The Experience of A Lifetime

Eighteen months seems like a long time doesn’t it? But when you get to spend it with 24 of Oklahoma’s top agriculturalist who become your family it’s worth it. The Oklahoma Ag Leadership Program was not just a leadership class where you learn essential skills to become a better leader, it was a lifechanging adventure that allowed me to learn more about Oklahoma agriculture and meet some of the best friends I will ever have.

When I first began my journey with OALP, I did not know what to expect. I was the youngest of the bunch and had just a few years of the “real world” under my belt. But I was determined to make the best out of the program because I had heard so many wonderful things about it.

The program consisted of several seminars around the state, a trip to Washington D.C. and an international trip to beautiful Chile.

Oklahoma Pig Farmers and Prairie Fresh Pork Team Up to Donate 20,000 Pounds of Protein to the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma

On January 14, the Oklahoma Pork Council (okPORK), Prairie Fresh Pork and Oklahoma pig farmers teamed up to provide 20,000 pounds of protein to the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma. This donation is part of the annual Hams Across America program, which highlights the industry’s We CareSM ethical principles to contribute to a better way of life in local communities through pork product donations.

okPORK Gives Donation and Volunteers with the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma

On December 6th the Oklahoma Pork Council donated $10,000 to the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma to support its Food for Kids Backpack Program. This brings the total of okPORK donations since this partnership began to more than $152,000. okPORK board members, staff and pig famers also volunteered in the USDA Protein Packaging Center.

This program provides chronically hungry children with backpacks filled with non-perishable, nutritious, shelf-stable food to sustain them over weekends and school holidays. This donation from okPORK will allow the Regional Food Bank to process and package more than 28,000 pork sticks. This program is based on successful collaborative relationships. The Regional Food Bank works with multiple organizations to solicit and steward animal donations that are harvested for the sticks. Many of these animal donations come Oklahoma 4-H and FFA members.

“We are so proud of the youth in 4-H and FFA across Oklahoma who work hard on their show projects and then donate them at the end of the show season to help other kids who are food insecure,” said Nikki Snider, okPORK director of marketing and communication. “So directing our yearly donation to the Food for Kids backpack program helps us show our appreciation to those kids and the Food Bank for their great work.”

Thanks to a matching challenge from APMEX.com, the Cresap Family Foundation and Chesapeake Energy Corporation, which matches every gift or donation received from Nov. 15 through Jan 15. dollar for dollar, okPORK’s $10,000 donation will have double the impact.

“Feeding the world, especially hungry Oklahomans, is important to Oklahoma pork producers, especially around the holidays,” said Roy Lee Lindsey, okPORK executive director. “Which is why we enjoy giving such a large donation to the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma. We know the money along with the matching funds will help feed hungry kids all around the state.”

Last year, more than 1 million protein sticks were generated through these partnerships. Oklahoma is consistently one of the hungriest states in the nation. Food is the most essential school supply, yet one in four children in Oklahoma has inconsistent access to food. That is why okPORK’s donation was so important.

Besides donating the $10,000 to the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma, more than 20 okPORK board members and Oklahoma pig farmers volunteered their time in the USDA protein packaging center to help measure and pack Canadian bacon to go to Oklahoma families in need. They sorted more than 2,080 pounds of meat, which would provide more than 1,730 meals for hungry Oklahomans.

“It was an honor to be able to assist the Oklahoma Pork Council by volunteering in the USDA Protein Packaging Center,” said Kynna Brooks, human resource generalist at The Maschhoffs. “It means a lot for us as pig farmers to be able to produce the product and then volunteer and share it with our neighbors in Oklahoma.”

Pork Industry Group Notes

This fall, okPORK kicked off the first ever Pork Industry Group at Oklahoma State University. This group of 13 students, all from the college of agriculture, will spend 8 weeks learning about the many career opportunities available to them in Oklahoma’s swine industry.

Most all of these students have shown swine and a few have ties to the commercial swine industry. All of them are passionate about getting a deeper look at pork’ s job opportunities.

We’ve asked them to take notes each time the class meets and we will log them here. Enjoy hearing about the Pork Industry Group in the students’ own words.

New Venue and Four Perfect Pork Courses Make Swine and Stein a Satisfying Success

This year okPORK’s annual Swine and Stein dinner overlooked Oklahoma City’s Lake Hefner at Red Rock Canyon Grill. The evening featured a dynamic four-course meal perfectly paired with a beer from Marshall Brewing to complement each course.

The night kicked off with pork belly sushi and Oklahoma summer berries for a fresh and light start. Marshall Brewing’s Oktoberfest Lager, a Marzen-style lager, accompanied the first course.

okPORK Celebrates Largest Golf Tournament in Many Years

Nothing kicks off the month of August quite like a good golf tournament. okPORK welcomed the last month of summer on August 1, at the largest okPORK Open Golf Tournament  to date and the first to be held at Westwood Park Golf Course in Norman.

This also was the first okPORK Open to take place in August preceding the annual Oklahoma Pork Congress and the turnout was phenomenal. Twenty teams put on their golfing shoes and took to the greens for a day of warm weather, cold drinks and friendly competition.

Senator Julie Daniels and Representative Mark McBride Receive okPORK Outstanding Legislator Award

On August 2, 2019, okPORK honored Senator Julie Daniels and Representative Mark McBride with the Outstanding Legislator Award during the 60th annual Oklahoma Pork Congress.

In 2010, the Oklahoma Pork Council established the Outstanding Legislator Award to honor members of the Oklahoma legislature for supporting Oklahoma’s pork industry. Since joining the Oklahoma Legislature, both Daniels and McBride have continually stood behind the pork industry in support of farmers. 

Oklahoma Youth Expo and Tulsa State Fair Swine Committee Members Receive okPORK Ambassador Award

On August 2, 2019, okPORK will honor Oklahoma Youth Expo and Tulsa State Fair Swine Committee members Rusty Gosz, Rose Bonjour, Jason Harvey, Guy Shoulders, Brett Ramsey and Steve Thompson, with the 2019 Ambassador Award during the 60th annual Oklahoma Pork Congress.

Rusty Gosz, youth livestock specialist at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Okla., said the both livestock shows have been going on for more than 60 years and the youth livestock industry is robust, active and flourishing.  

Donna Jackson Receives okPORK Distinguished Service Award

On August 2, 2019, okPORK will honor Donna Jackson with their Distinguished Service Award during the 60th annual Oklahoma Pork Congress.

For more than 18 years, Jackson dedicated her time making okPORK what it is today. She served as the office manager at okPORK from 1999 to 2017 where she handled billing, accounts receivable, human resources, and many other activities related to keeping the okPORK office running smoothly.