{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,2]],"date-time":"2026-10-02T07:57:12Z","timestamp":1790927832143,"version":"4.1.0"},"reference-count":25,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,2]],"date-time":"2026-10-02T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1790899200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Vet. Sci."],"abstract":"<jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Introduction<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>This study examined Pork Prospect, a three-component swine-focused experiential learning program designed to support food-animal veterinary workforce development by scaffolding learners\u2019 career exploration, occupational fit appraisal, and professional identity formation. The program was evaluated using the PIG Pathway Framework, which integrates Possible Selves Theory, Social Cognitive Career Theory, and Experiential Learning Theory across three developmental stages: Exploratory (high school), Formative (college), and Immersive (early career).<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>\n                      Using a qualitatively driven mixed methods design, we evaluated program outcomes among 167 participants in Minnesota and Ohio, including high school students (\n                      <jats:italic>n<\/jats:italic>\n                      = 91), college students (\n                      <jats:italic>n<\/jats:italic>\n                      = 58), and advanced undergraduates or early-career professionals, including graduate students and recent graduates (\n                      <jats:italic>n<\/jats:italic>\n                      = 18). High school and college participants attended a one-day \u201cSwine Discovery Day\u201d consisting of educational presentations and a visit to a swine research facility. Early-career participants completed a \u201cSwine Bootcamp,\u201d consisting of individualized, professionally mentored experiences lasting 2 days to 2 weeks and tailored to participants\u2019 career interests in swine production, veterinary medicine, research, extension, and other industry settings. Pre- and post-program Likert-scale surveys were analyzed using Wilcoxon signed-rank tests for high school and college groups. Post-program survey data and open-ended responses were analyzed descriptively and thematically.\n                    <\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>High school participants showed significant gains in comfort around pigs, swine industry knowledge, and career awareness, suggesting that early exposure expanded possible career selves. College participants demonstrated significant increases in industry knowledge, career awareness, and consideration of swine-related careers, indicating that structured experiential contact supported appraisal of occupational fit, perceived barriers, and career possibilities. Early-career participants reported strong satisfaction, perceived knowledge gains, and greater clarity and confidence regarding swine-focused career pathways, suggesting that mentored immersion supported professional rehearsal and identity consolidation. Across program components, qualitative themes highlighted the importance of hands-on learning, mentorship, reflection, and embodied encounters with swine work in shaping motivation and professional commitment.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Discussion<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Findings suggest that developmentally sequenced experiential programs may support food-animal career development by matching learners\u2019 educational stage with appropriate forms of exposure, reflection, mentorship, and immersion. The study contributes a theory-informed model for understanding food-animal veterinary career development as a staged process of professional becoming rather than a linear pipeline from exposure to career choice.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.3389\/fvets.2026.1927703","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,2]],"date-time":"2026-10-02T07:43:46Z","timestamp":1790927026000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Shaping swine career identity through Pork Prospect: a mixed methods study in Minnesota and Ohio"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"13","author":[{"given":"Samira","family":"Chatila","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Animal Science, University of Minnesota","place":["Minneapolis, MN, United States"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Kara","family":"Flaherty","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Veterinary Preventative Medicine, The Ohio State University","place":["Colombus, OH, United States"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Pedro E.","family":"Urriola","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Animal Science, University of Minnesota","place":["Minneapolis, MN, United States"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Maria","family":"Pieters","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Veterinary Population Medicine, University of Minnesota","place":["Minneapolis, MN, United States"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Jacqueline","family":"Nolting","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Veterinary Preventative Medicine, The Ohio State University","place":["Colombus, OH, United States"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Talita Pilar","family":"Resende","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Animal Science, University of Minnesota","place":["Minneapolis, MN, United States"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1965","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,2]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"382","DOI":"10.3138\/jvme-2020-0143","article-title":"The influence of messaging on perceptions of careers in veterinary medicine: do gender stereotypes matter?","volume":"49","author":"Morello","year":"2022","journal-title":"J Vet Med Educ"},{"key":"ref2","year":"2025"},{"key":"ref3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2339","DOI":"10.1002\/vetr.2339","article-title":"Farm animal careers and perception of \u2018fit\u2019 in undergraduate veterinary students: a mixed methods study","volume":"192","author":"Payne","year":"2023","journal-title":"Vet Rec"},{"key":"ref4","author":"Weltzien","year":"2023"},{"key":"ref5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"255","DOI":"10.3138\/jvme-2023-0086","article-title":"Swine medicine education: a survey of north American and Caribbean veterinary colleges curricula","volume":"51","author":"Brown","year":"2024","journal-title":"J Vet Med Educ"},{"key":"ref6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"19","DOI":"10.34068\/joe.58.03.19","article-title":"Sense of belonging as perceived by youths who continue participation in 4-H","volume":"58","author":"DeCubellis","year":"2020","journal-title":"J Ext"},{"key":"ref7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"127","DOI":"10.12806\/V6\/I1\/RF6","article-title":"Rural FFA leadership: understanding members\u2019 role and the context of chapter activities","volume":"6","author":"Horstmeier","year":"2007","journal-title":"J Leadersh Educ"},{"key":"ref8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"197","DOI":"10.5032\/jae.2022.03197","article-title":"How do I get there from here? 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