2023 Pork Pages

MEET THE STAFF

Kylee Deniz Executive Director

Kylee Deniz has served the Oklahoma Pork Council as executive director since March 2021. As leader of the organization, she works closely with the state board of directors, the National Pork Producers Council, the National Pork Board, and a broad range of stakeholders to promote and protect Oklahoma’s pork industry. Kylee brings her award-winning experience in marketing and communications to her influential role representing thousands of Oklahomans employed throughout the various segments of pork production each day.

Matti Carlile Business Coordinator

Matti Carlile serves as business coordinator for the Oklahoma Pork Council. In her first full-time position after graduating from college, she handles a variety of administrative duties that keep the organization running. Matti also works on Foreign Animal Disease (FAD) preparedness, coordination of special events, and serves as the primary contact for Oklahoma Pork’s board of directors. Before joining the team, Matti participated in the 2021 Pork Industry Group.

Ashton Mese Johnston Industry Relations Manager

Ashton Mese Johnston serves as industry relations manager for the Oklahoma Pork Council. In this role, she is responsible for producer and sponsor outreach, helping lead the organization’s policy portfolio, and overseeing student programming like Oklahoma Pork’s internship program and the OSU Pork Industry Group. Before joining the team, Ashton spent 10 years in state and federal government roles with a focus on agricultural policy and communications.

Shay Stegmann Digital Content Creator

Shay Stegmann serves as the digital content creator at Oklahoma Pork Council, excelling in storytelling, design, and social media strategy. With a talent for crafting compelling narratives and managing diverse platforms, Shay plays a pivotal role in shaping Oklahoma Pork’s visual communication initiatives. Before joining the team, Shay gained experience working on film sets and at an advertising agency. Oklahoma Pork Council was named one of Oklahoma Magazine’s 2023 Great Companies to Work For.

THE PRESIDENT SPEAKS

In September 2022, I began my second year on the Oklahoma Pork Council. We discussed the success of the recent Pork Congress, which had recordbreaking attendance and made plans for the future. However, things quickly changed. Our industry faced economic challenges due to high feed and low pig prices, causing many producers to shut down or restructure their businesses. It directly impacted the Oklahoma Pork Council, with several board members leaving unexpectedly.

Oklahoma Pork President Angie Johnson remained resilient despite these challenges, and I was asked to serve as President-Elect and President of the 64th Oklahoma Pork Council. Kylee Deniz, Matti Carlile, and Ashton Mese Johnston showed their expertise in tackling challenges, and we realigned our goals for 2023 to remain relevant and responsive to industry trends.

Our innovative approach increased efficiency and cost-effectiveness while delivering value to pork producers across Oklahoma. We also implemented a new benchmark for the annual Oklahoma Pork Congress, which was more streamlined and inclusive. Oklahoma Pork welcomed Shay Stegmann to the team, whose unique perspective and artistic eye will help us convey our story in new and exciting ways.

As President, I am privileged to work alongside such an exceptional group of people. A highlight for me was the annual “Give-a-Ham” campaign, which provided pork and volunteer hours to feed thousands of Oklahomans. Specifically, the Oklahoma Pork staff and board humbly served a hearty hot ham breakfast to unsheltered Oklahomans at the Homeless Alliance to kickstart the giving campaign.

We also reached out to show pig producers to discuss how a catastrophic foreign animal disease event could impact their business and collaborated with state officials on a mock drill for a large-scale depopulation exercise. As a board, we are dedicated to serving all pork producers, from large organizations to passionate youth who show pigs. We are “One Pork,” as Dr. Genova has said.

I feel honored to be the President of the Oklahoma Pork Council Board. Serving in this role has helped me grow both personally and professionally. If you have the opportunity to join the Pork Council, especially as part of the Executive Team, don’t wait 25 years like I did. Take the opportunity to challenge yourself and serve.

Tom Layne

EXECUTIVE REVIEW

Reflecting on 2023, the U.S. pork industry faced unprecedented challenges, including economic losses and swine health issues, worsened by heightened activism after the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling on California’s Proposition 12.

In Oklahoma, the threats from animal extremists became a harsh reality for our farmers as we navigated proposed sow housing legislation. These threats have been fueled by well-funded opposition groups at the state level, directly connected to radical animal rights organizations, aiming to disrupt modern animal agriculture.

Despite these difficulties, there were significant successes to celebrate. The Oklahoma Pork board continued to envision, invest strategically, and advocate for every pig farmer in Oklahoma. Our Oklahoma Pork staff team demonstrated exceptional grit, talent, and dedication to serving Oklahoma’s pork industry. I am immensely proud of our board and staff for their tireless work with partners to advance our industry and defend our pig farmers against threats at the State Capitol and beyond.

As we enter 2024, Oklahoma Pork is implementing a deliberate strategy to reach every Oklahoman through proactive messaging and coalition building. Our team is well positioned and equipped to share our stories on data-driven messages of animal care, employee care, community service, and environmental stewardship. However, this can’t be done by Oklahoma Pork alone. We need you and your stories. I invite you to join us in sharing your story within your communities and social circles.

Our efforts in Foreign Animal Disease Preparedness and Workforce Development will continue with enthusiasm. I am optimistic about the future of our industry. Pork plays a vital role in the Oklahoma economy and bears the responsibility of feeding people locally, nationally, and globally. Let’s proudly maintain our position as the #1 consumed protein worldwide!

It is a great honor to serve you. Thank you for entrusting the Oklahoma Pork Council with this responsibility!

Kylee Deniz

MEET THE BOARD

Dr. Scott Carter Brett Ramsey

Tom Layne President

Cathy Vaughan Vice President

Joe Locke President-Elect

Cristina Carmona Treasurer Angie Johnson Bas Werner

Roy Cansler Dr. Suzanne Genova

Rich Robinson

Incredible Leadership in Outgoing Board President Angie Johnson

When the Oklahoma Pork team recapped the bests of the 2023, the list undoubtedly began with our organization’s leadership. We owe a sincere thank you to our outgoing board president Angie Johnson of Holdenville.

As a community bank president and a partner in her family’s pig farm, Angie brought incredible perspective and heart to her year leading the Oklahoma Pork Council. She made our board and staff laugh, grow and consider another point of view during her presidency. Angie made every meeting fun, and she represented Oklahoma’s pork industry with honor during a year filled with change.

Thank you to the smart, sincere and stylish Angie Johnson for your service to Oklahoma’s pork industry. We are grateful for you!

Introducing Our New President

Tom Layne

Tom has worked in the pork industry for more than 25 years. After proudly serving in the U.S. Army, Tom originally began his agriculture career with the Pig Improvement Company (PIC) before joining The HANOR Company in 1998. As HANOR’s Director of Human Resources, Tom’s work impacts the company’s 650 employees located across seven states. To recruit and onboard new employees throughout production, Tom is proud to share he has performed nearly every role on the farm. He sees serving all members, developing strong board relationships, and making decisions with the entire industry in mind as key priorities for his term.

“This board exists to serve all pork producers in the state,” Tom shared. “The show pig folks, the niche producers, and the commercial farmers are all in this together. My message to every Oklahoma Pork Council member is to be proud of what we do. We do a good thing, and we provide a product people want. Our industry is full of people who are dedicated to our animals and to feeding people.”

When he is not working, Tom enjoys spending time with his wife Nancy, their four adult sons, and their five grandchildren. Tom’s family background in the restaurant business and his military experience have both ingrained a deep value for service.

INTERN

As the Oklahoma Pork Council’s circle of influence continues to expand, we are fortunate to have incredible next generation leaders lining up for opportunities to collaborate with our team.

Our summer 2023 internship experience proved to be a perfect example of this exciting season, which led our board and staff to hire two phenomenal college students for three months of service instead of the traditional single internship opportunity.

After jumping right into the fun and making the most of their 12 weeks on #TeamPork, both interns returned to Oklahoma State University where they continue to be advocates for our state’s pork producers.

Kate Jackson, who served as Oklahoma Pork’s communications intern last summer, will graduate in May with an agricultural communications degree. Kate was extremely helpful on a variety of projects, including: photography, award video development, show pig student education, and event planning.

“This was the best internship I’ve ever had and will ever get to do,” Kate confidently shared as she completed her experience. “My biggest takeaway was how important the Oklahoma Pork Council is to producers. I loved the travel, strengthening my skills, and being part of the team. I feel more than prepared to find a job after graduation and be able to conquer whatever that may be.”

Kate indicated her work demonstrated how important Oklahoma Pork’s service is to the success of our producers, how rewarding it is to be on a supportive and successful team, and how significant the role of pork production is to the state of Oklahoma.

As a thank you to our board and members, Kate wanted to share this message: “I had the most wonderful internship ever! I am beyond thankful to have worked with the Oklahoma Pork Council. My passion for pork continues to grow by the amazing people I have met in this industry.”

SPOTLIGHT

, who served as Oklahoma Pork’s outreach intern throughout summer 2023, is now in his junior year at OSU where he studies agribusiness. Braden contributed to many successful projects, including: managing community donation requests, preparing for the Oklahoma Pork Congress, and leading several interactive

Braden said his most important takeaways were better understanding how our state’s pork industry works throughout the supply chain, seeing the true value of agricultural producer organizations, and expanding his network of agricultural role

“My summer with Oklahoma Pork was great,” Braden said in summary of his eventful experience. “The knowledge I acquired will be extremely valuable moving forward, and the connections are priceless. I highly recommend students apply for this internship if they plan to pursue a career in agriculture.”

As a student with broad interests ranging from policy to sustainability and markets to philanthropy, Braden found the diversity of projects at Oklahoma Pork very rewarding.

When asked what he would like to share with our board and members on his last day, Braden stated: “This was an amazing summer becoming engulfed in all things pork. I have never been so proud to be from Oklahoma and get to be a small part in a great industry that reaches people across the world!”

On behalf of everyone in the Oklahoma Pork network who interacted with Kate and Braden, we extend a heartfelt thank you for their hard work.

We are very proud to keep both these talented students in the pork network, and our team is grateful for the devoted service they gave our producers in 2023.

Even beyond our internship experience, the Oklahoma Pork Council offers formal and informal opportunities for student engagement throughout the year

If you know a passionate student with an interest in pork production who might be interested in our leadership programming, connect them with our team today!

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

Without question, the past year was difficult for many throughout pork production. Last May’s U.S. Supreme Court ruling against our producers on California’s Proposition 12 dealt a hard blow to an industry already battling high input costs and market uncertainty. Similarly, Congress had a lackluster record throughout 2023, and our hopes for a “Prop. 12 fix” in the Farm Bill got punted into 2024.

But the Oklahoma Pork Council board and staff are proud our public policy work at the state level can tell a brighter story. Although we continue to deal with a real and well-funded challenge to commercial pork production in Oklahoma, we also work with true pork champions throughout our state government partners and continue to deepen relationships as we advocate and educate policymakers on your behalf.

Each week, our three-person policy team collaborates to protect our members’ ability to run your farms as you deem best. Oklahoma Pork’s executive director Kylee Deniz leads our organization, industry relations manager Ashton Mese Johnston monitors our state and federal policy portfolio, and contract lobbyist James McSpadden represents our producers every day during the legislative session at the State Capitol.

During the 2023 session spanning from February to May, we dealt with problematic sow housing proposals and organized opposition toward modern pig farming from an animal extremist group that remains active within Oklahoma. We also spent time working on legislative priorities related to feral swine, meat processing,

Help ensure we can support our elected officials who actively champion agriculture and pork production.

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zoning, taxes, foreign land ownership, and more. We proudly worked alongside our incredible members, our friends throughout the barnyard, and our strong government partners like Secretary of Agriculture Blayne Arthur to champion proposals that could help our members and improve or stop those that could hinder your operations.

It is truly a privilege to serve Oklahoma’s pork

Pioneering in the Digital Marketing World

Our strategic, measured, digital-first approach to image enhancement

Image enhancement is a strategic priority of both the National Pork Board and the Oklahoma Pork Council. Through two years of increasingly strategic digital marketing campaigns, and with the support of grants from the National Pork Board, we told the story of Oklahoma Pork more than 70 million times and drove engagement from Oklahoman’s more than 4 million times. More importantly, we continue to drive these impressions and engagements across a diverse set of messaging strategies, tailored to our audiences.

What We Said

In 2023, we reminded Oklahomans of our extremely beneficial impact on the local economy. We informed consumers that 1 in every 50 Oklahoma jobs is supported by the pork industry, which means more than 34,000 jobs across our state. We also emphasized our economic impact by teaching consumers that Oklahoma hog sales account for nearly $1 billion in annual cash receipts. We told consumers that no one cares more about the earth, water, and air in our state than the people working the land and raising their food, showcasing our industry’s commitment to sustainable practices.

We fought against popular and harmful misconceptions by reminding Oklahomans just how much we care for our animals and how they’re raised. And perhaps most importantly and most simply, we reminded our community that pig farmers are good, hard-working people, many of which are your neighbors.

Thanks to the sophisticated nature of the Google Ads platform and the continual evolution of digital marketing tools, we targeted these messages to specific audiences where we know we can have the greatest impact.

The Results are Big

If you look strictly at the volume of our reach over the last three years, it’s staggering. Our ads have been seen across computers, tablets, and smart phones (by Oklahomans) more than 70 million times. In those 70 million instances, nearly 900,000 Oklahoman consumers chose to further interact with our content and our messages by visiting the Oklahoma Pork website giving us the chance to tell a more complete story in an even more memorable and compelling way.

To further evaluate our impact, we set up custom trackers on our website to identify instances where a consumer not only visits our website but spends a significant time browsing our content. That’s happened almost 65,000 times. We feel this metric is the greatest indicator that someone could be having their perceptions of our industry meaningfully changed.

We Keep Getting Better

In 2023, thanks to new ad creative, improved website design, more structured audience profiles and further utilizations of Google Ads’ Machine Learning technologies, we’ve been more efficient than ever. Our Click Through Rate was 3.2%, up more than 200% from our first two years running ads. The cost we paid for each display ad click was $0.14 this year, down a whopping 75% from our 2021/2022 average. Lastly, our cost per acquisition has dropped all the way down to $1.83 in 2023. In our first two years running ads, we averaged a cost per acquisition north of $6.

Each fall semester at Oklahoma State University, the Oklahoma Pork Council offers a once-in-alifetime opportunity to an impressive group of college students with a passion for pork. The 2023 Pork Industry Group brought together a record-setting 20 young people representing a variety of backgrounds, academic majors, and career goals to spend two months learning about pork production and available job opportunities throughout the agricultural pipeline.

Over the course of eight weeks, the students met more than 40 pork industry professionals in diverse and rewarding roles, traveled to a commercial sow farm and toured other industry infrastructure, and then pitched their own ideas to bolster recruitment among the next generation of pork employees to our board of directors.

Interest in this unique leadership experience continues to grow every year as Oklahoma Pork’s board and staff work to recruit and mentor incredible students who are actively looking for internships and careers within agriculture. Many of the students come from the show pig community, but our team is intentional to also bring in students with other agricultural backgrounds who could also find their place in pork.

The program’s phenomenal success would not be possible without OSU’s Dr. Scott Carter who volunteers his time and expertise as Pork Industry Group’s faculty advisor. He is a critical resource as an ex-officio board member and industry expert for the Oklahoma Pork Council.

Participating students were able to expand their knowledge of Oklahoma’s robust pork industry, grow their networks of agricultural professionals

throughout the state, and enjoy eight sessions of free pork meals, Oklahoma Pork swag, door prizes, and more. Several students were also awarded Oklahoma Pork scholarships for outstanding participation in the program.

Thank you to everyone involved in making Pork Industry Group 2023 the experience’s best year yet. Our team cherished the opportunity to mentor these students, and we look forward to being a long-term resource as they continue their academic and career journeys.

Whether these young leaders go directly into pork production after school or choose allied industry careers throughout agriculture, we are certain a passionate group of lifelong pork advocates will serve well for decades to come.

If you have questions, feedback, or suggestions for the upcoming Pork Industry Group – reach out to Ashton Mese Johnston at the Oklahoma Pork Council. Applications for the 2024 program will be available online to interested Oklahoma State University students in August, and the program runs each year from October to early December.

The Oklahoma Pork Council, a farmer-led organization, represents the interests of all Oklahoma pig farmers. From large-scale commercial operators to first-time 4-H and FFA exhibitors, we hope every Oklahoman who raises pigs has been positively impacted by our mission.

When you’re going to the grocery store to buy your pork chops or bacon, it’s not always coming from the big names you see on the packages. It’s coming from places like Holdenville or Cromwell or Ada, Oklahoma, where you’ve got small family-owned farmers and caretakers trying to do whatever they can to provide the best quality food.

34K

$976K

Oklahoma’s pork industry supports more than 34,000 jobs throughout the various stages of production. That translates to 1 in 50 Oklahoma jobs, many in rural areas.

Oklahoma hog sales generate over $976 million in annual cash receipts. That means pork serves as Oklahoma’s second largest agriculture enterprise after cattle production.

Oklahoma consistently ranks Top Ten in national pork production and Top Five in sow herd size. Our state is home to over 460,000 sows and 2 million total pigs each year.

Oklahoma annually exports roughly 2 billion pounds of high quality pork to feed families across the globe. This export market makes up 5% of total U.S. pork shipped

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GIVE-A-HAM It’s a Big Ham Deal!

It’s time to celebrate the incredible generosity Oklahoma’s pork community displayed during the 2023 holiday season. Our board and staff want to extend deep thanks to each person who donated hams, pork products, time or funds during our latest Give-A-Ham Challenge.

Although we know not everyone publicly shares their Give-A-Ham involvement on social media, we can confirm more than 882 hams, 9,881 pounds of protein, $15,000 of financial support, and 50 volunteer hours were donated as part of Oklahoma’s 2023 Give-A-Ham Challenge. Those totals mean thousands of Oklahomans enjoyed delicious pork meals because of our industry’s heart for giving, and we have no doubt additional off-the-record donations took place in communities across Oklahoma.

Each year the challenge looks a little different, and for 2023 we are especially proud of the broad reach Give-A-Ham achieved impacting all areas of the state. Special free lunch events in Enid, Holdenville, Hennessey and Texhoma

provided more than 1,000 free meals in pork-supporting communities. Additionally, large-scale donation projects within the Oklahoma City and Tulsa metros met critical needs in our state’s population centers. Pairing all those events with the individual giving that occurred thanks to challenges being accepted by many of our members and supporters - we can say without question that the 2023 Give-A-Ham Challenge touched lives across Oklahoma.

A UNIQUE PORK MONTH COLLABORATION

In early October, the Oklahoma Pork Council partnered with our friends at Prairie Fresh produced by Seaboard Foods, Homeland Grocery Stores, and the Made in Oklahoma Coalition.

The Made in Oklahoma Coalition was established 20 years ago with the goal of driving brand loyalty for Oklahomamade food products by combining the resources of local organizations to drive even greater consumer awareness and preference. When Pork Month rolled around, and Prairie Fresh was looking to amplify their partnership with Homeland Grocery Stores, the Made in Oklahoma Coalition was the perfect partner.

Together, our four organizations conducted a Shopper Sweepstakes contest. With thousands of

entries, the lucky winner, Mary Huddleston of Logan County, received a 7 minute shopping spree at a Homeland Grocery Store. Mary was able to fill her cart with all the Made in Oklahoma products she could grab in 7 minutes, from pork to ice cream to Ozarka Water. She went home with over $800 in fantastic, local products, including plenty of pork.

Emily Shuping, the executive director of the Made in Oklahoma Coalition, was thrilled with the results. “Mary was already a huge supporter of local Oklahoma businesses. A very deserving winner. It’s so rewarding when we do sweepstakes like this and the winner is not only excited and appreciative, but also someone who is deserving and a supporter of our cause.”

The celebration of National Pork Month didn’t end with Mary’s dash through the grocery aisles. Aided by our friends at Prairie Fresh and Head County BBQ, the Oklahoma Pork Council helped sponsor free pork lunches for hundreds of members of the community who came out to the Homeland Grocery Store on October 24th. In addition to feeding members of our local community, our event also helped raise awareness of National Pork Month (and all things pork), with important local leaders. We were proud to host Secretary of Agriculture Blayne Arthur and Deputy Commissioner JanLee Rowlett.

Our partnership with the Made in Oklahoma Coalition and Prairie Fresh produced by Seaboard Foods was a huge success, and not surprising considering our shared focus on celebrating great Oklahoma products and supporting the local communities that have always supported us.

“At Seaboard, we try really hard to enrich the communities we’re a part of and we love working with local organizations to do just that. With our plant in Guymon, we love supporting and celebrating Oklahoma and groups like the Oklahoma Pork Council are such wonderful and natural partners for us,” said Ozlem Worrel, a Vice President of Marketing and Innovation at Seaboard Foods who helped to spearhead this partnership, “I think our groups found a real sweet spot in working together that would benefit all of our customers and increase demand for pork products in Oklahoma. We’re excited to do more with this team in the future.”

Kevin Sheehan, National Pork Board, Sr. Director of Processor Engagement, attendend theeventandeducatedtheOklahomaPorkTeamonmerchandisingpork

Scan to watch Mary's shopping spree.

Dottie’s Dedication

Pig farmer. Former Board Member. Two-time Oklahoma Pork President. A representative of Oklahoma Pork from Colorado to Washington, D.C. For those who met Dottie King in the last two decades, it might be hard to believe that such a pillar of the Oklahoma pork industry spent most of her life, well, not in the pork industry at all.

Born and raised in Tennessee, Dottie eventually graduated high school right here in Oklahoma after moving to the state during her junior year. Dottie traveled (and moved) a lot as a kid, with her father’s work as a mechanic taking the family to Canada, Alaska, and eventually to the Sooner State, where her father briefly taught in Tulsa.

Dottie didn’t grow up in the world of agriculture, but her husband, Alan, grew up in an ag family that owned cattle. And like so many Oklahoman’s, he grew up showing pigs. Despite his ag background, Alan spent the first half of his professional life working on oil fields. Ironically, it was his time working in oil that eventually led the pair back to agriculture.

After some time spent working on an offshore oil rig, Dottie and her husband decided a change of careers was worth some serious exploration. At one point considering a foray into the poultry industry, having known many people who successfully raised chickens across Arkansas, Dottie’s research of new career opportunities eventually focused in hogs and an opportunity to work with Tyson. With zero experience in the pork business, Dottie went to work learning an entirely new industry and way of life.

“I’ve always been the type of person who when I set my mind to something-I’m not going to give up," Dottie said, "I’m going to work hard. I’m going to learn that thing. I’m going to get it done.”

Through research and dedication, Dottie launched her family into the pork industry and finished building their first farm nearly 25 years ago. By the time the first barn went up, her husband left his oil career for good.

Today, Dottie still runs her original 1,250 head farm as well as a more than 3,000 head farm in Allen, Oklahoma, that was built in 2014. Only 10 minutes from their home, this farm is the largest contract farm in the entire Tyson system.

Like so many in agriculture, Dottie struggles with hiring and staffing, but proudly employs nearly a dozen people across her operation. Dottie and her husband still help out wherever they’re needed, along with one of their sons who helps out on the farm. Dottie and her husband have 2 sons and 2 daughters, as well as 8 grandkids.

It wasn’t until 2009 that Dottie first got involved with the Oklahoma Pork Council, an organization in which she’d quickly become a central figure. At her very first Oklahoma Pork Council meeting, a seat on the board had been vacated. She went for the seat, got it, and was off and running in the world of Oklahoma Pork. After her three year term, she was re-elected for what would be her 2nd of four individual three year terms. As if that wasn’t enough, during her tenure on the board she served as treasurer, twice as vice president, and twice as president.

It’s hard to find someone in the world of Oklahoma Pork who isn’t aware of the contributions Dottie has made, including past and present board members and staff. Former longtime executive director of the Oklahoma Pork Council, Roy Lee said “Lots of people have been major contributors to the Oklahoma Pork Council. Some of those are financial contributions. Others are countless hours given to support the mission of Oklahoma Pork. Dottie King has done both. She was a tremendous leader in getting contract growers to be active in Oklahoma Pork.”

Though so much of Dottie’s time on the board was in partnership with the leadership of Roy Lee, Dottie was also the central leadership figure helping to navigate the transition to a new

executive director, Kylee Deniz. According to Roy Lee, “she navigated the transition from my time at Oklahoma Pork through the start of Kylee’s leadership. I always appreciated Dottie’s direct approach to dealing with challenges.”

In over a decade of service to the Oklahoma Pork Council board, Dottie has built countless memories and unique experiences. She fondly recalls her time traveling the country on behalf of Oklahoma’s many pork producers.

“Some of the most memorable experiences for me were the trips to Washington, D.C. to meet with legislators. Those were amazing experiences, not just to represent our farmers, but also a chance for me to learn. I went every year I possibly could. Getting to participate in meetings in Colorado, Kansas City, and Florida. Just being able to participate in things that make a real difference for the pork industry.”

So what’s Dottie’s advice to young pork producers? Do what she did. Challenge yourself to learn new things. Challenge yourself to get involved. “If you’re in this industry, why wouldn’t you want to be involved with the Pork Council? It’s a window into what’s going on behind the scenes of our industry. The one year I wasn’t on the board, I couldn’t believe how out of the loop I felt.”

Dottie has accomplished so much in her career, and no matter how eager she is to spend more time with her grandkids or to continue her travels across the country, she knows she’ll always be a part of this industry.

“This is not a job you can just walk away from. This isn’t just our livelihood, it’s our lives. I feel like these pigs are my kids, and you can’t just walk away from that. I will be a pig farmer until I die.”

Dottie represents the very best of pig farming, the very best of agriculture, and the very best of Oklahoma, having accomplished so much while remaining so humble.

Tabletop Drill for Show Pig Producers

PREPAREDNESS

in Action

One of the many challenges in preparing for an outbreak of African Swine Fever, is that for many of us, the potential scenarios are too daunting and too abstract to really wrap our minds around. That’s why the Oklahoma Pork Council and the National Pork Board partnered to offer the firstever ASF Tabletop Drill for Oklahoma show pig enthusiasts.

The November 2023 drill challenged our 60 attendees to truly understand and visualize the extreme ramifications of an ASF outbreak for Oklahoma’s dynamic show pig community, and how the ripple effects go far beyond the farm, impacting everything from local schools and hospitals to traffic patterns.

“The show pig community is a bit of a gap for Oklahoma, and for other states, in terms of FAD awareness,” said Dr. Alicia GorczycaSoutherland, Oklahoma assistant state veterinarian who attended the ASF tabletop drill. “The commercial swine industry tends to have more resources to prepare and educate, and these large companies tend to have more coordination with the government agencies that are crucial in FAD discussions.”

To make the drill really resonate with attendees, the teams from Oklahoma Pork and National Pork Board worked to come up with a relatable, real-world scenario.

“The vibe in the room was wow, we really need to learn more about this,” said Matti Carlile, Oklahoma Pork’s FAD Preparedness strategic intention lead. “It was wonderful to do something like this specifically with the show pig community to make sure they feel as informed as any other part of our industry.”

Dr. Patrick Webb, National Pork Board assistant chief veterinarian, coordinated with Oklahoma Pork’s executive director Kylee Deniz and business coordinator Matti Carlile to build an event around a prominent pig show and sale that takes place in Duncan, Oklahoma. Veterinarian and Oklahoma Pork board member, Dr. Suzanne Genova, was instrumental in bringing this event to fruition and getting the right people in the room.

“In the past, we haven’t done quite as much with the show pig community as with the largescale pork production side of our industry, but that’s definitely been changing under Kylee’s leadership and with our new board member Dr. Genova.”

In addition to the many members of the state’s show pig community, attendees included several state government officials, veterinary experts, National Pork Board staff, and even state pork associations executive directors from Texas, Colorado and Idaho.

“This was a very innovative event,” Dr. Alicia Gorczyca-Southerland said. “I’m in some groups with officials from many other State Agriculture Departments across the country, and there was definitely a lot of interest about this program.”

As we all know, foreign animal diseases like ASF won’t recognize state borders. Regardless of our regional, political or cultural differences, when it comes to protecting our industry from an outbreak, we are one team with one mission, and the better prepared our neighbors are for an FAD outbreak, the better protected we all are.

“We in Oklahoma hope the other state pork associations and ag departments from across the nation were inspired by the great response to our tabletop drill and are able to coordinate similar efforts in their states,” Carlile said.

Scan the QR code if you want to further educate and prepare your business, your farm, or your family about foreign animal diseases like ASF.

A TEST OF

AND

PREPAREDNESS COLLABORATION

In early August, Oklahoma took a significant step forward in the state’s efforts to enhance its readiness for potential disease outbreaks by holding a first-of-its-kind Foreign Animal Disease preparedness exercise. Hosted by The HANOR Company, the four-day exercise brought together over 50 industry professionals to simulate the stages of disease confirmation, humane depopulation, and approved carcass disposal on a functioning pork production site.

Organized by the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry (ODAFF), the Oklahoma Pork Council, and the National Pork Board, the exercise aimed to assess the industry’s readiness and response capabilities with a specific focus on African Swine Fever.

Each day of the exercise addressed specific aspects of the response process, providing an evaluation of the industry’s preparedness.

Overall, the exercise proved to be a valuable learning experience, identifying strengths and areas for improvement in the industry’s disease outbreak preparedness. It emphasized the significance of continuous preparedness and collaboration in safeguarding the swine industry against potential disease threats. A special thanks to The HANOR Company for serving as the exercise’s host producer.

Day 1

A Foreign Animal Disease Investigation (FADI) highlighted the need for timely communication and coordination among stakeholders, emphasizing the importance of smooth collaboration in outbreak investigations.

Day 3

Site setup tested logistical aspects and leadership roles, emphasizing efficient coordination and clear leadership in streamlining operations.

Day 2

Depopulation and disposal planning revealed the intricacies of managing large-scale operations, emphasizing the necessity for improved coordination between companies and regulatory agencies.

Day 4

Implementation of depopulation using waterbased foam, and disposal methods including shallow burial with carbon and grinding provided insights into practical challenges, emphasizing the importance of clear metrics and defined roles.

As the pork industry continues to analyze the exercise’s findings, stakeholders are encouraged to stay informed through Oklahoma Pork’s FAD Alert system.

I think all in all, it was absolutely necessary to do this. We learned a lot of positive things from it and highly suggest other producers to participate in one. We thought we were ready, but now at least we have an idea of what to do in the first crucial hours to save what we can and to contain what we can. I believe it was a success on all parts. Bravo to all that took the time to participate.

HANOR

PORK CONGRESS

PIVOT

With just over 45 days from the pre-scheduled 2023 Oklahoma Pork Congress, the Oklahoma Pork’s board of directors convened a special meeting to discuss the upcoming annual event. They anticipated reduced member and investor participation due to producers scaling back travel plans and related expenses.

During this meeting, the board approved an adjusted schedule for the August 4th Oklahoma Pork Congress, transforming it from a full-day conference into a part-day strategic gathering focusing on key Oklahoma pork producers and industry leaders. The revised agenda retained important elements such as Oklahoma Pork’s Annual Awards Luncheon and the organization’s official Annual Meeting, which included elections for five available board seats. Additionally, the “Casino Night” social fundraising dinner scheduled for Friday, August 4, 2023, was canceled.

conducted the required business per our bylaws, we were equally committed to delivering a topnotch experience to all attendees.”

A key feature of the Pork Congress agenda was candid discussions with both national pork organization chief executives. Bill Even, CEO of the National Pork Board (NPB), discussed the Pork Checkoff’s priorities related to education, research, and promotion of U.S. pork. Bryan Humphreys, CEO of the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC), highlighted his organization’s ongoing work on policy priorities such as disease prevention and preparedness, combating animal extremism, and international pork exports. Both leaders engaged in interactive dialogues with members, fielding questions and comments.

Despite the disappointment over these adjustments, the board deemed the revised schedule suitable given the challenging economic environment.

“The decision to pivot our industry’s favorite day of the year, the Oklahoma Pork Congress, was a thoughtful and deliberate one for myself and the Oklahoma Pork board,” said Angie Johnson, 2022-2023 Oklahoma Pork Council Board President. “While ensuring that we

Other highlights on the August 4th Pork Congress agenda included an economic update from renowned economist Dr. Steve Meyer, a popular strategic intentions panel with Oklahoma Pork Council staff, an Awards Luncheon honoring various industry leaders, and the Annual Business Meeting.

CONGRESS

2023 marked a pivotal moment for the Oklahoma Pork team as we, the board, and the staff, transitioned from our traditional 200+ attendee annual event to a strategic and smaller annual event. The Oklahoma Pork team remained committed to creating a meaningful experience for our members and supporters. This shift allowed us to focus on key industry insights, celebrate achievements, and build a stronger foundation for the future of Oklahoma’s pork industry.

-Kylee Deniz, Oklahoma Pork Council

Every year the Oklahoma Pork Council hosts our main signature fundraising dinner, Bacon and Bourbon, at VAST – the restaurant atop Oklahoma City’s Devon Energy Tower.

This special evening is a five-course pork centered meal prepared by the talented chefs at VAST paired with specialty bourbons selected by Republic National Distribution Company’s Bruce Upthegrove. Each course is creative, thoughtful and is sure to have pork as the main ingredient. With a five-course meal like this, we can promise you will not leave hungry.

Not only is it a night full of tasteful dishes, but also good networking. From pork producers to OKC foodies, Bacon and Bourbon is so fun because it brings together a diverse audience with a shared love of pork.

Scan to purchase your 2024 Bacon & Bourbon Tickets!

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Excellence

Awarded

In2018,theOklahomaPorkCouncilestablishedExcellenceAwardstorecognizethoseporkproducerswhohave made the daily work of raising pigs more than just a job, but a passionate calling to take care of their animals andthepeoplearoundthem.Thisawardcoversallsectorsofporkproduction,anditrewardsthoseoutstanding producerswhoexcelinatleastoneofOklahomaPork’sfourstrategicintentions.

KYLE SCHWERDTFEGER

Throughout his 25 years raising quality show pigs, Kyle Schwerdtfeger has been a vocal advocate for the pork industry. His passion drives him to be a leader among his peers, which led to his nomination for the 2023 Oklahoma Pork Council Excellence Award.

Kyle is a sales representative for P&K Equipment in Shawnee, and his family has been raising pigs for more than two decades. The Schwerdtfeger family continues to improve herd health and champion strong biosecurity practices throughout the livestock showing community. Kyle’s family has been proud of their successful boar Bone-N-Hand that sired the Grand Barrow at OYE 2015, the Grand Barrow at OYE 2016 and also the OYE Reserve Grand and Bronze Medallion Barrow in 2016.

Today, Kyle is grateful to have a loyal customer base that understands his commitment to herd health and helps reduce foot traffic on the farm. For their efforts prioritizing disease prevention, Kyle and his daughter Karli also starred in an educational biosecurity video for the Oklahoma Pork Council. In addition to helping young people succeed in the show ring, Kyle enjoys spending time with his wife Kerri and two children.

CATHY VAUGHAN

Throughout her pork career spanning nearly 20 years, Cathy Vaughan has advocated for the industry at every level. Her decades of servant leadership and passionate community engagement led Cathy’s peers at Smithfield Foods to nominate her for a 2023 Oklahoma Pork Council Excellence Award.

Cathy serves as the Safety and Communications Coordinator for the Smithfield Foods Hog Production Division in Oklahoma. While working with more than 230 employees throughout Smithfield’s Oklahoma operation, Cathy continually devotes time to industry involvement beyond her company. She has been an active Oklahoma Pork Council member for more than a decade, including previous service as board president. She has also participated in various leadership and advocacy programs including Pork Leadership Institute (PLI), Legislative Action Conference (LAC), and Operation Main Street (OMS).

Right now, Cathy proudly represents Oklahoma and Smithfield Foods through service on the National Pork Board (NPB) Nominating Committee, helping recruit and prepare pork producers from across the country for national leadership roles. In addition to her fulfilling pork industry career, Cathy has served as a longtime cheerleading coach and travel advisor. She and her husband Travis began a new chapter in 2023 when their twin daughters began college at Oklahoma State University.

ALAN MATTSON

Over the course of his career, Alan Mattson has truly embodied what it means to be a servant leader. His commitment as a farm manager for Seaboard’s Farm 009 in Hinton sets a meaningful example to his colleagues who nominated him for a 2023 Oklahoma Pork Council Excellence Award.

Alan has over 20 years of experience in the pork industry and has worked in the Hinton farms for most of his career. Within just a few months of rejoining the Hinton farms after a temporary career change, Alan rose to the level of farm manager. Upon his notable accomplishments throughout farm ownership changes, Alan’s farms are consistently the most risk averse in the system, staying free from disease and navigating difficult weather conditions. This is partially due to Alan’s strict biosecurity standards and his attention to detail throughout his barns.

When talking to Alan’s team, you will hear constant remarks on his notable self-discipline and dry sense of humor. Alan is admired for his “old school” work ethic and would much rather take on manual labor with his team than office work. Alan is a great farm manager and an extraordinary caretaker for his hogs. Night or day, rain or shine, he responds to the needs of his farm. Outside of pork production, Alan enjoys spending time with his wife, four children, and three grandchildren. The Oklahoma Pork Council celebrates Alan for his impressive work and leadership!

AMBASSADOR AWARD

JARED HARSHMAN, PHD

In2006,theOklahomaPorkCouncilBoardofDirectorscreatedtheAmbassadorAward to recognize individuals who don’t directly raise pigs but have made a significant impactonourstate’sporkindustryasachampionandpromoterofwhatourfarmersdo.

Having just completed his doctorate in July 2023, Dr. Jared Harshman recently finished his nine-year Oklahoma academic career as an expert in swine nutrition. During the past decade, Jared has made significant research contributions while serving as a passionate advocate for modern pig farming. Because of his hard work and meaningful industry engagement, Jared was selected for the 2023 Oklahoma Pork Council Ambassador Award.

Originally from Mount Airy, Maryland, Jared first came to Oklahoma in 2014 to judge livestock and study Animal Science at Redlands Community College. From there, he transferred to Oklahoma State University where he worked at the university swine farm while earning a bachelor’s degree, master’s degree and doctorate with a focus on swine nutrition. While his research as a graduate student covered a wide array of topics, his master’s research focused on feed additives in nursery and wean-to-finish pigs, while his PhD dissertation was focused on sow prolapse. Jared worked closely with longtime Oklahoma Pork exofficio board member and OSU swine nutritionist Dr. Scott Carter. Jared has also found time during his studies to assist with Oklahoma Pork’s collegiate leadership program and work with our staff on key projects that serve the broader pork industry.

With his PhD complete, Jared began his full-time career as a swine nutritionist. When he is not conducting research, he enjoys spending time outside with his girlfriend and friends either hunting or fishing. Thank you to Dr. Jared Harshman for being a true champion of our state’s pork industry!

GOLDEN PIG AWARD

GREG STEPHENS

Fromtimetotime,theOklahomaPorkCouncilpresentsacareerachievementrecognition known as the Golden Pig Award. This accolade is reserved for leaders who exhibit a longstandingexampleofcharacter,knowledgeanddedicationwithinporkproduction.For 2023,oneproducerwhofinishedhisdistinguishedcareerearlierthisyearperfectlyembodies the“GoldenPig”benchmark.

After more than 30 years with Prestage Farms, Greg Stephens recently began a well-deserved new life chapter of retirement. At the last Oklahoma Pork Congress, Greg was announced as the 2023 Oklahoma Pork Council Golden Pig Award recipient for his hard work and devoted leadership.

In 1991, Greg moved from Florida to work in Prestage’s North Carolina Swine Division. There he was instrumental in the expansion and success of the company’s farrowing, finishing, nursery and service operations. With experience in nearly all segments of the business, Greg was called upon in 2011 to lead Prestage’s newly acquired Oklahoma Swine Division. He and his wife Kathy made Oklahoma their home over the past 12 years while Greg oversaw every component of Prestage’s Oklahoma footprint. His employees and their pigs have achieved high performance under Greg’s tenure. Additionally, the Oklahoma Pork Council has continually benefitted from his wisdom and perspective. In retirement, Greg plans to spend more time with his family and enjoy outdoor experiences like hunting and fishing.

Congratulations to Greg Stephens on his retirement and this special honor from his peers!

Outstanding

Legislator Award

In 2010, the Oklahoma Pork Council established the Outstanding Legislator Award to honor policymakers who help us and our partners throughout the “barnyard” champion pork, agriculture and rural Oklahoma at the State Capitol.

CHAIRMAN DELL KERBS

With just two years of experience representing District 26 in the Oklahoma House of Representatives, legislative leaders tapped Representative Dell Kerbs to serve as Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee in 2018. For the past six years, Representative Kerbs has used this position to be an effective and passionate agriculture supporter, which led to his selection for the Oklahoma Pork Council 2023 Outstanding Legislator Award.

As a restaurant owner and local leader from Shawnee, Representative Kerbs understands grassroots advocacy and the need for safe, affordable food products. He has worked closely with the Oklahoma Pork Council and the full “barnyard” of agriculture groups to champion legislative proposals that benefit our producers and rural Oklahoma communities.

In addition to chairing the House Agriculture Committee, Representative Kerbs also serves on the House Appropriations and Budget Committee and the House County and Municipal Government Committee. He is also active in a variety of service roles outside the State Capitol, especially event planning and emergency preparedness within his district.

Representative Kerbs and his wife Linda enjoy spending time with their two daughters and being active members of their community.

D.C. Advocating in

Pork producers from across the country convene in Washington, DC, to advocate for our industry and strengthen relationships with our federal policymakers. Attendees participate in national briefings and Capitol Hill visits to educate members of Congress and staff on current pork priorities.

Twice per year, the Oklahoma Pork Council participates in the National Pork Producers Council Legislative Action Conference. For the 2023 Spring LAC, Oklahoma was well represented by Dottie King - contract grower for Tyson’s Pork Group, Alina Porta - production manager for The HANOR Company, and staff from the Oklahoma Pork Council.

With the 2018 Farm Bill expiring last September, much of our group’s focus was on the important disease prevention and preparedness programs we hope to see included in the new version. Since that time, Congress passed a one-year extension of the Farm Bill allowing negotiations to continue

In addition to our disease-related priorities for federal support, Oklahoma Pork’s advocacy on behalf of our members includes agricultural labor reform, international trade and market access, opposition to animal activism like California’s Proposition 12, and more.

Overall, Oklahoma’s LAC participants had a meaningful trip connecting with our federal representatives. The Oklahoma Pork Council remains proud of strong relationships with our elected officials and proud to serve as a resource all year long to help their offices support pork producers.

The Strategic Investment Program (SIP)

As the global voice for the U.S. pork industry, the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) unites pork producers with a strong voice on the issues that impact your livelihood and freedom to operate.

State pork associations

40%

Secures and guides industry research funding

Enhances domestic and global demand

Provides producer information and education

Delivers proactive issues management

Develops and defends export markets

Fights for reasonable legislation/regulation

Informs and educates legislators

Amplifies producers' voices with lawmakers

Counters misinformation and activists

Oklahoma Pork’s 2023 Giveback Impact

3,350

free pork meals served by the Oklahoma Pork board and staff at Oklahoma Pork-hosted meals nurturing and sustaining local residents

77

counties recieved pork donations thanks to partnerships with the Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma and the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma

65 requests for support received throughokpork.org/ donations reflecting the community’s engagement in seeking assistance

$35K Over invested through food and monetary donations strengthening Oklahoma communities

OKLAHOMA PORK OPEN

Eighteen teams of pork producers and supporters gathered in Hennessey for our organization’s annual Oklahoma Pork Open Golf Tournament in mid-October. The day was filled with perfect fall weather, a delicious pulled pork lunch catered by Head Country BBQ, and countless laughs among friends in the industry.

The success of our golf tournament was made possible by the generous support of over 20 sponsoring organizations. Special thanks to Rob Richard of DNA Swine Genetics for his leadership in coordinating the tournament, and to Matti Carlile of the Oklahoma Pork Council for her meticulous months-long preparation that made the day so special.

First Place Team

Second Place Team

Oklahoma Farm Bureau Insurance

ChaseCarlile,CraigStrickland,Austin Campbell,andFreddyWisdom

Longest Drive Female

Tracy Sharry

C3 Designs

CadeChilders,TimmyBoyer,Tanner Thorpe,andDakotaMcGrory

Longest Drive Male Zach Gonzalez

Third Place Team

Hog Slat

ColeWilliams,HoracioFavilla,Jose Vasquez,andRickSappington

Closest to the Pin

McKenzie Squires

Listing as a Platinum Sponsor at Oklahoma Pork signature events Full-page ad in Oklahoma Pork Pages annual magazine

• Recognition as sponsor in Oklahoma Pork Congress materials

Oklahoma Pork Open Golf Tournament team of four and hole sponsor

• 8 tickets (one table) to the Oklahoma Pork Bacon & Bourbon Dinner Annual subscription to weekly E-Pork Digital Newsletter

$ 7,500 annual contribution Gold Listing as a Gold Sponsor at Oklahoma Pork signature events 1/2-page ad in Oklahoma Pork Pages annual magazine

• Recognition as sponsor in Oklahoma Pork Congress materials

Oklahoma Pork Open Golf Tournament team of four and hole sponsor

• 4 tickets to the Oklahoma Pork Bacon & Bourbon Dinner

Annual subscription to weekly E-Pork Digital Newsletter

Silver

• Listing as a Silver Sponsor at Oklahoma Pork signature events

1/3-page ad in Oklahoma Pork Pages annual magazine

Recognition as sponsor in Oklahoma Pork Congress materials

Oklahoma Pork Open Golf Tournament team of four and hole sponsor

2 tickets to the Oklahoma Pork Bacon & Bourbon Dinner

Annual subscription to weekly E-Pork Digital Newsletter

$ 3,000 annual contribution

$ 5,000 annual contribution Bronze

• Listing as a Bronze Sponsor at Oklahoma Pork signature events

1/4-page ad in Oklahoma Pork Pages annual magazine

Recognition as sponsor in Oklahoma Pork Congress materials

Oklahoma Pork Open Golf Tournament team of four

Annual subscription to weekly E-Pork Digital Newsletter

$ 1,000 annual contribution

ONE PORK

Thanks to our state’s first-ever show pig representative on Oklahoma Pork’s Board of Directors, the collaborative work our organization has undertaken the last two years to unite segments within Oklahoma’s swine industry now has a name.

Once “ONE PORK” was coined by Dr. Suzanne Genova, our board and staff continued to realize how many ongoing initiatives across all four Oklahoma Pork strategic intentions align with this goal to unify our incredible producers.

We often discuss our mission to positively impact every Oklahoman who raises pigs, whether they are part of a large-scale commercial operation or a first time 4-H or FFA exhibition family. Now those folks – and every Oklahoma pork producer somewhere in-between – can find their place and their passion within our critical work.

“Show pig breeders, exhibitors, and enthusiasts now have a set place at the table alongside decision-makers for the commercial industry,” Dr. Genova shared after her historic election to the board. “Not only for our niche producers to be heard, but also for us to truly engage in ongoing, meaningful decision-making for our whole industry. I am proud to see the progress all our members are making together in biosecurity, disease preparedness, policy collaboration, and more as we embrace the importance of being ONE PORK.”

In Oklahoma, we believe in being first, and we are well-positioned to lead the way in uniting our industry for the good of our pigs and our people. Other states are talking about how to bring different producers together, but here we are making it happen.

Join us in shaping the future of ONE PORK.