The Ohio Pork Council would like to thank the following sponsors for their support of 2023 programming and events.
Mike King mking@ohiopork.org
Education Director
Kayli Mitchell kmitchell@ohiopork.org
Marketing Director
Breanna Barker bbarker@ohiopork.org
Manager of Showpig Program
Kelly Morgan kmorgan@ohiopork.org
Office Manager
Saydee Baughman sbaughman@ohiopork.org
Advertising Send inquiries to:
Breanna Barker
P:614-882-5887 - Ext 2 bbarker@ohiopork.org
“As an organization representing the interests of Ohio’s pork industry, we firmly believe that this initiative will enhance the integrity and effectiveness of the state’s constitutional amendment process,” says Cheryl Day, Executive Vice President of the Ohio Pork Council. “By raising the threshold required for making constitutional changes as called for by Issue 1, we can ensure that future constitutional changes are not made haphazardly or without substantial consensus.”
Across the country, state ballot initiatives pave the way for citizens to drive change by proposing laws and constitutional amendments without the need for support of the governor or legislature.
While amending a state’s constitutional foundation stands as a right of citizens and selfgovernance, it should not be a tool left wide open for exploitation by increasingly hostile special interest groups to push their own agenda. We have already experienced this in Ohio, and now most recently in California and Massachusetts, again.
Issue 1 is a ballot initiative asking Ohio voters to approve an amendment to the Constitution of the State of Ohio on August 8. It would strengthen the process for approving constitutional amendments by raising the threshold requirements for the necessary votes and signatures.
Issue 1 is a critical moment for Ohio’s grassroots democracy, especially for protecting our farms and small businesses. We must unite against wealthy, out-of-state activists who aim to control our agricultural practices. Their exploitative legislation and deceptive tactics directly threaten Ohio’s agriculture industry, jeopardizing the livelihoods of our farmers and small businesses—the very people who work tirelessly to feed our nation.
Agriculture, and too often the pork industry specifically, is the target of ballot initiatives created by those who seek to dictate on-farm practices with their activist agendas. Groups such as the Humane Society of the United States deliberately prey on states with easier processes to pass ballot measures, imposing harmful regulations on food-animal agriculture. California Prop 12 and Massachusetts Q3 are glaring examples of how special interest groups specifically look for ways to game the system. With the recent court victory for those supporting California’s Prop 12, special interest groups have renewed motivation and confidence to craft new anti-agriculture regulations.
Voting YES on Issue 1 ensures that future amendments require a 60% majority and representation from all 88 Ohio counties. Passing this measure will help safeguard our access to affordable and safe food by ensuring more than just a marginal majority have influence over our state, including rural communities closest to agriculture. By standing together and voting YES on Issue 1, we can protect Ohio’s farms, small businesses, and families from harmful external influences.
Ohio’s pork industry remains vulnerable to activist groups who want to dictate how we raise pigs, often with an ultimate end goal of eliminating food-animal production altogether. This is why we must take action to protect the Ohio Constitution. However, it should not be done haphazardly. The process should be fair and equitable.
As proposed, the measure makes the voice of rural voters stronger and broadens the opportunity to include all communities in the Constitution Amendment process. Currently, to put a measure on a state-wide ballot only requires collecting signatures in just half of Ohio counties. Issue 1 would require at least 5% of eligible voters of each 88 counties to sign the petition. If passed, Issue 1 also would require any future proposed Constitution Amendments to receive the approval of at least 60% of the eligible voters voting on the proposed amendment.
While we cannot build an iron-clad fortress to keep HSUS from dictating pork production in Ohio, we can strengthen the process to amend the state’s constitution. This is exactly why Ohio Pork Council, along with the business community, supports Issue 1. The proposed amendment appearing on the August 8 special election ballot makes sure the rural voice matters by requiring more votes to pass a ballot initiative. More importantly, it means any measure to appear on ballot must collect signatures from all 88 counties.
Issue 1 strengthens the constitutional amendment process by 1) raising the bar for voter approval of at least 60% of eligible voters voting on the proposed amendment and 2) requiring signatures on petitions filed from at least 5% of the eligible voters of each of the 88 counties.
The proposal under Issue 1 only applies to constitutional changes here in Ohio, and the initiated petition process to amend Ohio law remains unchanged.
While we cannot build an iron-clad fortress to keep HSUS from dictating pork production in Ohio, we can strengthen the process to amend the state’s constitution.
The pork industry remains vulnerable to activist groups who want to dictate how we raise pigs often with an end goal of eliminating food-animal production altogether. Too often, the Ohio pork industry is the target of ballot initiatives that help with this activist agenda. With the recent court victory for those supporting California’s Prop 12, special interest groups have renewed motivation and confidence to craft new anti-agriculture regulations. Amending the Ohio Constitution should not be an easy target for groups to provoke harm to the Ohio pork industry and entire state, which is why approving Issue 1 is so critical to preventing this possibility.
To pass Issue 1, we need rural Ohioans to show up big on August 8 and vote “Yes.” Let’s work together and make it a little tougher for HSUS. Help Ohio Pork spread the word and encourage Ohio voters to go to the poll on August 8 and vote YES! See sharable flyer and FAQ document at ohiopork.org/issue1.
To pass Issue 1, we need rural Ohioans to show up big and vote. There are three ways you can vote:
1) Vote early in person
2) Vote by absentee 3) Vote on August 8
“As an organization representing the interests of Ohio’s pork industry, we firmly believe that this initiative will enhance the integrity and effectiveness of the state’s constitutional amendment process,” says Cheryl Day, Executive Vice President of the Ohio Pork Council. “By raising the threshold required for making constitutional changes as called for by Issue 1, we can ensure that future constitutional changes are not made haphazardly or without substantial consensus.”
“As an organization representing the interests of Ohio’s pork industry, we firmly believe that this initiative will enhance the integrity and effectiveness of the state’s constitutional amendment process,” says Cheryl Day, Executive Vice President of the Ohio Pork Council. “By raising the threshold required for making constitutional changes as called for by Issue 1, we can ensure that future constitutional changes are not made haphazardly or without substantial consensus.”
Issue 1 is a ballot initiative asking Ohio voters to approve an amendment to the Constitution of the State of Ohio on August 8. It would strengthen the process for approving constitutional amendments by raising the threshold requirements for the necessary votes and signatures.
Issue 1 is a ballot initiative asking Ohio voters to approve an amendment to the Constitution of the State of Ohio on August 8. It would strengthen the process for approving constitutional amendments by raising the threshold requirements for the necessary votes and signatures.
Issue 1 is a critical moment for Ohio’s grassroots democracy, especially for protecting our farms and small businesses. We must unite against wealthy, out-of-state activists who aim to control our agricultural practices. Their exploitative legislation and deceptive tactics directly threaten Ohio’s agriculture industry, jeopardizing the livelihoods of our farmers and small businesses—the very people who work tirelessly to feed our nation.
Issue 1 is a critical moment for Ohio’s grassroots democracy, especially for protecting our farms and small businesses. We must unite against wealthy, out-of-state activists who aim to control our agricultural practices. Their exploitative legislation and deceptive tactics directly threaten Ohio’s agriculture industry, jeopardizing the livelihoods of our farmers and small businesses—the very people who work tirelessly to feed our nation.
Voting YES on Issue 1 ensures that future amendments require a 60% majority and representation from all 88 Ohio counties. Passing this measure will help safeguard our access to affordable and safe food by ensuring more than just a marginal majority have influence over our state, including rural communities closest to agriculture. By standing together and voting YES on Issue 1, we can protect Ohio’s farms, small businesses, and families from harmful external influences.
Voting YES on Issue 1 ensures that future amendments require a 60% majority and representation from all 88 Ohio counties. Passing this measure will help safeguard our access to affordable and safe food by ensuring more than just a marginal majority have influence over our state, including rural communities closest to agriculture. By standing together and voting YES on Issue 1, we can protect Ohio’s farms, small businesses, and families from harmful external influences.
As proposed, the measure makes the voice of rural voters stronger and broadens the opportunity to include all communities in the Constitution Amendment process. Currently, to put a measure on a state-wide ballot only requires collecting signatures in just half of Ohio counties. Issue 1 would require at least 5% of eligible voters of each 88 counties to sign the petition. If passed, Issue 1 also would require any future proposed Constitution Amendments to receive the approval of at least 60% of the eligible voters voting on the proposed amendment.
The proposal under Issue 1 only applies to constitutional changes here in Ohio, and the initiated petition process to amend Ohio law remains unchanged.
As proposed, the measure makes the voice of rural voters stronger and broadens the opportunity to include all communities in the Constitution Amendment process. Currently, to put a measure on a state-wide ballot only requires collecting signatures in just half of Ohio counties. Issue 1 would require at least 5% of eligible voters of each 88 counties to sign the petition. If passed, Issue 1 also would require any future proposed Constitution Amendments to receive the approval of at least 60% of the eligible voters voting on the proposed amendment.
The proposal under Issue 1 only applies to constitutional changes here in Ohio, and the initiated petition process to amend Ohio law remains unchanged.
The pork industry remains vulnerable to activist groups who want to dictate how we raise pigs often with an end goal of eliminating food-animal production altogether. Too often, the Ohio pork industry is the target of ballot initiatives that help with this activist agenda. With the recent court victory for those supporting California’s Prop 12, special interest groups have renewed motivation and confidence to craft new anti-agriculture regulations. Amending the Ohio Constitution should not be an easy target for groups to provoke harm to the Ohio pork industry and entire state, which is why approving Issue 1 is so critical to preventing this possibility.
The pork industry remains vulnerable to activist groups who want to dictate how we raise pigs often with an end goal of eliminating food-animal production altogether. Too often, the Ohio pork industry is the target of ballot initiatives that help with this activist agenda. With the recent court victory for those supporting California’s Prop 12, special interest groups have renewed motivation and confidence to craft new anti-agriculture regulations. Amending the Ohio Constitution should not be an easy target for groups to provoke harm to the Ohio pork industry and entire state, which is why approving Issue 1 is so critical to preventing this possibility.
To pass Issue 1, we need rural Ohioans to show up big and vote. There are three ways you can vote:
1) Vote early in person2) Vote by absentee3) Vote on August 8
To pass Issue 1, we need rural Ohioans to show up big and vote. There are three ways you can vote: 1) Vote early in person2) Vote by absentee3) Vote on August 8
The threat of foreign animal disease (FAD) is not anything new to Ohio’s pork producers and its industry and government counterparts. However, the best estimates of what a disease such as African swine fever (ASF) could mean to the nation’s pork industry continue to skyrocket – making the case for active preparedness measures even stronger.
“As a producer, we know the risks that we all face every day on the farm that we are used to dealing with at some time or another, but something like African swine fever is on another scale altogether,” says Nick Seger, Ohio Pork Council president and producer from Minster, Ohio. “A disease like this hitting our country, let alone Ohio or your own farm, would cause unbelievable chaos and isn’t something that gets resolved quickly.”
In a new study from Iowa State University economist Dermot Hayes, the damage from ASF to the domestic pork industry would be $7.5 billion per year and a loss of 60,000 directemployment jobs. Since pork and beef markets are intertwined, he puts the collective loss estimate at a staggering $79.5 billion for ASF alone over 10 years. In an even more dire scenario with ASF and foot-and-mouth disease happening at the same time, Hayes calculates the estimate soaring to an unbelievable $231 billion in combined pork-beef losses.
The losses to the U.S. pork industry from ASF and/or FMD would also be felt by the nation’s corn and soybean farmers as livestock morbidity and mortality rates rise and inventories go down. Hayes says corn revenues could suffer by $7 billion to $15 billion depending on the disease scenario, creating an even bigger blow to rural America.
To help our state’s pork industry be better prepared for a costly FAD event in the United States, the Ohio Pork Council has created the nation’s first state-specific one-stop FAD resources site for producers, veterinarians, and government officials. The online tool, which is an interactive dashboard, can be found at www.FADReady.org. Once there, users simply choose which path of information they wish to go down – Pork Producer, Herd Veterinarian, or Ohio Organizations/ Officials. From there, only information relevant to that user will be shown as a further choice to select or action to take.
The site, partially funded through Pork Checkoff, is open and free to use by anyone involved in the Ohio pork industry. (Note: This site is separate from the national site recently announced by the National Pork Board.) The dashboard itself does not collect any information. Any information collected by linked tools and sites such as Secure Pork Supply, AgView or U.S. Swine Health Improvement Plan (US SHIP) have their own data protection measures and questions about those should be directed to their respective contacts.
Mike King Senior Director of Communications and Public RelationsSince pork and beef markets are intertwined, Economist Dermot Hayes puts the collective loss estimate at a staggering $79.5 billion for ASF
“The Ohio Pork dashboard is up and running today because of the clear need seen by the OPC board several years ago,” Seger says. “The goal is to provide everyone with a more clearcut way to navigate through the numerous forms, tools and information that the pork industry has developed over the past few years to help us all get better prepared for an FAD event.”
Although the Ohio Pork Council FAD Dashboard is fully functional today, it’s by no means a “finished” product.
“We are very happy to have launched this feature-packed tool to our state’s pork industry, but we know there will be many more iterations and improvements to be made in coming months,” said Cheryl Day, OPC executive vice president. “Just like our producers on the farm, we’re all about continuous improvement when it comes to this dashboard. For that reason, we are always happy to receive feedback from stakeholders on how resources such as this can be improved.”
After accessing the site at www.FADReady.org or directly from the www.ohiopork.org site, users can quickly choose which path they wish to take by clicking on the corresponding color-coded hexagons. (See below) From there, each user type (Producer, Herd Veterinarian, Government) must choose either Preoutbreak Preparedness or Local Outbreak Response.
After this point, the user simply follows along the path of choices that include both action steps to take (arrows) and/or provide relevant additional information. By completing the steps and acting on the additional information provided through the various linked sites, users should reach their intended goal of achieving greater FAD preparedness with the objective on being in a much better position to return to normal business in the wake of an FAD event.
At top, this is the view of the homepage you will see when you visit the site. At bottom is the view of the site under Producer Must-Do Actions, which are indicated in red, sequential order.
No matter where you currently stand in FAD preparation, now is the time to start – not after an FAD event has been declared. Whether you need something simple like a new premises identification number (PIN) for a new barn, whether you need to know more about how AgView will be critical in helping your farm in an FAD crisis, or if you want to know more about what full enrollment in the comprehensive U.S. Swine Health Improvement Plan (US SHIP) entails, OPC’s FAD Dashboard can help you do it.
The goal of the OPC FAD Dashboard is to make it much easier for all producers get on the path to ultimate protection against the negative effects of FAD like African swine fever. As you know, OPC encourages producers to: 1.) Complete the Secure Pork Supply Plan. (ohiopork. org/sps) 2.) Use AgView, the national disease-tracing platform created by the National Pork Board. (porkcheckoff.org/agview) And, 3.) Enroll in the U.S. Swine Health Improvement Plan, which helps to bring everything together in one place and will likely be an official USDA program soon. (usswinehealthimprovementplan.com). The new dashboard can help you navigate to all of these areas with logical, step-by-step instructions and information.
Because the OPC FAD Dashboard is a new tool, and one that all producers, veterinarians, and other partners need to understand and feel comfortable in using, OPC plans to communicate much more about the tool in coming weeks. Please stay tuned for that information. In the meantime, please feel free to contact OPC staff for assistance at pork@ohiopork.org or call 614-882-5887.
Ohio
Here, you see what you will find under Pork Producer Local Outbreak Response, with red indicating MustDo Actions and black text indicating Next Steps.
The Ohio Pork Council is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2023 Ohio Pork Council Scholarship, OPC Women’s Scholarship and Dick Isler Scholarship. Each year, college students involved in the pork industry apply to be considered for the program. All scholarships are open to students who are OPC members, or the child of an OPC member.
Scholarships are available for college students who are completing undergraduate and graduate degrees. For specific scholarship criteria, please visit www.ohiopork.org/scholarships.
This year, the combined scholarship amount of $9,000 was awarded to students who excel in academics and as representatives of the pork industry. This year’s scholarship recipients are:
Brady Bell is the son of Melissa Bell of Zanesville, Ohio. He is attending The Ohio State University, where he studies Agricultural Systems Management. Brady is a recipient of a 2023 OPC Scholarship.
Megan Hancock is a junior studying agricultural communications at Wilmington College. She is the daughter of Kevin Hancock of Defiance, Ohio. Megan is a recipient of a 2023 OPC Scholarship.
Jack Dvorak is the son of Shadrach and Stacey Dvorak of Wakeman, Ohio. He will begin his college studies at John Carroll University this fall studying accounting. Jack is a recipient of a 2023 OPC Scholarship.
Haven Hileman is the daughter of Robin Hileman of Stout, Ohio. She is a junior at The Ohio State University where she studies animal science. Haven is a 2023 recipient of an OPC scholarship and the Ohio Pork Council Women’s Scholarship.
Alicia Graham is the daughter of Mike and Valerie Graham of Frazeysburg, Ohio. She will attend Ohio University in the fall studying early childhood education. Alicia is a recipient of a 2023 OPC Scholarship.
Melanie Lee will be attending The Ohio State University studying animal science with pre-veterinary intentions. She is the daughter of Randall Leib of Prospect, Ohio. Melanie is a recipient of a 2023 OPC Scholarship.
Shala Graham is a junior studying digital media design with minors in business, marketing, and English at Muskingum University. She is the daughter of Mike and Valerie Graham of Frazeysburg, Ohio. Shala is a recipient of a 2023 OPC Scholarship.
Emma Leggett is a junior studying animal science with a specialization in swine at The Ohio State University. She is the daughter of Holly Leggett of Uhrichsville, Ohio. Emma is a recipient of a 2023 OPC Scholarship.
Adrianna Meyer is the daughter of Tammy Meyer of Swanton, Ohio. She will attend The Ohio State University in the fall and dual major in community leadership and agribusiness. Adrianna is a recipient of a 2023 OPC Scholarship.
Jocelyn Tuente is the daughter of Jeff and Stephanie Tuente of Yorkshire, Ohio. In the fall she will attend Bowling Green State University and study art education. Jocelyn is a recipient of a 2023 OPC Scholarship.
Erica Patterson will attend Findlay University in the fall and study animal science. She is the daughter of Deserae Patterson of Findlay, Ohio. Erica is a recipient of a 2023 OPC Scholarship.
Laura Wuebker is a junior studying agricultural communications at Oklahoma State University. She is the daughter of Jeff and Dena Wuebker. Laura is a 2023 recipient of an OPC Scholarship and the Dick Isler Scholarship.
Kylie Ramirez is a senior at The Ohio State University studying agricultural communications. Kylie is the daughter of Kathy Smith of Killbuck, Ohio. She is a recipient of a 2023 OPC Scholarship.
Carrie Zeedyk is the daughter of Russell Zeedyk of Ney, Ohio. She will attend The Ohio State University in the fall and study agribusiness and applied economics. Carrie is a recipient of a 2023 OPC Scholarship.
PIC has been improving the Camborough® for 60 years. That commitment has made her the world’s highest-performing female in varying production environments across the globe. The Camborough® is easy to manage with fewer non-productive days than competitor sows. She continues to deliver heavier pigs with greater pre-wean survivability. What could be better?
The PIC Camborough® next year. And the year after that.
Contact your PIC representative today.
CAMBOROUGH ® YEAR OVER YEAR
SHE’S BETTER THAN THE
The election of pork producer delegate candidates for the 2024 National Pork Producers (Pork Act) Delegate Body will take place at 3:00 p.m., Tuesday, August 24, 2023, in conjunction with a Board of Directors meeting of the Ohio Pork Council at The Silo, 138 W. Main St., Plain City, Ohio. All Ohio pork producers are invited to attend.
Any producer, age 18 or older, who is a resident of the state and has paid all assessments due may be considered as a delegate candidate and/or participate in the election. All eligible producers are encouraged to bring with them a sales receipt proving that hogs were sold in their name and the checkoff deducted. For more information, contact the Ohio Pork Council Office, 9798 Karmar Ct. Suite A, New
Even in less-than-ideal economic times for everyone, including the pork industry, Ohio’s pork producers have once again demonstrated why “We Care” isn’t merely a slogan. From Toledo and Cleveland and Columbus to Bucyrus, the annual Pork Power donations made to some of the state’s best-placed nonprofit organizations have proven to be great partners to get much-needed pork protein to those in need.
“As farmers, it’s part of who we are to give back,” said Nick Seger, president of the Ohio Pork Council and a producer from Minster, Ohio. “We realize the need is even greater in these economic times so we’re pleased to partner with organizations that can either distribute pork products directly to their guests or use the pork to provide meals to those who would otherwise not have access to high-quality protein.”
“Donations like this from the Ohio Pork Council are a lifeline to us,” said Rori Quinonez, Executive Director of SAME Café. “We don’t get a lot of high-quality animal protein for our kitchen to use for our meals, so this is an amazing gift for us to use to feed those in need in the Toledo area.”
The feelings from the Salvation Army of Bucyrus were much the same as all other Pork Power recipients across the state – one of gratitude.
“We are committed to meeting human needs in Bucyrus and all of Crawford County,” said Major Debbra Grace, The Salvation Army, Bucyrus Corps. “We have been serving this area for 130 years and will continue to do so with the support of the community, business, and organizations such as the Ohio Pork Council and our neighbors, Hord Family Farms. We are privileged to work alongside such caring and giving people to feed those who are struggling with food insecurity.”
Ohio Pork Council President, Nick Seger (right), a producer from Minster, Ohio, presented a check to Craig Truax, director of corporate partnerships for the Mid-Ohio Food Collective, for $5,000. The organization will use the funds to purchase pork that it will serve to those in need through its Mid-Ohio kitchen in Columbus.
On behalf of all Ohio pork producers, Janel Hord, from Hord Family Farms (far right), presented a check for $2,500 to Major Tom Grace and Major Debbra Grace at The Salvation Army in Bucyrus, Ohio. The organization will use the funds to purchase pork to help supply high-quality protein to those in need in Crawford County.
$5,000
CLEVELAND FOOD BANK
MID-OHIO FOOD COLLECTIVE $5,000
$2,500
SALVATION ARMY, BUCYRUS $2,500 NEW DAY MINISTRIES, CRAWFORD COUNTY $2,500 SAME CAFÉ, TOLEDO
Nick Seger (right), President of the Ohio Pork Council, presents Rori Quinonez, Executive Director of SAME Café, with a donation that will purchase pork for the Toledo, Ohio, non-profit to serve to its hundreds of guests each week who either volunteer time, provide produce or donate funds to the organization in exchange for their meal.
Dave Shoup, past president of the Ohio Pork Council and his wife, Alona, producers from Orrville, Ohio (center), presented a check for $5,000 to the Greater Cleveland Food Bank recently for the organization to purchase pork, which it will distribute to those in need via its many partner agencies in northeast Ohio.
Donations like this from the Ohio Pork Council are a lifeline to us, said Rori Quinonez, Executive Director of SAME Café.
On behalf of all Ohio pork producers, Janel Hord, from Hord Family Farms (left), presented a check for $2,500 to Kaden Thomas, executive director of New Day Ministries in Bucyrus, Ohio. The organization will use the funds to purchase pork to help provide high-quality protein for the families it serves in north central Ohio.
The Ohio Pork Council and OH-PIGS program hosted the annual Junior Swine Day event in April at the Union County Fairgrounds in Marysville. More than 80 youth and their families participated in a day of hands-on learning from pork industry leaders and professionals who stressed the need for youth and their families to do their part to protect and build Ohio’s overall pork industry.
To give all the event’s attendees a comprehensive view of modern pork production, participants rotated through educational sessions, which included topics such as biosecurity, Youth Quality Assurance, and animal nutrition. Those attending had the opportunity to participate in several hands-on activities, ask questions, as well as receive expert showmanship tips with live pigs.
Dr. Andreia Arruda, a veterinarian and professor from The Ohio State University, led a team who walked the attending parents through stations about foreign animal disease preparation.
The team also helped participants create Secure Pork Supply (SPS) plans for on-farm biosecurity, register for a premises identification number (PIN) for their swine housing location if they didn’t have one, and register for AgView, the industry’s web-based platform that provides animal traceability and vital herd health information in case of a foreign animal disease.
“On behalf of the Ohio Pork Council, we would like to thank everyone who joined us for the 2023 Junior Swine Day, and everyone who helped put together a successful and educational day for the youth and their families involved in the show pig industry,” said Cheryl Day, OPC executive director. “We look forward to another great event in 2024 as we continue to provide education-based activities that help meet the needs of Ohio’s swine exhibitors and the greater pork industry.”
In June, 32 teams participated in this year’s Pork Chop Open at Windy Knoll Golf Club in Springfield. Though the day was a bit overcast, everyone’s demeanor was sunny as 18 holes were completed in the “competitive” scramble-style outing.
Beyond the good-natured camaraderie, participants raised $1,006 for the Dr. Tony Forshey Memorial scholarship fund and an additional $2,629 for the Friends of Pork PAC fund.
As always, the outing would not have been possible without our generous sponsors and our golfers from all parts of Ohio’s pork industry. This ongoing collaboration drives this annual day of fun and sharing to help our industry succeed on many levels.
Be sure to join in the fun next year!
2023 first place team (left to right)
• Roger Tedrick
• Jim Scheid
• Jim Ballinger
• Jim Kline
2023 closest to pin
• Jim Ballinger
2023 longest drive
• Ron Schuller
Summertime events for Ohio Pork Council are hitting full swing in July and August, so mark your calendars now and make plans to participate in all these pork-centric events!
July 26 - Aug. 6, Ohio State Fairgrounds, Columbus
Since 1993, the Taste of Ohio Café has been the place to meet our friends and fellow pork producers for delicious pork dining options during the Ohio State Fair’s annual run. You can even enjoy some Ohio-based wine or craft beer to accompany your pork-based BBQ, loin, chop, burger, bacon, or wings. And don’t’ forget about Ohio Pork Council’s own “secret” menu item, the Double Decker Loaded Pork Loin Sandwich!
July
Be sure to visit the Land & Living building where OPC helps host a “birthing center” with sows that will farrow during the fair. The Land & Living building attracts fairgoers from all backgrounds to its wide array of agricultural activities and helps to foster conversations and education surrounding Ohio agriculture. OPC, along with the Ohio Farm Bureau Ambassadors, will provide staffing and answer fair-goer questions.
You won’t want to miss this inaugural event on the first Thursday evening at this year’s state fair. Breaking Boundaries is a swine show specifically for those youth with special needs who would most likely never get the opportunity to participate in an event like this.
After a year in the making, get ready to tune into A&E television on Saturday, July 29 at 11:30 a.m. for the series “Best in Chow.” This episode will feature Ohio Pork Council’s Double Decker Loaded Pork Loin Sandwich (shown on the magazine cover) filmed at last year’s state fair. Be sure to tell your friends and family across the country to tune in or set their DVRs to see why Ohio Pork is the best chow!
This year marks the 25th year for the OPC-sponsored Rib-Off event. After the early-morning start for contestants, the welcome and introductions begin at 11:20 a.m. with judging at 11:30. Those attending can begin sampling for the People’s Choice Award at noon with awards announced at 1 p.m.
In collaboration with the Ohio Department of Agriculture, the Ohio Pork Council is proud to be a partner in producing the 2023 Ohio Legislative Pork Off – a swine show specifically for Ohio legislators. The event will begin at 6:45 p.m. at the Swine Barn where legislators will take their hand at pig showmanship. Aside from the fun and spotlight on the state’s pork industry, pork will be donated to an area foodbank on behalf of the winner.
Be sure to attend the second annual Bourbon & Bacon evening a bit earlier than last year’s October event, but at the same great venue in Tiffin at Arlington Acres. Join your pork industry friends and neighbors as you celebrate the best that pork and America’s original spirit have to offer together.
In another first for OPC, we’re continuing to reach out to residents of northwest Ohio. By participating in this unique event, we’ll help to bridge the urbanfarm communications gap by ensuring that they get to know the farmers who produce the food they enjoy, while they learn more about the practices they use to protect our state’s environment. This fun-filled event starts at 6 p.m. with vendors, food and entertainment that makes for a perfect evening for the entire family to enjoy.
INGREDIENTS
2 lb. boneless pork loin roast
1 lb. honey glazed ham (thinly sliced)
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. pepper
1 cup chinese mustard (divided)
DIRECTIONS
STEP 1
Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. In a small bowl, combine salt, pepper and 1/4 cup of the mustard. Spread mixture on all sides of the pork. Place pork, fat side up, in a shallow roasting pan and roast 15 minutes.
STEP 2
Reduce oven to 350 degrees F. and continue roasting 40 to 45 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 145 degrees F (medium rare) to 160 degrees F (medium). Remove roast from oven and let rest 10 minutes. Slice very thinly and set slices aside.
8 whole submarine rolls
3/4 cup plum jelly (or red currant, or raspberry jam or jelly)
8 slices Swiss cheese
14 oz. green chile (drained and sliced)
4 Tbsp. unsalted butter (room temperature)
STEP 3
To prepare the sandwiches, halve the rolls, laying all 16 halves out, and butter the outside of each of them. On half of the halves, spread the remaining mustard (1 1/2 tablespoons). On the other half of the sandwich halves, spread 1 1/2 tablespoons of jam. Arrange ham, roast pork, cheese, and chiles on the mustard halves of each sandwich, then top with the jam halves.
STEP 4
Prepare a grill to medium-hot heat. Lay a double layer of foil on the grill, large enough to hold the sandwiches. Place sandwiches on the foil, place bricks over the sandwiches (2 sandwiches per brick), and press down gently. Grill until the bottom of the bread is browned and cheese starts to melt, 2 to 3 minutes. Turn, replace the bricks, and grill 2 minutes more. Cut sandwiches in half and serve.
While African swine fever (ASF) has never been found in the United States, global disease poses a constant threat to the U.S. pork industry – not least because it continues to spread across Europe and Asia even as it lingers much closer by in Haiti and the Dominican Republic, being spread by both feral swine and those working in and around commercial farms.
Currently, ASF is present in more than 50 countries around the world according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Although the European Union’s infection started slowly in 2014, the disease has now spread to pork powerhouses such as Germany and Poland and to neighboring non-EU countries. Meanwhile, China and many Asian countries continue to battle against the massive ASF losses inflicted there since 2018.
With ASF as close as the Caribbean to the U.S., producers here must think how they should prepare for a foreign animal disease. A good start is going to the new Ohio Pork Council FAD Dashboard at FADReady.org.
Issue 1 is a critical moment for Ohio’s grassroots democracy, especially for protecting our farms and small businesses. We must unite against wealthy, out-of-state activists who aim to control our agricultural practices. Their exploitative legislation and deceptive tactics directly threaten Ohio’s agriculture industry, jeopardizing the livelihoods of our farmers and small businesses—the very people who work tirelessly to feed our nation.
Voting YES on Issue 1 ensures that future amendments require a 60% majority and representation from all 88 Ohio counties. Passing this measure will help safeguard our access to affordable and safe food by ensuring more than just a marginal majority have influence over our state, including rural communities closest to agriculture. By standing together and voting YES on Issue 1, we can protect Ohio’s farms, small businesses, and families from harmful external influences.
Issue 1 asks eligible Ohio voters to consider an amendment to the Constitution of the State of Ohio proposed by a two-thirds majority of the Ohio General Assembly. The amendment, if approved, would elevate the standards by which the Constitution of the State of Ohio may be amended.
Because of its central importance to our rights as Ohioans, the state constitution should not be changed haphazardly by the whims of out-of-state activists and special interests. By voting YES, all 88 of Ohio’s counties can be guaranteed of getting a voice, which makes the amendment process more fair, democratic and equitable for all our state’s citizens.
The proposed amendment would:
• Require that any proposed amendment to the Constitution of the State of Ohio receive the approval of at least 60% of eligible voters voting on the proposed amendment.
• Require that any initiative petition filed on or after January 1, 2024, with the Secretary of State proposing to amend the Constitution of the State of Ohio be signed by at least 5% of the eligible voters of each county in the state.
• Specify that additional signatures may not be added to an initiative petition filed with the Secretary of State on or after January 1, 2024, proposing to amend the Constitution of the State of Ohio.
To pass Issue 1, we need rural Ohioans to show up big and vote. There are three ways you can vote:
