship or to make a contribution to the Foundation, visit the NPIF webpage.