Mark your calendar for the 2014 World Pork Expo, June 4-6, at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines, Iowa. Brought to you by the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC), World Pork Expo features the world's largest pork-specific trade show, educational seminars, swine shows and sales, and more.
Register early to secure the discounted admission fee of $5 for an adult (ages 12 and up), which provides entry for the entire expo - a $10-per-person savings over the on-site fee.
The expo offers more than 310,000 square feet of exhibit space and 400 exhibitors with the latest products, services and technologies available to pork production businesses today.
Highlights of the show will begin before it starts with NPPC hosting two pre-show farm tours for visitors who want a glimpse into Midwestern agriculture. A two-day tour, set for June 2-3 and underwritten by the Illinois Soybean Association, will feature a broad view of U.S. agriculture from crops to pork production to equipment to shipping. A one-day tour on June 3 will highlight agribusinesses in central Iowa.
During the expo, free educational seminars on June 4-5 will present updates on current management issues and research. Experts discuss topics including animal health and well-being, production management, legislative updates, feeding strategies and more. Business seminars, also scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday, address a range of marketing and business strategies and present an opportunity for questions and dialogue.
Live hogs will be on display in the swine barn from June 3-7. The ever-growing World Pork Expo Junior National, hosted by the National Junior Swine Association (NJSA) and Team Purebred, now ranks among the premier youth shows in the United States. In 2013, a record 1,600 pigs were exhibited by 678 juniors from 26 states. More details about show rules and entries are available at NJSA's website.
Also at the expo, swine breeding stock from throughout the nation will compete in the purebred, open shows. In 2013, more than 200 exhibitors competed for top honors with nearly 600 hogs. Breeding stock sales are held Saturday, June 7, from 8 a.m. until completion (at approximately noon).
MusicFest, scheduled for Thursday afternoon, has evolved into the social highlight of expo. It's a time when attendees can relax, listen to music, connect with colleagues, and enjoy some delicious pork and refreshments.
It wouldn't be World Pork Expo without the Big Grill, manned by the Tama County Pork Producers Association from Iowa, where attendees can stop by each day for a free lunch of succulent pork.
"World Pork Expo offers something for everyone. It's a great place to connect with fellow pork producers and compare notes," says Randy Spronk, NPPC president and pork producer from Edgerton, Minn. "It's also the one place where you can see all the latest developments in pork production and find business solutions that you can take back home. If you're involved in pork production, you need to be at World Pork Expo."
Even more information is available by connecting with World Pork Expo on Facebook, following Expo on Twitter (#NPPCWPX), and downloading the free mobile app by searching for "World Pork" in the Apple Store, Android Market or Blackberry's App World.
