Get Our Pork Children's Book Before September 6

After a phenomenal launch event at the Agriculture in the Classroom summer conference earlier this month, Matti Carlile and Shay Stegmann's pork children's book is ready to be shared with teachers, pork producers, and other community leaders in preparation for 'Read an Accurate Agriculture Book Week' September 3 through September 6, 2024.

"It Takes a Team!" walks readers through a commercial sow operation at an elementary reading level in a fun and realistic way. Matti's science-centered story and Shay's stunning on-farm photography combine to create a great avenue for anyone looking to share the pork story with children. Starring the pigs and people of Seaboard Farm 49, this book is a wonderful tool to celebrate Oklahoma pork production like never before.

We would love to have our members enjoy "It Takes a Team!" in your own schools and families during 'Read an Accurate Agriculture Book Week' at the beginning of September. Many schools are open to guest readers coming to visit, or you can donate the book directly to an elementary teacher interested in participating. To request your own copy to share before Read an Accurate Agriculture Book Week - click here!

Spread the Word About Our College Program

Our Oklahoma Pork team is excited it's almost time for one of our favorite programs of the year! If you know any Oklahoma State University students studying agriculture, please encourage them to apply for Pork Industry Group this fall. The program, led by the Oklahoma Pork Council and Dr. Scott Carter, is an eight-week learning experience for Ferguson College of Agriculture students who want to better understand the swine industry and expand their network of agricultural professionals in Oklahoma.

Students will grow their knowledge of commercial pork production, diverse career opportunities, agricultural advocacy, professionalism and more. Each weekly session will also include a free dinner, door prizes and helpful advice from industry experts. The group will hear from dynamic speakers with a variety of pork-related careers and take part in an exciting two-day trip to visit a commercial sow operation and a large-scale pork processing plant. Pork Industry Group culminates with a final banquet where students present their workforce ideas to Oklahoma Pork's Board of Directors. Scholarships will be awarded to outstanding participants. 

Applications are due Friday, September 13, through the Oklahoma Pork Council website. Each applicant must also submit their resume and one recommendation letter via email to be considered for this experience. Check out the program schedule and other helpful information on the Oklahoma Pork Council website. If you have questions or comments about Pork Industry Group, please contact Oklahoma Pork's Ashton Mese Johnston. This unique experience continues to gain momentum each year, and we are proud of the ways we engage the next generation of agriculture leaders with pork production!

Help Recruit Oklahoma TN Employees for a Survey

Edgar served as a farm manager after becoming eligible to work in Oklahoma's pork industry through the TN Visa program that allows degree holders from Mexico and Canada to accept certain U.S. jobs

The National Pork Board is working with the University of Missouri to conduct helpful research into the backgrounds and careers of TN Visa holders serving in United States pork production. Knowing the critical role these employees hold in farms throughout our state, the Oklahoma Pork Council is helping to recruit respondents.

If you or anyone on your farm is willing to participate, please contact Magdiel Lopez Soriano at the University of Missouri at 573-445-8375 or mlopezsoriano@missouri.edu. We want to make sure the perspectives of our TN Visa holders here in Oklahoma are included in this relevant study, and we appreciate your help to get the right folks included!

Award Spotlight: Clay Meeks of Meeks Family Farms

Clay Meeks recently retired after an incredibly successful and fulfilling career in pork production. At the 2024 Oklahoma Pork Congress, Clay was inducted into Oklahoma Pork's Hall of Fame.

From time to time, the Oklahoma Pork Council presents a career achievement recognition known as the Oklahoma Pork Hall of Fame Award. This accolade is reserved for leaders who exhibit a longstanding example of character, knowledge, and dedication within pork production. For 2024, one producer who recently “hung up his boots” perfectly embodied the Hall of Fame benchmark.

Clay Meeks has dedicated his life to service within the pork industry and beyond. Over the past five decades, he has set a superb example as a pork producer, community leader, and family man deserving of Oklahoma Pork’s prestigious Hall of Fame Award. Clay was raised on a ranch near Broken Bow before becoming the first person in his family to pursue a college degree. He attended Murray State College, then went on to Oklahoma State University where he obtained a bachelor’s degree in Animal Science. During his time at OSU, Clay lived and worked at the OSU Swine Farm where he gained firsthand knowledge to one day run his own high-quality pig herd.  

After graduation, Clay increased his expertise by managing hog farms for Tyson Foods in Arkansas and Oklahoma. Then in partnership with his beloved wife Kimberly, Clay established Meeks Family Farms near Wetumka where the family maintained a farrowing unit and beef cattle operation for the past 38 years. Throughout his many years in pork production, Clay earned a reputation for integrity, advocacy, and excellence. He became known as “the guy to beat” in Tyson’s monthly production rankings, holding various records throughout his tenure and receiving several noteworthy accolades throughout the broader industry. Now grown, Clay and Kimberly’s children Kayla and Kevin treasure the core values instilled by their parents while working together to raise pigs.  

Clay recently retired from pork production after nearly 40 years of heartfelt dedication to the Meeks swine herd. Without question, his legacy will continue as a staunch advocate for the industry and an excellent role model within the agriculture community.

Come Golf with Oklahoma Pork in October

Fall is almost here, and with the cooler weather will come the perfect opportunity to hit the greens with fellow pork supporters at the Oklahoma Pork Open! Join us Friday, October 11, for a beautiful day of golf with Oklahoma Pork members, sponsors and friends. Check-in will begin at 8 a.m. before the shotgun start at 9 a.m. Lunch and drinks will be provided for all players. Click here to register your team of four (with or without mulligans) on the Oklahoma Pork website. Closer to the tournament, we will also need registered teams' player names to help streamline registration on the course.

As our Oklahoma Pork staff and board plan for this member-favorite event, we are actively recruiting sponsors for prizes, drinks and more. If your company is interested in supporting the Oklahoma Pork Open through a fun sponsorship at our upcoming golf tournament - OR if you work with an allied industry company you think should step up to sponsor the 2024 Oklahoma Pork Open, click here to review the unique golf tournament partnership opportunities. Available options range from sponsoring one individual hole or player award, to sponsoring food or drinks for the tournament.

For more information about the upcoming Oklahoma Pork Open, contact Matti Carlile. We are counting down until Friday, October 11 for a fun day with friends at Turkey Creek!

Introducing Our New Board President Joe Locke

Every August, the Oklahoma Pork Congress marks the transition to a new membership year and new leadership of the Oklahoma Pork Council. Beginning this month, our board of directors is led by 2024-2025 board president Joe Locke of Marietta.

Throughout his 30-year pork industry career, Joe has gained valuable experience across several states and production systems. He currently serves as the Director of Operations for Tyson Foods’ The Pork Group (TPG). Previously, Joe worked as the Senior Director of Operations for Seaboard Foods. He was raised on a ranch in southern Oklahoma and graduated from Murray State College and Oklahoma State University before beginning his career. Joe’s involvement with the Oklahoma Pork Council includes previous service as a board member, officer, and volunteer pitmaster. The Locke family is active in the Marietta First Baptist Church. Joe also enjoys cooking, golfing, and watching sports with his family.

“My goal for this year is to focus on things we can do something about,” Joe shared. “Foremost in that will be executing on Oklahoma Pork’s four strategic intentions and building unity around ‘One Pork.’ We want to continue building that foundation of integrity and continuous learning we have set with our members, staff, and board.”

Joe brings decades of leadership development to his presidency, including donating his time over the summer to facilitate "The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People" for Oklahoma Pork's staff. He has been an intentional and wise board member, and we all look forward to his guidance during the upcoming year. Oklahoma Pork's remaining officer positions will be elected at the upcoming September board meeting

Special Pork and Backpack Donation

On a regular basis, the Oklahoma Pork Council proudly devotes time, dollars, and pork products toward charitable giving on behalf of our producers. In partnership with the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma (RFBO), last week Oklahoma Pork donated 168 backpacks stuffed with school supplies and nutritious pork sticks that will be distributed to area local kids through the Oklahoma City Parks and Recreation Department.

Participating park sites provide summer and after-school meals in connection with schools where greater than 50% of enrolled students qualify for free and reduced lunches. These students will receive their backpacks of school supplies and pork sticks while they enjoy helpful after-school programming like recreational sports and exercise classes through OKC Parks.

If you feel inspired to help feed Oklahomans as the school year gets started, click here to check out ways to get involved via the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma. Giving back is what pig farmers do, and we are continually honored to help make these special opportunities to connect people with pork a reality!

Thanking Our Dedicated 2023-2024 President

As we reflect on 2024, a heartfelt thanks goes to our organization's leadership. Oklahoma Pork has been incredibly well served by outgoing board president Tom Layne of Enid. As director of human resources for The HANOR Company, Tom has brought his keen understanding of people to this role. He has emphasized service and embodied the "One Pork" philosophy helping all pork producers to find common ground. Thank you to the wise and witty Tom Layne for your service to Oklahoma's pork industry the past year. We are grateful for you!

Celebrating Excellence in Pork Production

Clay Meeks was inducted into the Oklahoma Pork Council Hall of Fame last week, while Kelly Haymaker, Ash Dennie, and Ryan Sites (not pictured) all earned 2024 Excellence Awards for their career dedication.

Written by Presley Pullen and Gus Ward

As Oklahoma Pork's summer interns, we received the opportunity to assist in planning and coordinating this year's Oklahoma Pork Congress and enjoyed watching the Oklahoma Pork Council team’s hard work pay off. We celebrated four outstanding award recipients in response to their commitment to excellence and advocacy for the pork industry. The 2024 Oklahoma Pork Council award winners are:

Ash Dennie of Ran-Mar Farms was the first recipient of the Oklahoma Pork Council Excellence Award. Ash was nominated by his peers for his extreme talent in animal care and farm management ability.

Kelly Haymaker of The HANOR Company also earned the Oklahoma Pork Council Excellence Award for the overwhelming pride she takes in caring for her boars and steady devotion to making the industry better.

Ryan Sites, show pig breeder and Show-Rite national swine support specialist, was this year’s final recipient of the Oklahoma Pork Council Excellence Award. Ryan’s value of integrity and service to youth exhibitors deemed him worthy of recognition.

Clay Meeks of Meeks Family Farms was inducted into the Oklahoma Pork Council Hall of Fame for his high career achievement in the pork industry and advocacy efforts in his community. As Clay embarks on his retirement journey, the legacy he has left in commercial pork production will serve as an example for others to follow.

Being able to visit these industry leaders’ farms and operations and witness their true passion for their work was inspiring. A huge shoutout to Shay for allowing us to be a part of celebrating these outstanding individuals.

At Pork Congress, each recipient had a uniquely crafted video sharing their pork story with comments from their nominators. The kind remarks from the recipient’s peers served as a pleasant surprise and added another layer to their well-deserved recognition. Click here to watch these award videos on our YouTube page, or stay tuned as we roll them out on social media and in E-Pork over the coming weeks!

We were grateful for the opportunity to assist with our very first Oklahoma Pork Congress. Through networking, an impressive set of panel speakers, and interacting with board members, we have an even deeper appreciation and respect for Oklahoma pork producers.

As we wrap up our internship this next week, we want to express how transformative and monumental this summer has been for both of us. We are excited to advocate for the pork industry and its incredible people in the future.

Pizza and Pork: Engaging a Unique Audience

On Wednesday, the Oklahoma Pork Council got to share more about our industry with a group of blood institute employees who office just down the hall from our staff and dozens of their colleagues who remotely joined the "Lunch and Learn" meeting focused on pork production led by Oklahoma Pork's summer interns.

Written by Presley Pullen and Gus Ward

As interns with the Oklahoma Pork Council, we recently had the opportunity to host a Lunch and Learn event with Our Blood Institute (OBI), formerly known as the Oklahoma Blood Institute. This experience proved to be both educational and a fantastic chance to collaborate with an organization that plays a vital role in serving the people of Oklahoma and shares a building with our Oklahoma Pork Council office. 

To give a bit of background, Our Blood Institute is a nonprofit organization that has provided a safe and adequate blood supply to hospitals and medical facilities across Oklahoma since 1977. OBI is known for its commitment to saving lives through blood donation and its extensive community outreach programs. The work of the OBI staff ensures that patients needing blood transfusions receive the necessary support, significantly impacting our state's public health.  

During our Lunch and Learn, we had the pleasure of presenting information about the pork industry to the members of the OBI team in-person and many who virtually joined the meeting. We discussed various aspects of pork production, including the importance of sustainable farming practices, animal welfare, and the nutritional benefits of pork. It was a great opportunity to share our knowledge and passion for the industry with a group of people who are equally dedicated to making a positive difference in the community. 

To make the event even more enjoyable, we served delicious Empire Slice pizza, which was a big hit with everyone. There’s something about sharing a meal that brings people together, and the pizza added a fun and casual element to the event. Along with pizza, we handed out lots of great Oklahoma Pork swag, including branded merchandise and informational material about the pork industry in our state. The swag was well-received and helped create a memorable experience for all attendees.  

Overall, the Lunch and Learn with OBI was an awesome experience. It was inspiring to see two organizations, each with unique missions, come together to educate and engage with one another. OBI members brought an excited attitude and were eager to ask questions about all things pork. The collaboration not only allowed us to spread awareness about the pork industry but also reinforced the importance of community partnerships in achieving common goals. We left the event feeling inspired and grateful for the opportunity to work with such a dedicated and impactful organization.