Our second year of the "Oklahoma Pork Partners Derby" concluded on Tuesday, with smiles filling the pig barn as these first-time swine exhibitors saw their hard work pay off. A collaboration of the Oklahoma Pork Council, Oklahoma State University (OSU), the Oklahoma Youth Expo (OYE), Oklahoma 4-H, and the Oklahoma FFA Association - the Derby provides a life-changing opportunity for students who may not otherwise receive the chance to raise and show a pig.
As part of Oklahoma Pork's "Workforce at All Levels" strategic intention, our organization sees this program as a perfect recruitment tool for future pork producers to fall in love with raising pigs. You may remember the 2025 Derby actually kicked off last October when around 30 eager 4-H and FFA students took part in Derby Draft Day to each choose their own pig from the OSU Swine Farm. After a day of training about animal care, nutrition, biosecurity, and more - the Derby participants then took their pigs home to raise until this week's special Pork Partners Derby classes in the OYE pig show.
The Derby students received hands-on assistance with their animals over the past five months, then arrived at OYE ready to take part in: (1) an official weigh-in for class breaks; (2) ultrasound scans evaluating loin eye area, back fat, and percent lean; and, (3) a written pigs and pork knowledge test. Finally, these excited students got their turn under the bright lights when they showed their Derby barrows for judges Jim Coakley and Bobby Listen. The top five Derby students also participated in interviews about their overall experience raising a pig for the very first time.
Jose Castro of the Cherokee FFA Chapter emerged as the 2025 Oklahoma Pork Partners Derby Champion. Jose and his pig Porky not only excelled in the show ring, but also took home the Derby Sweepstakes Award for success in the other Derby contests as well. Jose was joined by Parker Moody, Madilyn Lind,Tiffany Moore, and Ally Runyan to be awarded as the Top Five Pork Partners Derby scholarship recipients on Thursday night.
Thank you to Oklahoma Pork's board of directors for generously investing in this program, to Oklahoma Pork's Matti Carlile for helping to organize it throughout the year, and to our members for supporting the next generation of proud pork producers. Check out more about the Oklahoma Pork Partners Derby on social media here, and click here to contact Matti about supporting this unique workforce program next year!