Riding in style the 250+ miles from Stillwater to Guymon and back, our Oklahoma Pork staff took our 20 Pork Industry Group members on a two-day industry tour to visit a Seaboard Foods sow farm and the Guymon pork processing plant. Often cited as the highlight of Pork Industry Group students' experiences each fall, this week brought an unfiltered look at the pigs to pork pipeline for an impressive cohort of OSU agriculture students.

Thanks to thoughtful planning from Seaboard leadership, our tour participants spent a full afternoon at Seaboard's Farm 46 near Forgan, Oklahoma. Talking through feeding, breeding, farrowing and more - the students received an up-close look at how the delicious pork on their dinner table truly comes into existence. From showering into the farm and talking through production numbers to holding piglets and seeing modern barn technology - the comprehensive tour proved incredibly interesting and educational. The following day, our fantastic Seaboard hosts took the students through one of the largest pork processing plants in the United States. Participants were able to experience both the harvest and cold sides of the plant as they explored the one million square foot facility.

As we recruit students for Pork Industry Group, we refer to the experience as an "industry trip of a lifetime," and after the last two days our participants will forever have a deeper understanding of how pork is produced and a greater appreciation for the hard-working people who make it possible. A huge thanks to Seaboard Foods leadership who made this trip possible.