Tim Safranski Reflects on 25 Years of Progress Ahead of 2025 Midwest Boar Stud Managers Conference
As the swine industry continues to evolve, one event has become a cornerstone for advancing boar management and artificial insemination: the Midwest Boar Stud Managers Conference. And at the heart of it stands Tim Safranski, Missouri’s long-serving State Swine Breeding Extension Specialist.
Safranski, who joined the University of Missouri in 1996, helped launch the conference in 2000 after recognizing a critical gap in education and collaboration around boar-side management. What began as a small meeting in a Missouri courthouse has grown into a globally respected event that now attracts experts from across the U.S. and abroad.
“We kept saying, ‘We need to do something for boars,’” Safranski recalls. “Back then, less than half of U.S. sows were bred through artificial insemination. The focus was mostly on the female side. Boars and semen quality were underserved.”
Fast-forward 25 years, and the industry has shifted dramatically—with technology, genetics, and global collaboration transforming swine breeding. The 2025 conference, set for August 13–14 in St. Louis, will again gather researchers, industry leaders, and boar stud managers under one roof.
“It’s really the only event in North America where people from every part of the male side of the business come together,” Safranski says.
He emphasizes a well-rounded agenda with insights from university researchers, international experts, and industry professionals, covering everything from genetics and nutrition to semen analysis and water management. Safranski is currently working to bring in a speaker from China after connecting at a global reproductive symposium.
A key feature of the event is a panel of boar stud managers who share firsthand experiences, challenges, and innovations. Given biosecurity restrictions that limit in-person visits to farms, the conference becomes a rare and valuable opportunity for idea exchange.
“Watching the attendees connect and learn from each other—that’s what I enjoy most,” says Safranski. “It builds community.”
Beyond conference planning, Safranski continues to mentor the next generation of swine professionals through his work at MU’s swine barn. “I’m a pig farmer who went to school too long,” he jokes. “I love pigs. And it’s rewarding to help students learn, think through problems, and get real experience.”
For an industry often focused on sows and systems, the Midwest Boar Stud Managers Conference shines a light on the vital role of the boar—and the people behind their care and performance.
