The second week of the Oklahoma Youth Expo kicked off with the third annual Oklahoma Pork Partners Derby show, highlighting a program designed to introduce new students to the pork industry and strengthen the future workforce. The Derby began as a big idea from Oklahoma State FFA Advisor Scott Nemecek for the Oklahoma Pork Council in partnership with the Oklahoma Youth Expo, Oklahoma State University, Oklahoma FFA Association, and Oklahoma 4-H. The goal is simple but powerful: give young people who may not have the resources to pursue a swine project the opportunity to care for their first pig.
In 2025, 48 students applied to participate in the Oklahoma Pork Workforce at all Levels strategic intention effort. Their journey began at Draft Day in early November when participants received their pigs and started months of hands-on learning that culminated this week with the Oklahoma Pork Partners Derby show at OYE. Along the way, participants completed a variety of educational requirements designed to build real-world livestock and business skills. Students took part in knowledge tests developed by Oklahoma Pork, completed ultrasound scans and official weigh-ins, maintained record books, and developed marketing plans for their projects. They also learned key principles of animal care and biosecurity to keep both their pigs and others at the show healthy.
Monday’s Derby show brought together a strong group of supporters celebrating the students’ hard work including Oklahoma Secretary of Agriculture Blayne Arthur, OSU Ferguson College of Agriculture Dean Dr. Jayson Lusk, Oklahoma Pork Council board members including Joe Locke, Dr. Suzanne Genova, Brett Ramsey, and National Pork Producers Council board member Joe Popplewell.
It was truly an incredible day celebrating the exhibitors who committed months of work to their projects. We congratulate all participants and especially recognize the Derby’s overall sweepstakes winners:
Aileen Ordonez (Cherokee)
Emma Reames (Elmore City)
Peyton Roberts (Ringwood)
Adalyn Anderson (Blanchard)
Saphari Saunders (Fairview)
Programs like the Oklahoma Pork Partners Derby demonstrate how investing in young people today helps build the workforce and leadership pipeline that will sustain Oklahoma’s pork industry for generations to come.