Working with ODAFF to Engage the Next Generation

Oklahoma's Department of Agriculture does a phenomenal job empowering students from rural backgrounds to become advocates for agriculture. Oklahoma Pork enjoyed engaging with some of these young people during the AgHERculture conference at the Fordson Hotel and hosting the Agriculture Youth Council at our office.

Over the past week, the Oklahoma Pork Council participated in two special events focused on developing young leaders. Both were hosted by the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry's (ODAFF) as part of Secretary Blayne Arthur and her team's authentic commitment to fostering a passionate and engaged next generation. What an incredible asset to have a largely regulatory agency that devotes time and resources toward such an impactful mission. We applaud Secretary Arthur and the ODAFF crew for the generational difference their leadership is making!

First up, our team enjoyed helping last weekend with ODAFF's 2024 AgHERculture Conference for high school and college students looking to strengthen their professional skills alongside other young women. The two-day event allowed more than 100 students to learn more about agricultural careers, meet with role models from across the state, and reflect on their own goals for the future. Staff from the Oklahoma Pork Council served as mentors where we promoted opportunities in pork production and our Oklahoma Pork programming. Oklahoma Pork's Kylee Deniz also continued her conference-favorite role as the event's closing speaker where she proudly shared her pork story and led participants through a meaningful "letter to your future self" experience.

Then on Wednesday of this week, Oklahoma Pork hosted ODAFF's Agriculture Youth Council (AYC) to discuss our state's expansive swine industry, our role as a producer organization, and the importance of mentorship and advocacy. This year-long leadership program for 25 high school seniors digs into Oklahoma's diverse agriculture industry and government service. Our team was proud to be part of the AYC inaugural session for 2024, where students also visited ODAFF for the first time, toured Blue & Gold Sausage Co. in Jones, then finished their day at the Oklahoma Pork Council office. We look forward to other chances to engage this leadership group throughout the year.

Thanks to communications pros Lee Benson and Kirsten Hollansworth from ODAFF for sharing some of their event photos from this past week with us for this story!

Oklahoma's U.S. SHIP Delegates Head to Minnesota

In just a few days, pork producers and government partners from across the nation will gather in Minnesota for the 2024 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: Pati Law - Prestage Farms, Jay Johnston - 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, and Joe Wolfe - JBS.

Award Spotlight: Ash Dennie of Ran-Mar Farms

In 2018, the Oklahoma Pork Council Excellence Award was established to recognize those pork producers who have made the daily work of raising pigs more than just a job, but a passionate calling to take care of their animals and the people around them. This award covers all sectors of pork production, and it rewards those outstanding producers who excel in at least one of Oklahoma Pork’s four strategic intentions.   

For more than 15 years, Ash Dennie has served Oklahoma’s pork industry with a true talent for animal care and farm management. Growing up in Holdenville, he began by helping part-time at a local pig farm through high school before opening Ran-Mar Farms with his family in 2012.   

As co-owner and manager of the now 2,400 head sow farm, Ash oversees all aspects of raising “our girls” as he affectionately refers to the Ran-Mar pigs. Under his management, Ran-Mar Farms expanded their operation while minimizing disease and retaining a consistent group of farm employees. He has a keen eye for animal health and has earned a great reputation for quality animals in partnership with Tyson’s Pork Group. Ash is known not only for his hands-on skills caring for the herd, but also for his impressive maintenance roles ranging from electrician to carpenter and much more.  

In addition to his dedication to the farm, Ash is an incredibly present father and new grandfather. He continually makes his family a priority, all while juggling the many roles that come with running a successful hog farm. The Oklahoma Pork Council celebrates Ash for his hard-working example of excellence in pork production. Click here to watch Ash's special award video that premiered at the Oklahoma Pork Congress earlier this month!

Get Our Pork Children's Book Before September 6

After a phenomenal launch event at the Agriculture in the Classroom summer conference earlier this month, Matti Carlile and Shay Stegmann's pork children's book is ready to be shared with teachers, pork producers, and other community leaders in preparation for 'Read an Accurate Agriculture Book Week' September 3 through September 6, 2024.

"It Takes a Team!" walks readers through a commercial sow operation at an elementary reading level in a fun and realistic way. Matti's science-centered story and Shay's stunning on-farm photography combine to create a great avenue for anyone looking to share the pork story with children. Starring the pigs and people of Seaboard Farm 49, this book is a wonderful tool to celebrate Oklahoma pork production like never before.

We would love to have our members enjoy "It Takes a Team!" in your own schools and families during 'Read an Accurate Agriculture Book Week' at the beginning of September. Many schools are open to guest readers coming to visit, or you can donate the book directly to an elementary teacher interested in participating. To request your own copy to share before Read an Accurate Agriculture Book Week - click here!

Spread the Word About Our College Program

Our Oklahoma Pork team is excited it's almost time for one of our favorite programs of the year! If you know any Oklahoma State University students studying agriculture, please 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 culminates with a final banquet where students present their workforce ideas to Oklahoma Pork's Board of Directors. Scholarships will be awarded to outstanding participants. 

Applications are due Friday, September 13, 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. This unique experience continues to gain momentum each year, and we are proud of the ways we engage the next generation of agriculture leaders with pork production!

Help Recruit Oklahoma TN Employees for a Survey

Edgar served as a farm manager after becoming eligible to work in Oklahoma's pork industry through the TN Visa program that allows degree holders from Mexico and Canada to accept certain U.S. jobs

The National Pork Board is working with the University of Missouri to conduct helpful research into the backgrounds and careers of TN Visa holders serving in United States pork production. Knowing the critical role these employees hold in farms throughout our state, the Oklahoma Pork Council is helping to recruit respondents.

If you or anyone on your farm is willing to participate, please contact Magdiel Lopez Soriano at the University of Missouri at 573-445-8375 or mlopezsoriano@missouri.edu. We want to make sure the perspectives of our TN Visa holders here in Oklahoma are included in this relevant study, and we appreciate your help to get the right folks included!

Award Spotlight: Clay Meeks of Meeks Family Farms

Clay Meeks recently retired after an incredibly successful and fulfilling career in pork production. At the 2024 Oklahoma Pork Congress, Clay was inducted into Oklahoma Pork's Hall of Fame.

From time to time, the Oklahoma Pork Council presents a career achievement recognition known as the Oklahoma Pork Hall of Fame Award. This accolade is reserved for leaders who exhibit a longstanding example of character, knowledge, and dedication within pork production. For 2024, one producer who recently “hung up his boots” perfectly embodied the Hall of Fame benchmark.

Clay Meeks has dedicated his life to service within the pork industry and beyond. Over the past five decades, he has set a superb example as a pork producer, community leader, and family man deserving of Oklahoma Pork’s prestigious Hall of Fame Award. Clay was raised on a ranch near Broken Bow before becoming the first person in his family to pursue a college degree. He attended Murray State College, then went on to Oklahoma State University where he obtained a bachelor’s degree in Animal Science. During his time at OSU, Clay lived and worked at the OSU Swine Farm where he gained firsthand knowledge to one day run his own high-quality pig herd.  

After graduation, Clay increased his expertise by managing hog farms for Tyson Foods in Arkansas and Oklahoma. Then in partnership with his beloved wife Kimberly, Clay established Meeks Family Farms near Wetumka where the family maintained a farrowing unit and beef cattle operation for the past 38 years. Throughout his many years in pork production, Clay earned a reputation for integrity, advocacy, and excellence. He became known as “the guy to beat” in Tyson’s monthly production rankings, holding various records throughout his tenure and receiving several noteworthy accolades throughout the broader industry. Now grown, Clay and Kimberly’s children Kayla and Kevin treasure the core values instilled by their parents while working together to raise pigs.  

Clay recently retired from pork production after nearly 40 years of heartfelt dedication to the Meeks swine herd. Without question, his legacy will continue as a staunch advocate for the industry and an excellent role model within the agriculture community.

Come Golf with Oklahoma Pork in October

Fall is almost here, and with the cooler weather will come the perfect opportunity to hit the greens with fellow pork supporters at the Oklahoma Pork Open! Join us Friday, October 11, for a beautiful 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 2024 Oklahoma Pork Open, click here to review the unique golf tournament partnership opportunities. Available options range from sponsoring one individual hole or player award, to sponsoring food or drinks for the tournament.

For more information about the upcoming Oklahoma Pork Open, contact Matti Carlile. We are counting down until Friday, October 11 for a fun day with friends at Turkey Creek!

Introducing Our New Board President Joe Locke

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 2024-2025 board president Joe Locke of Marietta.

Throughout his 30-year pork industry career, Joe has gained valuable experience across several states and production systems. He currently serves as the Director of Operations for Tyson Foods’ The Pork Group (TPG). Previously, Joe worked as the Senior Director of Operations for Seaboard Foods. He was raised on a ranch in southern Oklahoma and graduated from Murray State College and Oklahoma State University before beginning his career. Joe’s involvement with the Oklahoma Pork Council includes previous service as a board member, officer, and volunteer pitmaster. The Locke family is active in the Marietta First Baptist Church. Joe also enjoys cooking, golfing, and watching sports with his family.

“My goal for this year is to focus on things we can do something about,” Joe shared. “Foremost in that will be executing on Oklahoma Pork’s four strategic intentions and building unity around ‘One Pork.’ We want to continue building that foundation of integrity and continuous learning we have set with our members, staff, and board.”

Joe brings decades of leadership development to his presidency, including donating his time over the summer to facilitate "The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People" for Oklahoma Pork's staff. He has been an intentional and wise board member, and we all look forward to his guidance during the upcoming year. Oklahoma Pork's remaining officer positions will be elected at the upcoming September board meeting

Special Pork and Backpack Donation

On a regular basis, the Oklahoma Pork Council proudly devotes time, dollars, and pork products toward charitable giving on behalf of our producers. In partnership with the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma (RFBO), last week Oklahoma Pork donated 168 backpacks stuffed with school supplies and nutritious pork sticks that will be distributed to area local kids through the Oklahoma City Parks and Recreation Department.

Participating park sites provide summer and after-school meals in connection with schools where greater than 50% of enrolled students qualify for free and reduced lunches. These students will receive their backpacks of school supplies and pork sticks while they enjoy helpful after-school programming like recreational sports and exercise classes through OKC Parks.

If you feel inspired to help feed Oklahomans as the school year gets started, click here to check out ways to get involved via the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma. Giving back is what pig farmers do, and we are continually honored to help make these special opportunities to connect people with pork a reality!