*DNA's Rob Richard donated his time to help run the 2023 Oklahoma Youth Expo Swine Show.*

The Oklahoma Youth Expo (OYE) pig barn is filled with Oklahoma Pork Council supporters each spring. Ex-officio board member Brett Ramsey spent his third year at the microphone as the show's cool-headed announcer, several hard-working Pork Industry Group alumni helped sift hogs, and countless friends of our organization donated their time to make the state's largest swine show run with impressive efficiency.

One of the most trusted names within this special group remains Oklahoma Pork member and previous Distinguished Service Award winner Rob Richard. Rob, who serves as a national account leader for DNA Swine Genetics, has volunteered his talents to help run the OYE swine show for the past 16 years.

"I do what I do today because showing pigs gave me my start in the business," Rob shared as the barrow show concluded on Thursday. He is a perfect example of the commercial industry successfully recruiting a student with a deep passion for animal care. Rob has spent his entire career in various segments of pork production, and he knows there are swine exhibitors today who would succeed in large-scale production.

"They already love pigs," he said. "That's part way there... maybe the toughest part to replicate." He encourages the Oklahoma Pork Council and all our member companies to seek out more opportunities to invest time in our local schools, including Career Techs. He believes we can continue to improve our pull-through of livestock students into pork industry success stories like his own.

Thank you to Rob Richard and the other incredible volunteers at OYE this year! Oklahoma Pork is proud to serve alongside industry leaders with integrity and vision. To learn a little more about Rob, check out his 2021 Oklahoma Pork Distinguished Service Award video below.