Educating Young Biosecurity Believers

This week, we had the incredible opportunity to host a swine biosecurity workshop during the Big 3 Field Days at Oklahoma State University. This event is a cornerstone of the livestock judging calendar, attracting hundreds of aspiring agriculturists from across the nation. The event kicked off in a "pig" way, with a morning dedicated to evaluating swine, and an exciting pork workshop in the afternoon. Our team was excited to gather young minds to promote and discuss the importance of biosecurity in the pork industry.

Big 3 consists of three days of competition, with students judging swine, sheep/goats, and cattle. As we are dedicated to promoting the future of the pork industry, we aim to provide a comprehensive learning experience that would resonate with students long after the event concluded. Our workshop was designed to educate and engage students in an interactive and memorable way.

One of the workshop's highlights was the use of Glo Germ with black lights to show the spread of disease across supplies, humans, and livestock. This tool allowed participants to visualize the importance of implementing biosecurity measures into their own herds and show pig operations. Each student used a stuffed pig to participate in a stock show simulation, with special guest State FFA Officer, Cooper Kline. The Glo Germ application demonstrated how easily viruses can be transmitted and emphasized the necessity of maintaining strict biosecurity protocols within the swine industry. The visual impact of seeing glowing germs on the stuffed pigs was both eye-opening and entertaining, leaving an impact on each student.

In addition to the Glo Germ activity, we introduced a pork-related “Wordle” game, challenging participants to identify an industry-related term. This interactive element made learning more fun and engaging. By incorporating learning themes into each activity, we aimed to create a dynamic environment that encouraged students to think critically about their future careers in agriculture.

Throughout the workshop, we also highlighted numerous opportunities within the pork industry, including Pork Industry Group, Ag in the Classroom grants, the Pork Partners Derby, and our high regard for our Biosecurity Believers. The enthusiasm from the students was awesome, and it was heartening to witness their curiosity and excitement about the future of pork production.

The workshop was more than just an educational session; it was a celebration of the pork industry’s commitment to sustainability and health in pork production. As we reflect on the day, we feel a deep sense of hope for the future of our industry. The next generation of livestock enthusiasts are knowledgeable and passionate about making a positive impact.

Pork Interns Have Eye-Opening ODAFF Experiences

We had an exciting opportunity to attend Agriculture Intern Day at the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry (ODAFF) Wednesday, July 10. It was an event packed with learning and hands-on experiences that deepened our understanding of agriculture and its various facets.

A highlight of the day was our participation in a career panel where professionals from diverse sectors of the agriculture industry shared their journeys and offered valuable advice. Among these experts were: State Senator Grant Green, ODAFF’s Director of Food Safety Scott Yates; ODAFF's Director of Market Development Meriruth Sellers; and the Oklahoma Pork Council’s own Kylee Deniz. Additionally, we had the privilege of listening to advice from JanLee Rowlett, Oklahoma's State Deputy Commissioner of Agriculture, and Blayne Arthur, the Oklahoma Commissioner of Agriculture. It was truly inspiring to hear firsthand experiences and gain practical insights into potential career paths within agriculture.

Later in the day, we toured a local winery and vineyard, which was not only informative but also showcased the importance of agriculture in Oklahoma’s economy beyond traditional crops. The winery taught us more about agritourism, as well as winemaking and the agricultural practices that support it.

One of the most fun parts of the experience was meeting fellow Oklahoma Ag. interns representing various organizations. Networking with peers who share our passion for agriculture was both encouraging and enlightening. Over lunch, we exchanged ideas, shared experiences, and built connections that will be beneficial throughout our careers. We were proud to represent Oklahoma Pork to this group and share more about our internships serving our state's pork producers.

Thursday was equally enriching as we delved into job shadowing experiences. We shadowed JanLee Rowlett, ODAFF deputy commissioner and learned from Lee Benson, ODAFF public information officer. Additionally, we had the unique opportunity to spend much of the day with Commissioner Arthur. Joining these professionals through a marathon of meetings and events gave us a firsthand look at the diverse responsibilities and challenges within agricultural leadership roles.

Throughout the shadowing experience, we sat in on foreign animal disease discussions, attended the summer U.S. Wheat meeting, as well as the Commissioners of the Land Office (CLO) meeting. These engagements provided us with a comprehensive view of the inner workings of our state and the immense leadership roles each of these individuals hold. It was fascinating to see how decisions are made, policies are formulated, and challenges are addressed at the administrative level.

Overall, Ag Intern Day and the subsequent job shadowing opportunity were invaluable experiences for us. They not only reinforced our passion for agriculture, but also broadened our perspectives on the industry’s impact. We left with a deeper appreciation for the diverse career opportunities within agriculture and a renewed sense of purpose in contributing to its future.

Remembering Eddie Robinson

Photographed here in 2017, Eddie Robinson (right) was a respected member of Oklahoma's pork industry for many years. His brother Rich Robinson (left) currently serves on Oklahoma Pork's board of directors.

Pork producers across Oklahoma were deeply saddened to learn in recent weeks of Eddie Robinson's passing. As cofounder of Robinson Family Farms with his brother Rich, Eddie spent many years as a dedicated pork producer and community leader in Hughes County. 

We encourage anyone with fond memories of Eddie to share those with his family and consider joining a light-hearted celebration of his life next month. The event will be on Saturday, August 24, in Holdenville. His beloved wife Kim shared "We will smile through the tears as we spend time reminiscing the good times by sharing our favorite stories and memories with one another. We invite you to dress casual and bring your appetite. It will be one for the books just like Eddie."

In 2012, the Robinson brothers were inducted into the Oklahoma Pork Hall of Fame. Click here to read more of their inspiring pork story from that time as we remember this special individual. Everyone at Oklahoma Pork remains grateful for the legacy of Eddie's hard work that will be remembered for years to come.

Memories Made in Minnesota for Interns

Written by Presley Pullen and Gus Ward

Our recent journey to Mankato, Minnesota, was a remarkable opportunity to expand our network and sharpen our professional skills. We participated in the Young Leaders in Agriculture Conference (YLAC) and the Fundamentals of Communications workshop for a total five days last week. Representing our shared passion for the pork industry and meeting other young agricultural leaders, we immersed ourselves in a week filled with learning, storytelling, and personal growth. We are proud to have the opportunity to represent Oklahoma and pork producers across our great state. 

The week kicked off with YLAC, which proved to be an enriching experience from beginning to end. We had the opportunity to attend sessions led by influential speakers who shared very valuable insights on sustainable farming practices, technological advancements in pork, and the future of the industry. The conference kicked off with Dr. Todd Dewett who shared the power of authenticity and how to be more real, more honest, and more credible as a young professional. We also heard from individuals with careers in human resources, sharing, “Don’t be the smartest person in the room. Surround yourself with smart people. That’s when you will truly grow.” 

In agriculture we talk a lot about advocacy and how to speak for producers. However, one thing we don’t necessarily discuss is finding someone who will speak up for you when you’re not in the room. This idea was reinforced throughout the entire conference and made us even more appreciative of the team we have here at the Oklahoma Pork Council. They advocate for Oklahoma pork producers every day, but place relationships above everything else. In addition to these impactful individuals, we also got to hear real world stories from those who tell the agriculture story best: farmers. A panel featuring pork producers and dairy industry leaders provided insight into the benefits of earning a college education before returning to the farm. They shared a very helpful piece of advice: “Know what hat to wear at the right time.” No matter what phase of life you find yourself in, we think this can be applicable.

Beyond the educational aspect, YLAC provided us with many opportunities to connect with fellow young leaders and professionals, fostering new friendships and collaborations that spanned beyond the conference. We know these relationships will last for years to come. Following our engaging experience at YLAC, we transitioned to the two-day Fundamentals of Communications workshop with Micah “Spike” Craven of Integrity Communications. With a group of about nine participants, we dove deep into effective communication strategies for professional spaces and our personal lives. Spike’s guidance and expertise were invaluable as we explored many various communication techniques through exercise, practice, and discussions. These activities equipped us with skills to effectively advocate for agriculture in our communities, future careers, and beyond.  

As we reflect on our time in Minnesota, we are deeply thankful to the Oklahoma Pork Council for making this journey possible. The insights gained this past week enhanced our understanding of the pork industry and strengthened our commitment to serving and advancing it.

Oklahoma Pork Council President Attends the 2024 State Leaders Meeting

Recently, Oklahoma Pork's board president Tom Layne joined 20 other state pork association presidents from across the country in Reno, Nevada, for the 2024 State Leaders Meeting hosted by the National Pork Board (NPB) and National Pork Producers Council (NPPC). This four-day gathering provided a platform for leaders to collaborate on tangible ways to support the future of our industry's state and national organizations in serving U.S. pork producers.

Tom’s participation in the State Leaders Meeting demonstrates Oklahoma Pork's commitment to staying at the forefront of industry developments and advocating for the needs of Oklahoma pork producers. Alongside executive director Kylee Deniz, Tom found the meeting to be a great opportunity to share about the good work being done in Oklahoma and ways to better staff our industry across the nation.

Public Notice by the Oklahoma Pork Council and the National Pork Board

The election of pork producer delegate candidates for the 2025 National Pork Producers (Pork Act) Delegate Body will take place at 2 p.m., Friday, August 2, 2024, in conjunction with the Oklahoma Pork Council Annual Meeting at the Colcord Hotel, 15 N Robinson, Oklahoma City, OK 73102. All Oklahoma pork producers are invited to attend.

Any producer, age 18 or older, who is a resident of Oklahoma and has paid all assessments due may be considered as a delegate candidate and/or participate in the election. All eligible producers are encouraged to bring with them a sales receipt proving that hogs were sold in their name and the Checkoff deducted. Nominations will be accepted from the floor.

For more information, contact the Oklahoma Pork Council at 405-232-3781.

Promoting Pork at Meat Science Conference

This week, Oklahoma City hosted the 60th American Meat Science Association (AMSA) Reciprocal Meat Conference (RMC). In addition to the Ronald McDonald House pork stick giveback, the Oklahoma Pork Council has found additional ways to support this gathering of 900 meat science professionals, academics and students.

Oklahoma Pork collaborated with the National Pork Board to serve as event sponsors for RMC's week in Oklahoma. Working with Dr. Gretchen Mafi and Dr. Morgan Pfeiffer of Oklahoma State University's Department of Animal and Food Sciences, we provided pork for the Iron Chef Competition and conference meals. A special thank you to our great partner in Ben E. Keith Foods to help hundreds of attendees enjoy Prairie Fresh pork during their stay at the Omni Hotel.

Thanks to the stellar reputation of OKC's new Omni Hotel, our state is "on the map" for a variety of large conferences and association meetings that previously have not occurred in Oklahoma. Cheers to bringing folks to Oklahoma and promoting delicious pork! See more highlights from this week's meat science conference from AMSA, here!

Meet Communications Intern Presley Pullen

Story Written by Presley Pullen

Integrity. One word that summarizes the work proud pork producers exercise every day without even realizing it. My name is Presley Pullen, a summer intern for the Oklahoma Pork Council, and I am thrilled to get a front-row seat to witness the integrity each of you bring to your toil. I am currently going into my junior year at Oklahoma State University, pursuing dual degrees in Agricultural Communications and Animal Science.

Growing up on a 2.5-acre plot of land right outside of my hometown, Stratford, Oklahoma, being directly involved in agriculture was not exactly something in the cards for me. However, I was fortunate enough to have friends and mentors eager to teach me the ways of the show pig world and help me kickstart my journey in agriculture. Each year I was able to convince my dad to add a few more pens to the barn, and it quickly became a family affair.

During the winter and spring months I dedicated my time and focus to caring for my show pigs, falling in love with every sector of the industry. Come summer, I spent my days travelling to farmers markets, pedaling peaches and working in my family’s peach orchard, nicknamed Pullen Peaches. Through both of these commitments I learned the value of integrity: doing the right thing in a reliable way. My animals depended on me to feed, exercise, and give them proper care. Peach customers depended on me to provide a safe and quality product. Through hands-on experiences, I quickly realized that no industry values integrity like agriculturists do.

Since attending OSU and being involved in programs like Pork Industry Group, I have gained a deeper understanding and appreciation for commercial pork producers. While I grew up involved in the show pig industry, I had no idea of the immense commercial sow farms Oklahoma boasts. Through a sow farm tour at Seaboard Foods near Guymon, Oklahoma, this past November, I was able to see a sliver of the integrity pork producers must have. Being dedicated to exercising proper biosecurity measures, keeping the pigs’ best interest at heart, and working hard to meet global demands for pork, each of you producers are truly the backbone of our world. You are committed to serving others and doing it with a high level of integrity. As a pork consumer, I thank you!

I am extremely excited to embark on this internship with the Oklahoma Pork Council team and have longed for this opportunity for quite some time. I hope to hear each of your unique stories and positively promote pork in my future career. I will serve this role with integrity!

Beagle Brigade Steals the Show at World Pork Expo

Story by Oklahoma Pork's Matti Carlile

Meet Ozcar! Ozcar, also known as Oz, is a member of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Beagle Brigade. He and his handler, Sari Hall, attended World Pork Expo to showcase their important work protecting the U.S. swine herd. Although there are several smells at WPX, Hall explained Oz knows when he’s working and when he’s not on duty. When he wasn’t doing a demonstration, Oz stayed close to his handler sitting patiently and enjoyed the kids petting him. However, during the demonstration, Oz was ready to show off his skills. He found an apple and a meat stick amidst a line of packed luggage . So far in his career, Oz has found plants, fruit, vegetables and meat. His most recent find at the airport was a load of sapling trees.

The Beagle Brigade is made of over 100 dogs that work across ports of entry throughout the United States. These dogs are mainly beagle mixes. They like to use beagles in airports because they aren’t intimidating, plus these pups famously have an excellent sense of smell. A person would likely see a member of the Beagle Brigade coming back from an international trip. If you were looking specifically for Oz and Hall, you can typically find them at one of the Chicago airports.

Their job is to find illegal agriculture products. They are trained to sniff out five to six scents depending on their assigned location. The five scents are apple, mango, citrus, pork and beef. When they smell one of those scents that should not be in a traveler’s luggage, they simply sit. The handler can say “show me” and the dog will put their nose on the location of the scent they picked up. To get this impressive job, the beagles go through extensive training that lasts up to 13 weeks. Each beagle is paired with a handler who has a complementary personality. Hall would describe both her and Oz’s personalities as “chill.”

A typical work week for the Beagle Brigade teams ranges from three to five days sniffing thousands of bags and packages. They work in one hour increments so Oz doesn’t get too overwhelmed with smells. He is almost five years old, so just over halfway through his career. The dogs normally retire around nine years of age, and Hall plans to adopt Oz when that time comes.

The Beagle Brigade is able to detect things technology cannot. Programs like this help keep the United States soil free of diseases like African Swine Fever (ASF). As Hall and Oz’s vests say,“Protecting American Agriculture” is their duty. Click here to meet others in the Beagle Brigade,or learn more about The Beagle Brigade Act here.

Oklahoma Pork Sponsors Meat Science Event

This weekend, the American Meat Science Association (AMSA)'s 77th Reciprocal Meat Conference (RMC) will kick-off at the Omni Hotel in Oklahoma City. The four day conference will bring together hundreds of professionals and students throughout the livestock and food industries for learning, networking and more.

With an event so connected to the pork industry happening right here in Oklahoma, an opportunity for the Oklahoma Pork Council to serve as an RMC sponsor made perfect sense. As part of our sponsorship, Oklahoma Pork, in collaboration with Oklahoma State University’s Animal and Food Science Department and Ralph's Packing, will provide 800 pork sticks for event participants to pack for families staying at Oklahoma City's Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) location near the Oklahoma Children's Hospital. These pork sticks will provide a nutritious snack and a little encouragement, thanks to the thoughtful "You got this!" Oklahoma Pork label created by Oklahoma Pork's Shay Stegmann. After being included with other great protein items into backpacks for RMHC families, the sticks will be available at the charity's shelf-stable pantry for deserving families to enjoy throughout the next few months.

The Ronald McDonald House is no stranger to generosity from pork producers. Our farmers have donated hundreds of pounds of pork products to this worthy organization in recent years. The charity provides a free, comfortable place to stay for families of seriously ill or injured children who are receiving inpatient care from the Oklahoma Children’s Hospital. Each year, RMHC OKC serves hundreds of families who come from nearly all counties in the state. Learn more about donations needed at RMHC OKC here. We are proud to continue sharing pork with this special audience!