On Giving Tuesday, Board President Tom Layne set the 2023 Oklahoma Pork Council Give-A-Ham Challenge in motion with a generous community feeding event in Enid. The launch brought together Oklahoma Pork and the Made in Oklahoma (MIO) Coalition to share 300 free pork meals and spread kindness through several fun giveaways.

Tom, who serves as Director of Human Resources for The HANOR Company, used this opportunity to encourage others to donate hams and pork products within their own communities. In his official Give-A-Ham kick-off video, Tom announced The HANOR Company's impressive 2,300 pound donation to the Loaves and Fishes Food Pantry of Northwest Oklahoma as the company's generous involvement in the 2023 Give-A-Ham Challenge. Tom also tapped Governor Kevin Stitt, Patrick Blevins of Jumbo Foods, Dan Schiedel of the United Way, and fellow Oklahoma Pork board member Dr. Scott Carter to keep the challenge moving throughout the state.

Tuesday's free lunch event at Jumbo Foods included pulled pork sliders, sausage bites, chips, and various MIO product samples totaling 300 free meals. The Oklahoma Pork Council also distributed special giveaways like branded blankets, bags, and squishy pigs. Adding even more fun to the day, one lucky Jumbo Foods shopper got seven minutes to race through the store filling two shopping carts with more than $1,300 in MIO groceries she took home for free. Check out a special video highlighting the feed and speed shopping here. What an incredible gift as we go into the busy and expensive holiday season!

Between now and Christmas, we encourage all our members to take part in the Give-A-Ham Challenge. Donate a holiday ham to your local food bank, deliver a pork meal to a neighbor, volunteer at a charity you support, or meet another need you see in your community. The "Giving Season" is the perfect time to spread generosity and make a small difference at the local level. Share your participation by posting a photo or video on social media using #GiveAHam.