Growing up on a cow-calf and swine feeder-to-finish operation in Carroll, Iowa, livestock was always a central part of Nick Pudenz’s life. Alongside the family’s livestock operations, Nick was immersed in agriculture from an early age. His father, a feedlot specialist for Cargill, also played a major role in shaping his interest in animal agriculture and exposing him to the livestock industry. Those early experiences ultimately led Nick to pursue a degree in Animal Science at Iowa State University.
While many students find involvement through clubs and organizations, Nick took a different path during his time at Iowa State. He focused heavily on academics and work experience, spending much of his college career balancing classes with hands-on industry experience. For three and a half years, he worked at the swine teaching farm under Allen Christian, an experience that became foundational to both his personal and professional growth. He noted that working for Christian taught him work ethic, problem solving, and the importance of paying attention to detail, skills that have impacted his career path in many ways.
Through his role at the swine teaching farm, Nick gained exposure to many aspects of the swine industry while also building valuable industry connections. The farm also allowed him to contribute to the Animal Science Department by helping provide hands-on learning opportunities for students involved in courses and clubs.
Nick credits several faculty members at Iowa State for helping shape his career path. Dr. Brad Skaar and Dr. Terry Houser introduced him to the meat industry through participation on the Meat Animal Evaluation Judging Team - experience that sparked his interest in meat science and directly led to his first position after graduation with Tyson Fresh Meats.
Additionally, Dr. Gene Rouse’s Growth and Development course provided Nick with a strong understanding of how animals grow, develop, and put on muscle and fat. That knowledge became especially valuable throughout his career in production, marketing, and commercial livestock roles. While he didn’t initially have the meat science knowledge, these classes allowed him to build his understanding of meat growth and the animal selection process - valuable knowledge in any industry role.
After graduating, Nick built an extensive career across several sectors of the animal health and livestock industries. He began at Tyson Fresh Meats, where he quickly excelled, working in plant operations and fresh meat sales. He later moved back to Iowa working for two swine integrators in marketing, logistics, animal handling, and eventually as a field supervisor. From there, he transitioned into data analytics and sales roles with Elanco, followed by sales positions at Zoetis and leadership roles at United Animal Health.
Today, Nick serves as Director of Commercial Accounts at Diamond Animal Health, a company that manufactures pharmaceuticals and vaccines for animal health companies all over the globe including some of his former employers. In his role, Nick works closely with researchers and scientists across regulatory, product development, and manufacturing teams to support vaccine creation within a highly regulated industry. His day-to-day responsibilities focus heavily on customer relationships and business strategy, including negotiating contracts and pricing, forecasting budgets, and identifying future growth opportunities.
Throughout his career journey, Nick learned the value of stepping outside his comfort zone and embracing new opportunities. He notes that being bold and sharing his opinion has led to many opportunities and positive change throughout his career. “Sometimes it pays off to be bold and speak up. Sometimes that’s all it takes to help move you forward in your career,” he said.
Nick also shared several pieces of advice for current and incoming Animal Science students: “Embrace who you are and what you bring to the table. You’re not hired to be the same person sitting next to you,” he said. “Everyone has different skills and personalities. The more you learn about your own personality and how to read and adapt to other’s personality, the stronger you become in the workforce and as a teammate.”
He also encourages students to remain open-minded when opportunities arise. “Be willing to listen when potential opportunities arise,” he said. “Even if it’s not something you thought you wanted, you never know if it could lead to something if you don’t listen.”
And one piece of advice that may be most important: “Call your parents!”
Nick Pudenz’s journey reflects the value of hard work, adaptability, and a willingness to embrace opportunities wherever they arise. From his roots on a livestock operation in Carroll, Iowa, to leadership roles within the animal health industry, Nick has continuously built upon the hands-on experiences and lessons he gained at Iowa State University in the Department of Animal Science. Through every stage of his career, he has demonstrated how strong industry knowledge, meaningful relationships, and the confidence to speak up can open doors to unexpected opportunities and long-term success.