United Animal Health Honors Tokach as 2025 John B. Swisher Leadership Award Winner
Mike Tokach uses his deep understanding of the day-to-day issues that livestock producers face to through those issues using his swine nutrition and research knowledge.
Mike Tokach was honored by United Animal Health at the World Pork Expo with the 2025 John B. Swisher Leadership Award, celebrating his lifelong contributions to the swine industry.
“Mike has made a significant impact on the swine industry through his research in swine nutrition and production management, as well as through his work in developing future leaders,” says Matt Ritter, senior vice president of research and development at United Animal Health. “He is closely connected to the needs of commercial swine producers and is always researching timely and relevant topics.”
His unmatched experience and dedication make him a highly respected figure in the industry, United Animal Health says.
“I am delighted to honor the remarkable work of Dr. Mike Tokach this year,” says Doug Webel, president and CEO of United Animal Health. “Tokach is devoted to this industry and continues to make an impact, especially through the many graduate students he has mentored and guided to success at Kansas State.”
It Takes a Team
Presented annually during World Pork Expo, this award recognizes an individual who has significantly contributed to the advancement of the swine industry and who has demonstrated extraordinary leadership throughout their career.
“I am honored and humbled by the nomination and selection,” Tokach says. “United Animal Health has honored some outstanding people with this award over the years. Any success I’ve had is 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.”
United Animal Health donated $5,000 in Tokach’s honor to the Kansas State University Foundation, in support of the Swine Team Legacy Endowment.
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 completed 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. In addition, his deep understanding of the day-to-day issues that livestock producers may face helps him work through those issues using his swine nutrition and research knowledge.
“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,” says 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.”