HANOR Shows Appreciation for Farm Teams

Last Saturday, Ames area farm employees with The HANOR Company enjoyed a fun evening at the park with their families as a thank you for their continual hard work. Attendees of all ages savored a free dinner, ice cream, lawn games, face painting, awards, raffles, inflatables and more during the company's Employee Appreciation Picnic in Enid.

Thanks to thoughtful planning by HANOR's Thomas Craig, Keith Reiner, Kalley Whitlock and others - the event brought together more than 100 HANOR pork producers and their loved ones. Oklahoma Pork was grateful to play a small role in the fun by sponsoring the meal protein and distributing Oklahoma Pork swag for all attendees. Additionally, we want to thank Zoetis (proudly an Oklahoma Pork Silver Annual Sponsor) for co-sponsoring this memorable night for dozens of pork producing families. These producers certainly deserve to be celebrated, and HANOR did just that!

Does your farm have a fun event the Oklahoma Pork Council could help sponsor? Or simply one that should be highlighted in a future edition of E-Pork? Click here make a donation request.

Our team loves to travel and share pork swag with producers across the state, so let us know when and where to get involved!

Expanding the Oklahoma Pork Team

The Oklahoma Pork Council is currently accepting applications for a skilled visual communicator to join our staff as a digital content creator this fall. This person will serve as the pork industry's top storyteller in Oklahoma, using photography, graphic design, videography, copywriting and more to promote the incredible work done by our state's pork producers.

Our staff is excited to find a passionate teammate with best-in-class communication skills to serve Oklahoma pork producers alongside us. The digital content creator will join our three full-time staff members of Kylee Deniz (executive director), Matti Carlile (business coordinator), and Ashton Mese Johnston (industry relations manager) in our Oklahoma City office. This person will also have the opportunity to work with our two part-time student employees Kate Jackson and Braden Burns who transitioned from summer interns to OSU campus liaisons this semester helping with Pork Industry Group. Team culture is incredibly important at the Oklahoma Pork Council, so our new hire will be an individual who not only has the right skillset but also the right heart for working alongside our staff and our board.

The Oklahoma Pork Council is actively working to build our digital content bank of compelling stories, photos, and videos that showcase the best of Oklahoma pork production. Click here to apply!

Award Spotlight: Dr. Jared Harshman

For his service to the industry, recent OSU PhD graduate Jared Harshman was awarded Oklahoma Pork's 2023 Ambassador Award at the Oklahoma Pork Congress in Oklahoma City.

In 2006, the Oklahoma Pork Council Board of Directors created the Ambassador Award to recognize individuals who don’t directly raise pigs but have made a significant impact on our state’s pork industry as a champion and promoter of what our farmers do.

Having just completed his doctorate in July 2023, Dr. Jared Harshman recently finished his nine-year Oklahoma academic career as an expert in swine nutrition. During the past decade, Jared has made significant research contributions while serving as a passionate advocate for modern pig farming. Because of his hard work and meaningful industry engagement, Jared was selected for the 2023 Oklahoma Pork Council Ambassador Award.

Originally from Mount Airy, Maryland, Jared first came to Oklahoma in 2014 to judge livestock and study Animal Science at Redlands Community College. From there, he transferred to Oklahoma State University where he worked at the university swine farm while earning a bachelor’s degree, master’s degree and doctorate with a focus on swine nutrition. While his research as a graduate student covered a wide array of topics, his master’s research focused on feed additives in nursery and wean-to-finish pigs, while his PhD dissertation was focused on sow prolapse. Jared worked closely with longtime Oklahoma Pork ex-officio board member and OSU swine nutritionist Dr. Scott Carter. Jared has also found time during his studies to assist with Oklahoma Pork’s collegiate leadership program and work with our staff on key projects that serve the broader pork industry.

With his PhD complete, Jared plans to begin his full-time career as a swine nutritionist. When he is not conducting research, he enjoys spending time outside with his girlfriend and friends either hunting or fishing. Thank you to Dr. Jared Harshman for being a true champion of our state’s pork industry!

Interested in learning more about Jared's sow prolapse research? Click here to check out Part One of his interview on The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt podcast earlier this year.

Oklahoma Well Represented at U.S. SHIP Meeting

Pork producers from across the nation spent the last few days working on the United States Swine Health Improvement Plan (U.S. SHIP) to better prepare for a potential Foreign Animal Disease (FAD) outbreak.

Last week, nine voting representatives and two members of the Oklahoma Pork team provided valuable perspective on behalf of our state's swine industry at the United States Swine Health Improvement Plan (U.S. SHIP) House of Delegates Meeting in Minnesota.

U.S. SHIP exists to bring producers and government partners together to create a "National Playbook" of technical standards related to Foreign Animal Disease (FAD) preparedness for African Swine Fever (ASF) and Classical Swine Fever (CSF). As a refresher, Oklahoma's voting delegation included:

• Cristina Carmona - Prestage Farms

• Dr. Steven Clifton - Tyson Foods

• Dr. Suzanne Genova - Red Dirt Veterinary Services

• Dr. Rod Hall - ODAFF

• Dr. Alicia Gorczyca-Southerland - ODAFF

• Noel Williams - Seaboard Foods

• Dr. Jon Tangen - The HANOR Company

• Travis Vaughan - Smithfield Foods,

• Koe Wolfe - JBS.

The House of Delegates focused on U.S. SHIP's key tenets: biosecurity, traceability and disease surveillance. Delegates also participated in break-out sessions to dig deeper on questions related to traceability and animal movements, feral pigs and other serious biosecurity risks, and transportation and live haul sanitation. Overall, our Oklahoma crew felt the meeting was worthwhile with new information for our producers and government partners to consider.

Sharing Accurate Stories About Pigs and Pork

Oklahoma Pork member Jessica Ingo, Oklahoma Pork executive director Kylee Deniz, and Oklahoma Pork business coordinator Matti Carlile all visited classrooms in their home communities to teach children about pork production.

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Oklahomans across the state committed to spreading fact-based agricultural stories with hundreds of students in a fun and helpful way this week. The Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry (ODAFF)'s Agriculture in the Classroom program held its annual "Read An Accurate Agriculture Book Week" to encourage more transparency of the food and fiber system among youth.

Many teachers pledged to read an educational agriculture story in their own classrooms, and dozens of volunteers in counties throughout Oklahoma went into schools and early childhood centers to help promote agriculture's message. Volunteers included elected officials, 4-H and FFA officers, and industry representatives. Oklahoma Pork members and staff enjoyed this opportunity to teach swine production's story, reading accurate pork books to young students in our communities.

Are you looking for ways to promote our industry close to home? Click here to review some online pork production and pork nutrition resources our team recommends to Oklahoma teachers looking to share more about pork in their classrooms!

Oklahoma Attending U.S. SHIP Meeting Next Week

Next week, pork producers and government partners from across the nation will gather in Minnesota for the 2023 United States Swine Health Improvement Plan (U.S. SHIP) House of Delegates Meeting. Individuals involved with U.S. SHIP continue to work toward a "National Playbook" of technical standards centering on prevention and demonstration of freedom from disease outside control areas in support of animal health, commerce and trade related to threats like African Swine Fever (ASF) and Classical Swine Fever (CSF).

The Oklahoma Pork Council is excited for our state to be well represented at this critical meeting. We have diverse delegate representation from our pork production companies and industry segments, in addition to Oklahoma Pork's Kylee Deniz and Matti Carlile attending the event. Oklahoma will have 9 voting delegates participating in this worthwhile discussion.

Oklahoma's voting delegation headed to Minnesota next week includes:

• Cristina Carmona - Prestage Farms,

• Dr. Steven Clifton - Tyson Foods,

• Dr. Suzanne Genova - Red Dirt Veterinary Services

• Dr. Rod Hall - ODAFF

• Dr. Alicia Gorczyca-Southerland - ODAFF

• Noel Williams - Seaboard Foods

• Dr. Jon Tangen - The HANOR Company

• Travis Vaughan - Smithfield Foods

• Joe Wolfe - JBS

If you have input that will help these delegates represent our industry in key decisions for Foreign Animal Disease (FAD) preparedness and traceability, let them know! Additionally, if you are interested in digging into the U.S. SHIP conference topics for discussion, click here to view the 71-page House of Delegates booklet with proposed updates and program standards.

Come Golf with Oklahoma Pork in October!

After making the tough call to postpone our annual golf tournament earlier this summer, Oklahoma Pork's Board of Directors can now officially announce the new date for our 2023 "Oklahoma Pork Open" at Hennessey's Turkey Creek Golf Course.

Join us Friday, October 20, for a beautiful fall day of golf with Oklahoma Pork members, sponsors and friends. Check-in will begin at 8 a.m. before the shotgun start at 9 a.m. Lunch and drinks will be provided for all players. Click here to register your team of four (with or without mulligans) on the Oklahoma Pork website. Closer to the tournament, we will also need registered teams' player names to help streamline registration on the course.

As our Oklahoma Pork staff and board plan for this member-favorite event, we are actively recruiting sponsors for prizes, drinks and more. If your company is interested in supporting the Oklahoma Pork Open through a fun sponsorship at our upcoming golf tournament - OR if you work with an allied industry company you think should step up to sponsor the 2023 Oklahoma Pork Open, click here to review the unique golf tournament partnership opportunities. Available options range from sponsoring one individual hole or player award, all the way to one title sponsorship for the tournament.

For more information about the upcoming Oklahoma Pork Open, contact Matti Carlile. We are counting down the days until Friday, October 20, 2023!

Award Spotlight: Greg Stephens of Prestage Farms

From time to time, the Oklahoma Pork Council presents a career achievement recognition known as the Golden Pig Award. This accolade is reserved for leaders who exhibit a longstanding example of character, knowledge and dedication within pork production. For 2023, one producer who finished his distinguished career earlier this year perfectly embodies the “Golden Pig” benchmark.

After more than 30 years with Prestage Farms, Greg Stephens recently began a well-deserved new life chapter of retirement. At the recent Oklahoma Pork Congress, Greg was announced as the 2023 Oklahoma Pork Council Golden Pig Award recipient for his hard work and devoted leadership.

In 1991, Greg moved from Florida to work in Prestage’s North Carolina Swine Division. There he was instrumental in the expansion and success of the company’s farrowing, finishing, nursery and service operations.  With experience in nearly all segments of the business, Greg was called upon in 2011 to lead Prestage’s newly acquired Oklahoma Swine Division. He and his wife Kathy made Oklahoma their home over the past 12 years while Greg oversaw every component of Prestage’s Oklahoma footprint. His employees and their pigs have achieved high performance under Greg’s tenure. Additionally, the Oklahoma Pork Council has continually benefitted from his wisdom and perspective. In retirement, Greg plans to spend more time with his family and enjoy outdoor experiences like hunting and fishing.

Congratulations to Greg Stephens on his retirement and this special honor from his peers!

Help Recruit OSU Students for Pork Industry Group - Applications Due Sept. 15

If you know any OSU students studying agriculture, encourage them to apply for Pork Industry Group this fall. The program, led by the Oklahoma Pork Council and Dr. Scott Carter, is an eight-week learning experience for Ferguson College of Agriculture students who want to better understand the swine industry and expand their network of agricultural professionals in Oklahoma.

Students will grow their knowledge of commercial pork production, diverse career opportunities, agricultural advocacy, professionalism and more. Each weekly session will also include a free dinner, door prizes and helpful advice from industry experts. The group will hear from dynamic speakers with a variety of pork-related careers and take part in an exciting two-day trip to visit a commercial sow operation and a large-scale pork processing plant. Pork Industry Group will culminate with a final banquet at which students will present their ideas to help solve a current issue faced by Oklahoma’s swine industry to Oklahoma Pork's Board of Directors. Scholarships will be awarded to outstanding participants.

Applications are due Friday, September 15, through the Oklahoma Pork Council website. Each applicant must also submit their resume and one recommendation letter via email to be considered for this experience. Check out the program schedule and other helpful information on the Oklahoma Pork Council website. If you have questions or comments about Pork Industry Group, please contact Oklahoma Pork's Ashton Mese Johnston.

Our team is excited to pour into another group of next generation pork industry leaders this semester!

Introducing Our New President Tom Layne

“From cooking up delicious meals at Oklahoma Pork Council events to representing our industry at the State Capitol, Oklahoma Pork’s new president Tom Layne brings a heart for service to his position for the upcoming year.”

Every August, the Oklahoma Pork Congress marks the transition to a new membership year and new leadership of the Oklahoma Pork Council. Beginning this month, our board of directors is led by 2023-2024 board president Tom Layne of Enid.

Tom has worked in the pork industry for more than 25 years. After proudly serving in the U.S. Army, Tom originally began his agriculture career with the Pig Improvement Company (PIC) before joining The HANOR Company in 1998. As HANOR's Director of Human Resources, Tom's work impacts the company's 650 employees located across seven states. When he is not working, Tom enjoys spending time with his wife Nancy, their four adult sons, and their five grandchildren. Tom's family background in the restaurant business and his military experience have both ingrained a deep value for service.

"This board exists to serve all pork producers in the state," Tom shared. "The show pig folks, the niche producers, and the commercial farmers are all in this together. My message to every Oklahoma Pork Council member is to be proud of what we do. We do a good thing, and we provide a product people want. Our industry is full of people who are dedicated to our animals and to feeding people. I take that very seriously, and I'm looking forward to the year ahead."

To recruit and onboard new employees throughout production, Tom is proud to share he has performed nearly every role on the farm. He sees serving all members, developing strong board relationships, and making decisions with the entire industry in mind as key priorities for his term.

Oklahoma Pork's remaining officer positions will be elected at the upcoming September board meeting. To familiarize yourself with the full board after elections at Pork Congress, check out Our People on the Oklahoma Pork Council website via the link below.