Aspire Dr. Will Fombelle, Carthage Veterinary Service | May 25, 2021 Carthage Veterinary Service recently hosted its first ever virtual Spring Symposium. The general session was filled with great presentations from industry leaders focusing in on markets and marketing, global pig consumption and production and genetics. The keynote address for this year’s symposium was given by the new University of Illinois head football coach, Bret Bielema. Coach Bielema, who was raised on a swine farm near Prophetstown, Illinois, brought vast experience to the event, providing his take on “Overcoming Diversity.” One of the most popular general session presentations focused on an update of the 84,000-sow farrow-to-finish swine production site in China. The site has gained global attention over the last several months and has led to many discussions on its sheer size and technology needed to operate a swine farm at this scale. Michael Ellerman, with the Chinese swine management and consulting firm Aspire Agritech Consulting, led the presentation with thought provoking insights and pictures from his farm visits during its construction.