Oklahoma Pork's board of directors held their September board meeting this week to discuss the organization's upcoming fall events and priorities. After three board members were re-elected to their seats at last month's Pork Congress, this meeting also provided the opportunity for officer elections.

Joe Locke of Marietta began his term as board president at last month's Pork Congress after serving as president-elect for the previous year. Joe's 30-year career in pork production includes experience across multiple states and production systems. He currently serves as Director of Operations for Tyson Foods' The Pork Group.
Cathy Vaughan of Laverne was tapped by her fellow board members to serve as president-elect for the 2024-2025 term. Cathy serves as the Midwest Safety Manager for Smithfield Foods and has been active with both the National Pork Board and the Oklahoma Pork Council for more than a decade. S
Dr. Suzanne Genova of Perkins was chosen as Oklahoma Pork's new vice president. Dr. Genova owns Red Dirt Veterinary Services where she provides veterinary care to show pig clients across five states. She is active in Oklahoma Pork's disease prevention and preparedness efforts, including involvement with the United States Swine Health Improvement Plan (U.S. SHIP) and service as the Oklahoma Youth Expo (OYE) swine veterinarian.
Tom Layne of Enid re-enters the executive committee as our organization's treasurer for 2024-2025. Tom has worked in the pork industry for more than 25 years, including his 20-plus-year tenure at The HANOR Company. As HANOR's Director of Human Resources, Tom's work impacts the company's 650 employees located across seven states.

Congratulations to our newly elected executive committee members! Our full board and staff look forward to following the leadership of this passionate group of pork producers!