Producers celebrate the industry during World Pork Expo

National Pork Producer Council’s World Pork Expo is the industry’s largest gathering of pork producers, suppliers and agricultural media. The three day event is filled with educational seminars, new technologies, delicious food and live entertainment. The 2010 World Pork Expo will be held June 9, 10 and 11 at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines, Iowa.

Highlights during this year’s World Pork Expo include:

Industry Tour

Attendees are invited to extend their stay in Iowa. Arrive a few days early and participate in a two day industry tour on June 7 and 8. Day 1 begins with a tour of PDI, one of the largest food distribution companies in the country that delivers food to seven Midwestern states. The next stops include animal health product distributor IVESCO, and ethanol producer Hawkeye Renewables. Participants will finish the day at Christensen Farms, one of the top five largest pork producers in the U.S.

Day 2 begins with a tour of Kinze Manufacturing, one of Iowa’s largest agricultural equipment manufacturers. Participants will enjoy a home cooked lunch and full tour of Cinnamon Ridge Farms, a large scale farming operation that boasts 4,000 acres of production crops, wean-to-finish hog buildings, a beef operation and a Jersey cow dairy. The tour will make a dinner stop in Iowa’s historic Amana Colonies before the bus returns to Des Moines. Contact Bryan Humphreys at [email protected] to register for the tour or sign up at www.worldpork.org under the Events & Activities tab.

Trade Show

More than 450 companies catering to the pork industry showcase their products and services during Expo’s trade show. The trade show creates an opportunity for producers to discover new technologies and meet industry suppliers. National Pork Producers Council President and long-time producer Sam Carney says, “Over the years, I’ve made small improvements to my operation based on recommendations I received from the experts at Expo,” Carney explains. “Their advice has given me the opportunity to use new products, grow a profitable operation and produce a quality product.”

New Product Tour

World Pork Expo’s New Product Tour allows producers to examine products and services introduced to the pork industry during the last 12 months. These products will be selected by a panel of four independent judges from a pool of nominees and will be on display throughout Expo. Producers will vote for their favorite new technology to determine the “Producers Choice Award.”

Educational Seminars

Educational seminars will be held throughout Expo and are a great way to gain a comprehensive look at everything affecting the market. Industry experts will address issues and offer valuable insights regarding the economic forecast and herd health management. Carney states, “The pork industry has a great influence on the global market; we sell hogs all over the world. As a producer, there may be something I need to change in my own operation to improve the industry as a whole, and I may not hear about it until I attend an expert-led seminar at Expo.”

MusicFest and Pickin’ Pig Roast

Business discussions give way to leisurely conversations during World Pork Expo’s MusicFest. The event takes place Thursday, June 10 from 3:30 – 8:00 p.m. This year’s entertainment line-up includes music from the 70’s performed by The Classic Rock All Stars, Bryan White’s down-home sounds of the country genre and oldies cover band Tony Valdez and the Retro Rockets.

MusicFest gives attendees time to socialize with exhibitors and friends scattered across the country and compare production technologies with other producers. Many exhibitors host dinner for their customers in hospitality tents so they can socialize in a casual setting. In addition, the National Pork Producers Council sponsors three Pig Pickin’ hog roast stations.

REMIND ME Alerts

There is a new mobile alert service being introduced this year to help attendees keep track of all the events held during Expo. The REMIND ME service allows attendees to sign up for e-mail and text message alerts about the educational seminars and events going on during Expo. Participants can control which alerts they receive by selecting only the events that pique their interest. The reminders will be delivered directly to their mobile phone 15 minutes prior to the start of the event. Participants can register for the REMIND ME service at www.porkmag.com/wpx10.

World Pork Expo also includes the National Swine Registry Showcase, Junior National Swine Show, clay shoot tournament, golf outing, farm toy and sale, Cruisin’ with the Hogs motorcycle ride, pig races and a breed show and sale. Learn more about all the exciting events going on during World Pork Expo.