The Oklahoma Pork Council is now accepting applications for the 2023 Pork Industry Group at Oklahoma State University!

Pork Industry Group is an eight-week learning experience for Ferguson College of Agriculture students who want to better understand Oklahoma’s swine industry and expand their network of agricultural professionals in the state.

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 members of the Oklahoma Pork Council Board of Directors. Scholarships will be awarded to outstanding participants.

All Ferguson College of Agriculture students with an interest in pork production are eligible to apply, regardless of academic major or grade level. Interested students must submit their online applications, then submit their resumes and recommendation letters via email by 11:59 p.m. on Friday, September 15, 2023.

Students who are selected to participate in the experience must commit to attending all six on-campus Tuesday night learning sessions in October and November from 5:45 to 8:00 p.m., the two-day industry trip to Northwest Oklahoma on November 9-10, and the final banquet in Oklahoma City on Thursday, November 30.

Pork Industry Group 2023 Schedule

• Application Deadline: Friday, September 15 at 11:59 p.m.

• Participants Announced by: Monday, September 25

• Session One: Tuesday, October 3, from 5:45 to 8 p.m. at OSU

• Session Two: Tuesday, October 10, from 5:45 to 8 p.m. at OSU

• Session Three: Tuesday, October 17, from 5:45 to 8 p.m. at OSU

• Session Four: Tuesday, October 24, from 5:45 to 8 p.m. at OSU

• Session Five: Tuesday, October 31, from 5:45 to 8 p.m. at OSU

• Session Six: Industry Trip – Thursday, Nov. 9, through Friday, Nov. 10 (Tentative)

• Session Seven: Tuesday, November 14, from 5:45 to 8 p.m. at OSU

• Session Eight: Final Banquet, Thursday, November 30, in Oklahoma City

For more information, contact Ashton Mese Johnston from the Oklahoma Pork Council at ajohnston@okpork.org or 405-232-3781.