Glenn Muller may be recognized across South Dakota as the Executive Director of the South Dakota Pork Producers Council, but at his core, Glenn is the kind of person agriculture is built on: steady, hardworking, relationship-driven, and deeply committed to doing what’s best for producers and rural communities.

Born and raised near Davis, South Dakota, Glenn’s roots in agriculture started at home on a swine farm. “My exposure started as serving as a producer member, because we raised hogs on our farm,” Glenn said. That upbringing shaped both his career and his perspective, one grounded in real farm experience and a strong sense of responsibility to the industry.

After graduating from South Dakota State University with a degree in agricultural education, Glenn began his career teaching vocational agriculture in northwest Iowa for three years. From there, his path took him back home and deeper into a lifetime of work that blended education, finance, and industry leadership. Over the years, Glenn taught in farm programs, worked in banking, and spent time in risk management before stepping into the role he has now held for more than 15 years.

While Glenn has worn a lot of hats, his connection to SDSU has stayed constant. When asked what he remembers most from his SDSU days, his answer wasn’t about a class or a title, it was about people.

“I made a lot of friends and relationships that have lasted a lifetime,” Glenn said. “Looking back, you can really see how much of an impact it had…because some of those contacts you made were influential throughout your career.”

That same theme shows up when Glenn talks about his time in Little International.

He first got involved in Little I as an exhibitor, showing pigs and cattle all four years he was in Brookings. He remembers the old barn, the work that came with it, and the traditions that made it special.

“Cleanup was always fun,” he said. “Piling the green chips and enjoying that… We used to have a dance afterwards.”

But again, when Glenn talks about Little I, what rises to the top is the relationships.

“The memory would be the relationships you built with people that are extremely successful in the livestock business,” he said. “Those relationships…that would be the biggest factor, biggest memory I would have from my participation.”

At the time, Glenn didn’t realize how much Little I and SDSU would shape his future but now, it’s clear.

“At the time, you just do it for the fun and the collaboration with other students,” he said. “Looking back, you can really see…how much it influenced your lifestyle and your career.”

Glenn’s love for agriculture ultimately led him into the pork industry in a bigger way. He grew up with hogs and farmed with them for years, but he also watched the industry change over time including how biosecurity reshaped the realities of production. Even as his role evolved, Glenn stayed close to what he values most: producers, people, and the long-term health of the industry.

Now, as Executive Director of South Dakota Pork, Glenn’s work focuses on representing producers at the state level, supporting education and outreach, and helping protect the future of pork production. He describes the role as something bigger than one person.

“We collectively as the organization can do for producers what they can’t do for themselves individually,” Glenn explained. “Whether that be research or policy management…that’s why I migrated to this position.”

For Glenn, leadership isn’t just about big decisions, it’s about staying grounded in purpose. When asked what hard work means to him, he didn’t hesitate.

“Hard work is establishing an end goal that you’d like to achieve,” he said. “Then making sure you put every effort you can into that… I’m very goal oriented.”

That mindset, Glenn said, comes from the people who raised and shaped him.

“My parents…were a major impact. Both of them were extremely hardworking,” he said, also crediting mentors and teachers through SDSU, high school, and his years in FFA.

In his current position, Glenn keeps returning to one guiding focus: doing what’s best for the industry while never losing sight of the public’s relationship with agriculture.

“Stay focused on what’s best for the industry,” Glenn said. “Make sure that we maintain a concern for environment and for the communities that we work in… but allow our producers a freedom to operate.”

As the public becomes more removed from agriculture, Glenn believes communication and education matter more than ever.

“It becomes more difficult all the time as the general population is further removed from agriculture,” he said. “I hope that the general public feels better about swine production… and that we can continue to maintain that priority.”

Even with his statewide role, Glenn’s proudest connections still come back to home and family. He and his wife Joan have four children and six grandchildren, and Glenn lights up talking about the next generation staying involved especially in livestock and Little I.

For Glenn, Little I is more than a show. It’s a place where students grow, where relationships form, and where futures start to take shape — sometimes without anyone realizing it in the moment.

When asked what advice he would give students involved in agriculture today, Glenn’s response was direct:

“There’s tremendous opportunities in agriculture,” he said. “Agriculture looks different than it did 50 years ago… there’s a lot of technical and management positions available… make sure students explore those opportunities.”

And to this year’s Little I exhibitors, he hopes students make the most of every moment.

“Treasure these opportunities,” Glenn said. “Make sure that you build relationships with the fellow exhibitors and enjoy the experience. Because you never know where it will take you down the road.”

Written by Mallory Drake