Earlier this week, members of the 2024 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). The students, board members, and several special guests then enjoyed a celebratory pork dinner reflecting on the fun and rewarding program over the past semester.
In teams, 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. Our board and staff are excited to use this creative feedback to continue evolving our "Workforce at All Levels" strategic intention efforts.
As the evening concluded, the Oklahoma Pork Council presented nine student scholarships to deserving next generation leaders. Members of the "Boar to Win" group including Cade Harris, Chyann Emerson, Jalyn Collier, Krysha Green, and Raylee Stuckey were awarded "Outstanding Group Project" for their plan to develop virtual reality farm tours and career exploration modules for young people considering jobs throughout the pork supply chain. Thanks to generous sponsorship from John Patrick Lopez of Lopez-Dorada foods, the "Boar to Win" team members earned $2,500 in scholarships toward their continued education. Agricultural Education junior Ethan Drake of Mountain Grove, Missouri, was named "Outstanding Student" for the 2024 program earning a $500 scholarship sponsored by Dr. Jared Harshman of Huvepharma. Additional student celebrations with financial support from the Oklahoma Pork Council included the "Future Producer Award" given to Maria Shea of Owasso, the "Speaker's Choice Award" presented to Jalyn Collier of Oblong, Illinois, and the "Banquet All-Star Award" earned by Molly Buckmaster of Porter.
Thank you to everyone involved in making Pork Industry Group an incredible success. Our team has cherished the opportunity to mentor every one of these special students, and we look forward to being a longterm resource as they continue their academic and career journeys. One last thanks to OSU leaders like College of Agriculture Dean Jayson Lusk and Animal and Food Sciences Department Head Richard Coffey for supporting this program and joining us on Tuesday night. We are grateful for countless ways OSU's work complements that of Oklahoma's pork industry!