Free Community Meals Continue Across State

What an incredible blessing it is for the Oklahoma Pork Council to spend most days between Thanksgiving and Christmas giving on-the-go and coordinating pork donations of all sizes thanks to the unrelenting generosity of our farmers. 

As we work to give more than 3,000 free pork meals in different regions of the state before Christmas, we have already enjoyed fantastic community giving days in Enid, Okemah, Woodward, and Bristow during the past two weeks. These giveaways continue to set a beautiful example of cooperation with devoted partners like Ozarka Water joining us at every stop and various local organizations stepping up to help us give in a big way across Oklahoma. Together we are accomplishing something truly special this holiday season!

Last Friday, our crew enjoyed serving in Okemah after the town proudly won our social media poll for a Give-A-Ham community feeding event that received more than 2,000 total comments on our Oklahoma Pork Facebook page. Thank you to our selfless annual sponsor Blue & Gold Sausage for donating product to share with our friends in Okemah. On Monday of this week in Woodward, we were fortunate to work alongside Farm Credit of Western Oklahoma to keep the warm meals coming with assistance from generous Woodward partners Barber-Dyson Ford and ENJ Financial. Then in Bristow on Thursday, we were grateful for donated pork from Seaboard Foods to help collaborators like Newman's BBQ, Hunger Free Oklahoma, Bristow Social Services, and Crown AutoWorld make the event a true success. Oklahoma's Speaker of the House Kyle Hilbert also joined us in Bristow, which was a fun show of support from one of our state's top policymakers who has been a true advocate for Oklahoma Pork and agriculture as a whole. 

Check out several remaining special events on the 2025 Give-A-Ham highlight schedule below. All our free community lunches are first come, first served and usually "sell out" in 30 to 60 minutes with 300+ meals served. So come early and hungry if you want to join us! 

• Tuesday, December 16 – 300 Free Pork Lunches to be Given in Tecumseh 

• Wednesday, December 17 – 300 Free Pork Lunches to be Given in Lawton

• Monday, December 22 – 300 Free Pork Lunches to be Given in Leedey

Remember these festive community lunches represent just one part of the Give-A-Ham excitement. Through our ongoing social media challenge and the action of invested industry leaders like you - we know there will be hundreds of donations made throughout Oklahoma this month.

Visit the Oklahoma Pork Council Give-A-Ham page here to see more details, and to let us know how you plan to give back this holiday season. You can also keep up with the challenge via Oklahoma Pork's social media pages to see specific details for each event, and tag us in your own acts of pork generosity!

Seaboard Foods Makes Historic Give-A-Ham Donation

With our month of giving in full swing, Seaboard Foods rose to the occasion in an incredible way to feed thousands of Oklahomans this holiday season. On Wednesday, several Seaboard producers joined Oklahoma Pork and a room full of community partners to celebrate a record-setting 40,000 pound Prairie Fresh pork donation to the Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma. 

The donated pork will provide delicious, quality protein to thousands of Oklahomans this holiday season. Our friends at the Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma made sure our pork producers knew how special this historic gift was by planning a tasty pork lunch, an informative panel discussion led by recipient organizations, and a tour of the recently renovated food bank for more than 30 folks who joined Seaboard Foods and Oklahoma Pork to unpack the full truckload of product and discuss the incredible impact this donation will make. 

“At Seaboard Foods, we care deeply about nourishing communities and supporting our Oklahoma neighbors, especially during the holidays when the need is greatest,” said David Eaheart, senior director of communications and brand marketing at Seaboard Foods when reflecting on the event. “Through the Oklahoma Pork Council’s Give-A-Ham campaign, we’re honored to donate a truckload of wholesome and delicious Oklahoma pork to the Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma. We hope this helps families enjoy comforting and nutritious meals this holiday season.”

A special thanks to board members Roy Cansler and Dr. Donna Drebes for their leadership in this year's Give-A-Ham Challenge. Additionally, Oklahoma Pork commends Seaboard leaders including Davida Gomez, David Eaheart, and others who helped make this incredible gift happen. Keep reading for more highlights from the 2025 Give-A-Ham campaign so far, and stay tuned on our social media pages to follow even more of the joy giving to our neighbors truly brings!

Oklahoma Pork Educates Dietitians About Pig Farming

Thanks to thoughtful relationship building with nutrition experts like the "Dirt Road Dietitian" Sheri Glazier, Oklahoma Pork has expanded our reach the last few years to connect with registered dietitians and other nutrition professionals to promote the many benefits of pork to broader audiences. 

Recently, Oklahoma Pork board member Cathy Vaughan, executive director Kylee Deniz, and digital content creator Shay Stegmann took advantage of one of these unique opportunities by spending the day with registered dietitians as they learned more about Oklahoma agriculture in Tulsa. The GROWN Conference brought more than 20 diet and nutrition professionals together to learn about commercial pork production, cook a pork meal alongside a professional chef, tour a lettuce farm, visit a coffee roastery, and more. GROWN's slogan of "Where Oklahoma's agriculture and nutrition experts meet" proved true throughout the day where our Oklahoma Pork leaders got to advocate and bond with this health-focused group.

For Cathy, two of the most interesting parts of Oklahoma Pork's day at GROWN were fielding unique questions from this group of food experts with little agriculture knowledge and seeing how many similarities exist between modern pork production and hydroponic lettuce farming. GROWN serves as a great reminder to us all that there are always new opportunities to teach and always new opportunities to learn as well. 

A heartfelt thanks to Cathy and our Oklahoma Pork staff members for representing our industry well at the 2025 GROWN Conference. Check out more from the Dirt Road Dietitian here.

Celebrating Students and Their Pork Workforce Ideas

Members of the 2025 Pork Industry Group completed their leadership experience by presenting workforce ideas to the Oklahoma Pork Council Board of Directors at the Pork Industry Group Banquet at Oklahoma State University (OSU) in Stillwater. The students, board members, and several special guests then enjoyed a celebratory pork dinner reflecting on the fun and educational program over the past semester.

The students shared creative suggestions for addressing the labor shortage within pork, especially as our industry seeks to recruit the next generation of agriculture enthusiasts. This year's innovative list of student ideas that could be implemented by the Oklahoma Pork Council or by our producers included: next generation social media "ambassadors" to produce authentic and engaging content exposing their peers to pork careers; a life-size, interactive board game for students to explore different pork production career paths; a robust pork industry scholarship program with guaranteed employment after graduation; and, hands-on "Swine in a Box" educational kits for Oklahoma teachers at various learning levels. Our board and staff are excited to use this imaginative feedback to continue evolving our "Workforce at All Levels" strategic intention efforts.

Pork Industry Group would not be possible without OSU's Dr. Scott Carter who volunteers his time and expertise as our faculty advisor. He is a critical resource as an ex-officio board member and industry expert for the Oklahoma Pork Council! The banquet provided an opportunity to thank Dr. Carter and our campus liaison Ethan Drake for behind-the-scenes support to run the weekly sessions alongside Oklahoma Pork staff the past few months. 

As the night concluded, the Oklahoma Pork Council presented nine student scholarships to deserving next generation leaders. Members of the "Operation: Oink" team including Maysen Garrett, Carmen Kuiper, Brody Wallis, Kyra Cole, and Jacey Bordwine were awarded "Outstanding Group Project" for their "Personalize Pork" educational social media concept. Individual scholarships were awarded as well, including: Carmen Kuiper - Overall Outstanding Student; Giffin Henry - Speaker's Choice; Future Producer - Brody Wallis; and, Banquet All-Star - Rachel Swinford. Thanks to Dr. Jared Harshman of Huvepharma, Inc, and Tre and Stacie Smith for sponsoring some of the night's financial awards alongside the Oklahoma Pork Council to these impressive students! 

Our team truly appreciates everyone involved in making Pork Industry Group so rewarding. We have cherished the opportunity to mentor these passionate young people, and we look forward to being a longterm resource as they continue their academic and career journeys. We are grateful for countless ways OSU's work complements that of Oklahoma's pork industry, and we look forward to another year of collaboration in 2026.

Celebrating Students and Their Pork Workforce Ideas

Governor Stitt Joins Enid Give-A-Ham Launch

On Giving Tuesday this week, Board President Tom Layne set the 2025 Oklahoma Pork Council Give-A-Ham Challenge in motion by hosting a generous free feeding event in Enid alongside a fantastic group of community partners.

Tom brought together the Oklahoma Pork Council, The HANOR Company, Our Daily Bread, the United Way, the Salvation Army, and Ozarka Water for our most collaborative Give-A-Ham event in history. This devoted group of helpers worked together to prepare 1,000 free pork meals for Enid residents, including Our Daily Bread clients inside the organization's dining room and those who joined our drive-through meal pick-up line.

Another way this year's event proved extra special was the fact that Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt joined the fun. As his seventh year to participate in Oklahoma Pork's Give-A-Ham Challenge, we were excited to have him not only spread the challenge with a social media video alongside Tom Layne, but also to personally join us to pass out meals at the Enid launch event and champion the great work done by Oklahoma pork producers all year long. 

Thanks in part to helpful volunteers from HANOR and the state legislature, the Oklahoma Pork Council also distributed cozy giveaways like branded hand warmers, gloves, hats, bags, and more while sharing pork's story of generous giving with those who came by for a free meal. A special shout out to VIPs like HANOR's Mauricio Diaz, Keith Reiner, State Senator Roland Pederson, State Representative Chad Caldwell, and countless others who made the day an incredible success.

Between now and Christmas, we encourage all our members to take part in the Give-A-Ham Challenge. Donate a holiday ham to your local food bank, deliver a pork meal to a neighbor, volunteer at a charity you support, or meet another need you see in your community. The "Giving Season" is the perfect time to spread generosity and make a small difference at the local level. Share your participation by posting a photo or video on social media using #GiveAHam and #OKPork, or click here to let us know how you #GiveAHam this December!

Help Recruit Intern Candidates for Oklahoma Pork

We are asking for your assistance to find Oklahoma Pork's next amazing intern! Applications are now open for passionate, motivated, and professional college students studying agriculture or a related field to be considered for the Oklahoma Pork Council’s 2026 summer intern.

In this position, the chosen candidate will help plan and execute a variety of exciting Oklahoma Pork Council events to promote the pork industry and serve our producers. The intern will work with the Oklahoma Pork Council staff to gain valuable knowledge related to Oklahoma’s pork industry, learn the inner workings of an agricultural producer organization, and bolster professional skills including communications, event planning, time management, networking and more.

Any Oklahoma-based college student majoring in agriculture or a related field is eligible to apply. No formal communications training is required, but the internship will include writing assignments for the organization's publications (like this weekly newsletter) and additional communications work as needed.

If you know a qualified college student who might want to spend next summer on our team, click here to review the job listing on our website. We are looking forward to mentoring another fantastic student leader (or leaders plural if we hire two!), and we would love your help to recruit many diverse candidates. Last year we had more than 100 interested students, so we hope to once again have an impressive group of young people to consider. 

Applications close on Monday, December 1, so the time for students to apply is now. If you have any questions about our 2026 internship program, click here to let our staff at Oklahoma Pork know!

3 Ways to Enjoy Pork in Thanksgiving Leftovers

3 Simple Ways to Turn Pork Thanksgiving Leftovers Into Nutritious Meals

By Umo Callins, MS, RD, CSSD, LD, CPT

The beauty of Thanksgiving is that the celebration doesn’t end at the table—especially when leftovers are involved! If you incorporated pork into your holiday spread, you’re already ahead. Pork is one of the most versatile proteins to repurpose thanks to its tender texture, rich flavor, and ability to reheat without drying out.

Whether you made pork loin, chops, tenderloin, or pulled pork this Thanksgiving, here are three easy, dietitian-approved ways to transform your leftovers into simple, nourishing meals your family will actually want to eat again.

PRO TIPS FOR STRETCHING LEFTOVERS

• Add a splash of broth when reheating shredded pork to keep it tender.

• Refresh flavors with herbs, lemon juice, or vinegar.

• Reheat pork low and slow for the best texture.

• Add color—peppers, leafy greens, and fresh herbs make leftovers feel brand new.

Leftovers don’t have to feel like an afterthought. With a few simple ingredients and some creativity, pork can easily carry you through the week with meals that are nourishing, budget-friendly, and full of flavor. Happy cooking!

Allied Industry Spotlight at Pork Industry Group

We blinked, and somehow seven sessions of Pork Industry Group have flown by as our team prepares to finish our 2025 collegiate leadership program. After this Tuesday’s final regular meeting on the Oklahoma State University (OSU) campus, our 20 passionate students get a well-deserved Thanksgiving break before their capstone banquet gives us one last chance to be together in early December. 

For the final guest speaker session learning from pork pros, our crew heard from two of Oklahoma Pork's favorite allied industry partners. McKenzie Squires of Zoetis gave a relatable presentation on her educational and career path that led to her pork industry career in swine pharmaceutical sales. She encouraged the students to consider on-farm experiences, including those available in partnership with her company. In addition to a great explanation of Zoetis's role in pork production, McKenzie shared practical advice for young people about to begin their careers. 

Dr. Russell Fent of Ralco Nutrition shared his path to a fulfilling career supporting the pork industry through nutrition and research. He discussed opportunities for the next generation with Ralco Nutrition and beyond with an emphasis on the hard and soft skills that really matter when his team is hiring. Both McKenzie and Dr. Fent did an excellent job relaying the passion they have for working around pork production, and helping our students understand there is room for all of us on #TeamPork. 

Join a Give-A-Ham Event Across Oklahoma

Hooray! We are just days away from launching the 2025 Give-A-Ham Challenge and experiencing the joy that comes from feeding people while asking for nothing in return. The "Giving Season" is the perfect time to spread generosity and make a difference at the local level - whether that's sharing one ham with someone you know would appreciate it or coordinating a truckload of pork to a charitable organization dear to your heart. As you make plans for your priorities over the holidays, please consider making a donation to your local food bank or otherwise meeting a need in your community.

Because giving back is truly a cornerstone of what pig farmers do, we are excited to announce free community lunch locations and several other special give back days for the 2025 Give-A-Ham Campaign. These free meals will happen in concert with the hams and other product and fund donations that occur as the Give-A-Ham Challenge passes through leaders in agriculture, government, education, and more via social media.

Check out the 2025 Give-A-Ham highlight schedule of Oklahoma Pork sponsored events below, including free community lunches around the state throughout December. Our free community lunches are first come, first served and usually "sell out" in less than 30 minutes after their 11 a.m. start times with 300+ meals served!

• Tuesday, December 2 – Giving Tuesday Launch Event in Enid with 1,000+ free meals

• Friday, December 5 - VOTER’S CHOICE Community Feed with 300 Free Lunches

• Monday, December 8 - Community Feed with 300 Free Lunches in Woodward

• Thursday, December 11 - Community Feed with 300 Free Lunches in Bristow

• Friday, December 12 – 4-H and FFA Regional Food Bank Day in Oklahoma City

• Tuesday, December 16 – Community Feed with 300 Free Lunches in Tecumseh

• Wednesday, December 17 – Community Feed with 300 Free Lunches in Lawton

• Monday, December 22 - Community Feed with 300 Free Lunches in Leedey

Visit the Oklahoma Pork Council Give-A-Ham page here to see more details, and to let us know how you plan to give back this holiday season. You can also keep up with the challenge via Oklahoma Pork's social media pages to see specific details for each event, and make your plan to join us at one of these special events near you that will collectively feed more than 3,000 Oklahomans!

Special Pork Donations During Shutdown

The Oklahoma Pork Council sought several opportunities to help fill nutrition gaps and show appreciation for those working overtime to feed hungry neighbors durning the record-breakingly-long federal government shutdown. 

One special way our organization gave back this week on behalf of our state's pig farmers was to donate pork to a fantastic Oklahoma City non-profit working every day to help Oklahomans in need. With an impressive haul of 25 hams and more than 150 pouds of Blue & Gold Sausage, we were able to make the Homeless Alliance's chef and staff members breathe a huge sigh of relief to host their annual Thanksgiving meal for around 400 Oklahomans facing homelessness with delicious protein after several weeks of uncertainty for their team related to food availability. 

Another fun example of our ramped-up pork giving during the shutdown was to host an appreciation lunch for 155 staff members at the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma (RFBO). After more than 40 days where food bank employees were going above and beyond to connect Oklahomans in need with food and resources, this was such a simple way to remind these non-profit workers that the agriculture community values their work. Thanks to one of our favorite catering partners Head Country BBQ, our Oklahoma Pork crew shared tasty grab-and-go meals with grateful RFBO workers with words of appreciation from Oklahoma's pork producers. We look forward to a similar appreciation event for our friends at the Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma in Tulsa next week!