A PUBLICATION OF THE OHIO PORK COUNCIL
The Ohio Pork Council would like to thank the following sponsors for their support of 2022 programming and events.
While the challenges facing our industry continue, actual consumer preferences, barriers and tactics evolve. As an industry, we need to evolve as well. Our neighbors were not all blessed to live on a farm, and we must accept that the institutional knowledge about farming is absent.
For Ohio, our steps forward are intentional. The intention is to serve and benefit all Ohio pork producers in raising pork ethically, sustainably, and responsibly for the world.
To move forward intentionally, we must make a robust effort in Real Discovery.
Where does the Ohio pork industry stand with our consumers, our community leaders, our neighbors and our legislators? Do they know real pork comes from real farm families, raising real pigs on real Ohio farms every day?
You are going to tell us. We are getting extremely crazy on the “Real.”
There is never a dull moment in the pork industry. It seems everywhere you turn plant-based food and products are present on store shelves and in advertisements. Headlines continue with misleading facts about pig farming. Political agendas built to hinder your right to farm. It is frustrating and can be disheartening if you let your mindset give in to the drama. The anti-food animal agriculture crowd wants to break us.
As I reminded OPC members at the annual meeting, Ohio has a strong legacy as a leader in the industry, and now is not the time to back down or stop leading.
All aspects of food production - animals, water, land, pig caretakers - are emotional. An industry built on practical, sound science is engaged in emotional warfare. Every day you passionately care for the pigs, people, and planet. Yet, you do not have to create as much noise about it to provide affordable protein for the world.
As an Ohio pork producer, you know you are real, you know real pork is the only thing to eat. But consumers removed from the farm are hearing numerous messages about evil farmers, factory farms, and corporate farms. In reality, we are real families working together to provide affordable access to high-quality protein.
We must flip the script and meet the consumer where they are. Find the right balance using retro messaging to demonstrate you are moms, dads, neighbors, and community leaders caring about the same values as your urban neighbors.
Yet, we cannot find that right balance, the right message and the right platforms without a journey of discovery. We are making a serious investment in Real Discovery. To date, we have secured an additional $350,000 in national Checkoff grant funds to ask hard questions and crunch the data to get a realistic look at ways to move forward effectively in Ohio.
In the middle of our Real Discovery quest, we learned positive stories offset negative noise about pig farming and introductions of unreasonable regulations. We Care messaging and programs like PQA Plus and TQA are relatable to consumers. At the local, state, and national levels, Ohio pig farmers need to get louder.
We need to speak the consumers’ language. So, we can make a real connection by demonstrating that Ohio’s pig farmers are dedicated to ethically, sustainably, and responsibly, ensuring affordable access to one protein that checks all four boxes of food sustainability: nutrient-dense, affordable, planet-friendly and brings cultural and societal value.
Upon completion of the Real Discovery phase, as an organization led by producers, we will develop the steps
forward to build a stronger voice for the Ohio pork industry and effectively offset the negative noise. As members, you will soon have an opportunity to participate in educational sessions to assist all farms in better communicating with consumers, community leaders, elected officials and neighbors that align with strategic steps forward.
Stay Tuned. Exciting things ahead.
One of the biggest challenges the industry is facing is the rising cost of feed and feed ingredients, which can account for up to 70% of total production expenses. With Alltech’s Enzyme Management program, you can reduce your feed cost, maximize feed efficiency and improve herd performance, saving producers like you money while providing sustainable benefits for the animal and the planet.
Like you, we know every cent matters. Get more – and save more – with Alltech’s Enzyme Management program. To learn more, visit Alltech.com/enzyme-management.
Legislative activity was in full swing in 2022 as the 134th General Assembly passed the state’s capital budget. The controversial legislative map drawing chaos and election year prevented productive progress at the statehouse. Here are the top issues Ohio Pork Council tackled over the last year.
Investment in Animal Health
Building upon our success in the state’s operating budget (House Bill 110) in 2021, with an additional $1.5 million per fiscal year for staffing and IT upgrades at the ODA’s ADDL, the Ohio Pork Council again took the lead, along with Ohio’s other agricultural groups, to advocate for funding for a new ADDL building. Governor DeWine’s administration and the Ohio General Assembly appropriated $71.73 million for the construction of a new ADDL. ODA has already started the lengthy process for constructing the new facility.
Representatives Manchester and Lightbody reintroduced the new farmer tax credit legislation from the last General Assembly. House Bill 95 passed both chambers of the Ohio General Assembly, and Governor DeWine signed it into law with a July 18, 2022, effective date. The legislation creates income tax credits for beginning farmers who participate in a financial management program. The bill also provides nonrefundable income tax credits for individuals and for businesses that sell or rent agricultural land, livestock, facilities, or equipment to beginning farmers. The Director of Agriculture, the Ohio State University, and Central State University can certify individuals as beginning farmers. The new farmer tax credit will expire on January 1, 2028, and is limited to a total amount of $10 million in tax credits.
Treasurer Sprague worked with Representatives Swearingen and White in the House and Senators Cirino and Rulli in the Senate to introduce companion legislation, House Bill 440 and Senate Bill 241, for his Ohio Gains Initiative. The Ohio Pork Council provided proponent testimony because a key component of the legislation removes the loan cap on the Ag-LINK program. The Treasurer’s office will have the flexibility to determine loan amounts based on market conditions, which is useful in times of high inflation. HB 440 was ultimately the vehicle chosen between the two bills for changes to the Ag-LINK program, and it became effective on April 20, 2022.
This year, similar to prior years, water quality is part of our state’s policy discussion. Governor DeWine’s administration continues to carry out the H2Ohio initiative started in 2019 to improve water quality and water infrastructure in the state with the $170 million in funding it received in last year’s budget.
As a result of a brief amount of time between the August primary election for state legislators and the November general election, the General Assembly is unlikely to return for session until lame duck after November’s election. There might be some committee work in the fall, but the remaining heavy legislative work will not resume until November 15 and will likely finish around December 21.
Lame duck is always a busy and fast-paced month as the legislature wraps up its work for the two-year cycle. Any legislation that is not passed by the end of lame duck will have to be reintroduced next year with the new General Assembly.
A new General Assembly will be sworn in at the beginning of January and will take the month of January to organize its leadership teams and committee assignments. House Speaker Bob Cupp and Senate Minority Leader Kenny Yuko are term limited. Senate President Republican Matt Huffman will most likely remain as Senate President. Senator Nickie Antonio will likely be the next Senate Minority Leader.
For the first time since 2019, the Ohio State Fair returned as a full fair and Ohio Pork Council was able to promote pork in an outstanding way. OPC entered the fair season with the goal of having an incredible presence — not only at the fair but on social media. We are happy to announce that we did just that!
From the Land & Living building to the Taste of Ohio Café and beyond, Ohio Pork Council showed up and showed off at the 2022 Ohio State Fair. With the help of amazing volunteers, OPC served wholesome, delicious pork both in the café and in the pork trailer located outside of the Dairy Products Building. A simplified menu allowed the pork to really shine, something fairgoers seemed to appreciate. Both locations had an array of promotional signs with messaging focusing on 145°, the We Care movement, farmer spotlights, and nutritional aspects of pork.
Social media presence was a priority this fair season, with OPC ending with over 265k impressions across all platforms. This was the first year that OPC utilized TikTok and it was a huge success. Videos included the famous butter sculptures, the pig costume sneaking into the parade, and even a challenge for other states to take their pig costumes down the slide — which Illinois accepted!
OPC also successfully hosted the 24th annual Pork Rib-Off, with six teams competing and thousands of fairgoers attending. This year’s judges consisted of Virgil Strickler, Ohio Expo Center and State Fair General Manager, Ohio Senator Bob Peterson (R-17), Jerry Happy, Ohio Pork Promoter of the year, Matt Reese, Ohio Ag Net, and JD Vance, U.S. Senate Candidate (R).
Ohio Eats of Lewis Center, Ohio, was awarded Grand Champion Pork Ribs and People’s Choice, Bark Brothers BBQ of Cheviot, Ohio, was awarded Grand Champion Pulled Pork, Baney-Q was awarded both Reserve Pulled Pork and Reserve Pork Ribs, while Ale Yeah BBQ won Best Overall Barbeque Sauce.
Individuals from all backgrounds were welcomed to the Land & Living’s wide array of agricultural activities, in the hopes of fostering conversations and education surrounding Ohio agriculture. Education Director, Kayli Mitchell, and OPC Pig Care Intern, Justin Beckner, spent their days at the 2022 Ohio State Fair alongside the Ohio Farm Bureau Ambassadors promoting the pork industry, proper animal care, and animal health.
With the fair back to full capacity, OPC welcomed thousands to the Land & Living Exhibit at the Ohio State Fair. Fairgoers had the opportunity to see two sows farrow out at the OPC Birthing Center, learn about the industry through interactive educational displays, and view educational videos.
The Land & Living farrowing display was full of anticipation, excitement, and teachable moments. Every conversation with fairgoers is a chance to educate about the pork industry.
The OPC Birthing Center was a popular spot, giving OPC staff and volunteers the opportunity to share about pig farming with elected officials, lawmakers, and the general public.
The Ohio pork team also showcased new interactive educational displays in Land & Living, a new meat display in the swine barn, and module barn in the little farmer exhibit.
We want to send a sincere thank you to Hord Family Farms for providing the display and sows, Kalmbach Feed for supplying the feed for sows, and Todd Price, DVM, and Grant Price, DVM, for veterinary services.
Thanks to the constant effort and dedication from the Ohio Pork Council, OH-PIGS Committee, OH-PIGS manager Kelly Morgan, and our amazing OH-PIGS sponsors, the 2022 circuit consisted of 24 different shows that spanned over a two-month stretch, from April 9 to June 26.
Throughout the spring into summer season, a record-setting group of 236 exhibitors competed for points in the breeding and market classes, while also taking part in the showmanship competition, which included divisions of PeeWee, Novice, Junior, Intermediate, and Senior.
At the conclusion of the season, all were invited to the 2022 OHPIGS Banquet that was kindly hosted by the McCarley family in Circleville, Ohio.
The OSU Veterinary Medicine Team hosted several activities on biosecurity and preparing for a foreign animal disease outbreak during the banquet. OHPigs participants were asked to complete a biosecurity survey, helping the families to develop a secure pork supply plan.
Following an evening of food, fun, and conversation, the winners for each breeding class, market class, and showmanship division were recognized by Morgan and the OH-PIGS Committee, which was capped off by the top-five in overall high points for the summer circuit.
For the first time, three exhibitors were honored with the Steve Mitchem Stockman Award. In 2022, we lost a mentor and big cheerleader of OH-PIGS Circuit, pigs, and the young exhibitors. Demi, Camden, and Cooper were selected for their positive attitudes and upholding the characteristics of a true stockman.
Congratulations to all our exhibitors and their families for another great year with the OH-PIGS Circuit. We are incredibly grateful to make this opportunity possible for you and we are unbelievably blessed to be a part of an industry that believes so much in their youth and the future of agriculture.
Sharing the real pig farming stories is not limited to a consumer campaign. Education opportunities are endless when we start with young minds. Ohio Pork Council educational programs include a robust agenda in and out of the classroom.
Students across Ohio and the United States are heading back to school in full swing for the first time in two years, and as schools shift back to “normal,” the Ohio Pork Council is set to take advantage of the opportunities given to educate on all things pork.
Here’s a look at a few things we have planned for the upcoming school year:
OPC is excited to continue the beloved “Pork in the Classroom” program that allows our two presenters to travel across the state of Ohio and visit family and consumer sciences classes as well as food science-based classes featured in many middle and high school agriculture programs. Our presenters give an in depth look at how to properly prepare, cook, and serve pork products, like pork loin, while highlighting the versatility of pork. Featuring recipes such as pork loin fajitas, our presenters, with the help of student volunteers, prepare and serve pork samples while walking step-by-step through the process of farm to fork.
Throughout the 2021-2022 school year, our presenters held 114 presentations, where they reached over 11,000 students. As always, our goal for the upcoming year is to make an impact that great again, especially as schools begin shifting back to “normal.”
We all know how challenging it is to open up your barn and allow visitors to come have a look around. As producers, biosecurity and herd health is a top priority, and hosting visitors can really pose a threat to the health of your pigs. This is why the Virtual Field Trip (VFT) is so valuable!
Like in years past, OPC will be hosting a lineup of VFTs this fall and in the spring that will allow viewers to gain an inside look at what is really going on inside of your pig barns. This program allows our producer hosts the ability to share their experiences as Ohio pork producers. Most importantly, the VFT program allows for viewers to see first-hand the truth behind the work you do, as our hosts walk them through modern operations, while answering questions through a live Q&A session.
During the 2021-2022 school year, the Ohio Pork Council hosted 12 Virtual Field Trips and reached over 2,600 students, in more than 17 states, during the live viewing. The Ohio Pork Council looks forward to hosting an additional 12 VFTs for the 2022-2023 school year, and is working to continually grow the number of students reached throughout the program.
While this is just a preview of the education initiatives the Ohio Pork Council has planned for the upcoming school year, OPC has several new projects and programs in the works. We encourage you to keep an eye out for some of the new programs OPC is working on for the new school year.
It’s that time of year once again, Ohio Pork Council and Ohio State University Athletics are partnering. OPC’s presence is felt in many ways in the stadium — from fan connect signage to the bacon vending machine.
The BVM is located on the B concourse near entrance 38 this year — stocked full with Smithfield, Sugardale, and Hormel fully cooked bacon and bacon bits. Nothing goes together better than bacon and Buckeye football!
Throughout the stadium, signs with the slogan, “Pork: perfect protein for a powerful team,” will be on display for Buckeye fans to see. Along with this, there will be digital advertisements with the slogan, “Pork: the best protein,” both on OSU’s website and in their weekly email.
OPC is a proud sponsor of Ohio State Athletics and cannot wait to see what this year brings!
PCV2 in
from
with
leaders don’t react, they predict and address problems before
stay
which is why
work
on PCVAD management. With new solutions like d-FENSE for PCV2d and our lineup of PCV2
step
you’ll be able to fight every strain with confidence.
to your veterinarian or visit
to
Consumer Information & Promotion $298,588 $295,435
Production Technology & Information $186,828 $174,214
Fixed Expenses $254,222 $237,015 $739,638 $706,664
Increase (decrease) in net assets $202,528 $111,967
Net assets at the beginning of year $528,401 $416,434
Net assets at the end of year $730,929 $528,401
Year End April 31, 2022
Public Policy $52,659 $48,973
OPC Events $97,684 $64,189
Operating & Fixed Expenses $466,676 $416,297
Total Expenses $617,017 $529,457
Increase (decrease) in net assets $178,073 $205,160
Net assets at the beginning of year $1,231,539 $1,205,379
Net assets at the end of year $1,409,612 $1,231,539
*Fiscal Year End April 31, 2022
2 1/2 lb. pork loin roast (boneless)
3 1/3 Tbsp. brown sugar
2/3 Tbsp. sugar
1 1/2 tsp. black pepper (coarsely ground)
1 tsp. kosher salt
1 tsp. ground ginger
3/4 tsp. garlic powder
STEP 1
Stir together brown sugar, sugar, black pepper, salt, ginger, garlic powder, onion salt, dry mustard, cayenne, crushed red pepper, cumin, paprika and thyme in small bowl.
STEP 2
Preheat oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit.
STEP 3
Sprinkle the brown sugar mixture evenly on all sides of the pork roast; use your fingers to rub into pork.
3/4 tsp. onion salt
1/2 Tbsp. dry mustard
1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper
1/4 tsp. crushed red pepper
1/4 tsp. ground cumin
1/4 tsp. paprika
3/4 tsp. dried thyme (crushed)
STEP 4
Place pork roast on rack in shallow roasting pan or baking dish. Roast pork, uncovered, 40-60 minutes (20 minutes per pound) until internal temperature on an instant-read thermometer reads 145 degrees Fahrenheit.
STEP 5
Remove roast from oven; let rest about 10 minutes before slicing.
Agriment
Boehringer-Ingelheim
Celebrate a deserving colleague, friend, or family member by nominating them for one of OPC’s annual awards. Nominations are easy, so take a look at the categories below then make your submission.
This award is given to a pork producer, or pork producing family, for their willingness to give their time, money, and talents, and as a result, make an outstanding contribution to the swine industry. Consideration will be given for contributions at the local, state, and national levels.
The award for Swine Manager of the Year recognizes an owner or non-owner who excels in the management of a swine production operation.
The award for Pork Promoter of the year recognizes an individual/ family, organization, company, or county group who has done an outstanding job promoting pork and/or the pork industry on a local, regional, or state level. Candidates need not be actual pork producers.
The OPC Friends of Pork Award is presented to a pork industry leader whose principal occupation is not pork production, but made an outstanding contribution to the swine industry. Consideration will be given for contributions at the local, state, and national levels.
Have a nominee in mind? Simply submit a name with the online form at ohiopork.org/award/ for the award committee’s consideration by Monday, October 31. www.ohiopork.org/award/
The Ohio Pork Council is pleased to announce that the application for 2023 OPC scholarships is now available! Applications for available scholarships will be awarded for the 2023-2024 school year.
Again this year, the Ohio Pork Council will offer three scholarships: the Ohio Pork Council Scholarship, the OPC Women’s Scholarship, and the Dick Isler Scholarship.
For more information regarding the scholarships and the application process visit www.ohiopork.org/scholarships.
To be eligible for scholarship consideration, all applicants or his/ her parents must be actively involved in the pork industry. Children of pork industry employees, managers, and contract growers are eligible. Applicants, or their parents, must be a member of the Ohio Pork Council and residents of Ohio. Applicants entering their freshman, sophomore, junior, or senior years of college are encouraged to apply. Students entering their junior or senior year of college or graduate school are encouraged to apply for the OPC Women’s Scholarship.
Applications are due no later than January 6, 2023.
The Ohio Pork Council is looking for highly motivated communications and education interns to join their team during summer 2023.
The Ohio Pork Council is looking for a highly driven communications intern to join their team during summer 2023.
The ideal candidate should be majoring in the field of agriculture, communications, marketing or journalism, preferably going into their junior or senior year of college. Knowledge of swine and modern agriculture is a plus, but not required.
The intern will be responsible for developing written and graphic communications for members, the media and consumers, increasing member participation and awareness of producer education programs, promotion of education and food stands at the Ohio State Fair, as well as special events planning and volunteer recruitment.
The Ohio Pork Council communications internship is sure to provide a variety of learning opportunities and awesome experiences within the agriculture field.
The Ohio Pork Council pig care and education intern will serve as the key staff person at the 2022 Ohio State Fair Birthing Center. During the 12-day event, the intern will play an integral role in providing quality animal care, monitoring the farrowing process, and maintaining a positive public perception for fairgoers.
Applicants should be majoring in the field of agriculture, communications, or education, preferably going into their junior or senior year of college. Previous experience working with swine is required; related experience conducting agriculture education programs or working with consumers is a plus. Applicants should have the ability to provide superior animal care, solid public speaking skills, and feel comfortable answering questions regarding Ohio’s pork industry. Applicants should be self motivated, have the ability to work independently, and thrive in fast-paced environments.
Interested applicants can view complete job descriptions at www.ohiopork.org/internship/, with applications due January 6, 2023.
For more information, contact Kayli Mitchell at 614-882-5887 or kmitchell@ohiopork.org
