January 2008 - Oklahoma Pork Council

From the President
A year for change!
Board of Directors
President
Lonnie Hoelscher • Bartlesville
Home 918.333.6298
Work 918.335.0313
President-Elect
Rich Robinson • Holdenville
Home 405.379.5737
Work 405.379.5219
Vice-President
Jeff Mencke • Ames
Home 580.753.4451
Work 580.753.4446
Treasurer
Karen Brewer • Okemah
Home 918.623.0706
Work 918.623.1933
Darren Kraus • Weatherford
Home 580.772.7396
Work 405.542.3707
Jack Oehlschlager • Poteau
Home/Work 918.647.4709
Basil Werner • Kingfisher
Home 405.375.5515
Work 405.853.7858
Dan Dover • Castle
Home/Work 918.623.4128
Bill Barnes • Hennessey
Home 405.853-7087
Work 405.753-4446
Executive Director
Roy Lee Lindsey, Jr. • Yukon
Work (in-state toll free)
888.SAY.PORK
Work 405.232.3781
On the Cover: OPC Staff
and Board of Directors
wish you and yours a very
Happy Holiday season.
Pork Pages is the official bi-monthly
publication of the Oklahoma Pork
Council. All Pork Pages inquiries
should be directed to the editor at
: Oklahoma Pork Council, One
North Hudson, Suite 900, Oklahoma City, OK 73102, 405-232-3781,
communications@okpork.org.
2
PORK PAGES • JANUARY 2008
It’s December 2007, as I am writing this, and soon to be the
new year. I cannot believe the year is already gone. Many things
have taken me away from the farm this year more than ever
before. I want to thank you, the membership, for giving me the
opportunity to represent you and this state’s
industry from coast to coast. Pork Forum
was in Anaheim, Calif., back in March and
I went to Washington D.C. in July with Roy
Lee, along with many more events and activities across the state. As they say, “Time
flies when you’re having fun.” It has been an
enjoyable year to interact with people from all
parts of Oklahoma and across the country.
Just as there has been many opLonnie Hoelscher portunities to be involved in and conOPC President tribute to our industry in 2007, I
know there will be just as many in ‘08. Our staff has
done a great job given the changes that have taken
place in keeping schedules and events in full swing.
It is more of a blessing to give than to receive. I have
never realized this more than this year. I look forward to
seeing you all at our annual meeting on February 8th.
Lonnie Hoelscher
OPC President
Have a Happy Holiday and a joyous New Year!!
OPC
Board of Directors
and Ex-officio Members
Another year has past and as we en There will also be challenges in the futer 2008 there are a number of things OPC
ture – maybe not in Oklahoma, but there
members and pork producers should look
will be challenges just the same.
The animal rights activists are continuing
back on and should look forward to.
OPC had another good
to push their agenda in state legislatures and
year at the state capitol
through ballot initiatives across the country.
in 2007. We were successThere is a ballot initiative underway in Califorful in making some small
nia that would ban gestation stalls, veal stalls,
changes to the laws that
and layer cages for poultry. The activists have
regulate our farms. We
also been to Colorado and told livestock groups
worked to pass legislation
they will introduce legislation to ban those
that will help us prevent
same practices in Colorado. If the legislation
the spread of disease by
fails, the activists have said they will move
regulating movement of
forward with a ballot initiative in Colorado.
Roy Lee Lindsey, Jr. feral hogs. We continued to I wrote about my trip to Europe with the
OPC Executive Dir.
educate legislators about
National Pork Producers Council on pages
what is happening on our farms through an open 4 and 5 of this magazine. Animal welfare is
house and producers visiting with legislators.
a big issue in Europe and we should expect
We’ve had changes in our OPC family. Holly
that some of those same concerns and isNaylor left Oklahoma and moved home to Calisues will eventually end up in the U.S.
As I reviewed my notes and wrote about the
fornia. Nikki Snider welcomed her son Andrew
into the world and
trip to Europe, one of the
“We know that we will continue
then chose to stay
things that stood out to
our efforts to make it easier to ex- me was the comment that
home with him.
Kathryn Bolay joined
pand existing farms and to locate EU Ambassador Eckart
our team to manage
new farms across our state. We’ll Guth made when he told
our communications.
us that we should apprecontinue to maximize our expoLloyd Hawkins is
ciate that the EU is not
sure
to
the
public
through
televichanging jobs within
providing export subsidies
OPC as he moves
sion, radio, and print advertising. for their pork producfrom community
and that he believed
– Roy Lee Lindsey, Jr. ers
outreach specialist to
that should benefit U.S.
heading our marketing and promotions efforts.
producers. Ambassador Guth made this com The industry launched the PQA Plus
ment on October 18. What struck me about
program to help verify the things we do evthis comment was that in late November, the
ery day to take care of our animals.
EU began subsidizing exports of pork in an
What will 2008 hold for OPC and for our
effort to help pork producers across Europe.
members? The possibilities are endless.
What makes for a good political statement
We know that we will continue our efforts
today, may not make good policy tomorrow.
The challenges will continue in 2008
to make it easier to expand existing farms and
to locate new farms across our state. We’ll conand beyond. As long as we stay in the
tinue to maximize our exposure to the public
livestock production business we will
through television, radio, and print advertising.
see new challenges every year.
We have revised our agenda and program
Oklahoma’s pork producers have met
for the Oklahoma Pork Congress through inour previous challenges and we are making
put from the annual meeting committee. We
changes that are very positive for our industry
believe we’ll have a great educational program
and could provide for future growth. It will
including an increased involvement by our
be imperative to continue to meet our chalproducers and members as a part of the prolenges head-on and work for a better future.
gram. I hope you’ve made your plans to join
us on February 8 for Pork Congress. We have
From Roy Lee, Melissa and Elizabeth Lindincluded a great deal of information about Pork
sey - May God bless you and yours this ChristCongress in this issue of the Pork Pages.
mas season and have a Happy New Year.
PORK PAGES • JANUARY 2008
Executive Review
Hello 2008!!
3
OPC News
Highlights of a Policy Mission to Europe
By Roy Lee Lindsey, Jr.
In October 2007, I had the
great opportunity to represent
the Oklahoma Pork Council
on a policy mission to Europe.
The trip was organized by
the National Pork Producers Council. Participants in
the trip included members of
the NPPC board of directors,
pork producers from across
the country, NPPC staff members, a National Pork Board
veterinarian, a representative
from the United States Meat
Export Federation and me.
Geneva and the WTO
Our first meeting was
with the U.S. Ambassador to
the WTO, Peter Allgeier, and
the lead negotiator for agriculture, Joe Glauber. Ambassador Allgeier welcomed us to
Geneva and told us this was
an excellent time for us to be
there. In the days prior to our
arrival, there had been some
EU “Five Freedoms” for
animals
1. Freedom from hunger
and thirst - access to fresh
water and a diet for full
health and vigour;
2. Freedom from
discomfort - an
appropriate environment
with shelter and comfortable rest areas;
3. Freedom from pain,
injury and disease prevention or rapid
treatment;
4. Freedom to express
normal behaviour adequate space and
facilities, company of
the animal’s own kind;
5. Freedom from fear and
distress - conditions and
treatment which avoid
mental suffering
4
PORK PAGES • JANUARY 2008
movement in the Doha round
of negotiations and the presence of the U.S. pork industry
could help reinforce the need
for a good outcome for U.S.
pork and U.S. agriculture.
Both Ambassador Allgeier
and Glauber told us they knew
how important it was for
NPPC and pork producers to
get a good deal in this round
of negotiations. They recognized pork producers efforts
on other trade agreements.
Our next meeting was with
the European Union Ambassador to the WTO, Eckart
Guth. We shared with Ambassador Guth our desire for
increased access to the EU
market. For example, the EU
consumes more than 20 million tonnes of pork annually,
but they only import about
80,000 tonnes. That’s less
than one half of one percent.
Guth told us that negotiating a trade agreement was not about finding a “fair” agreement, but
about finding an agreement
all parties would sign.
Our second day in Geneva
took us to the headquarters of
the WTO and a meeting with
Director General Pascal Lamy.
The Director General told us
that he knew and understood
why NPPC had put this trip together. Director General Lamy
commended NPPC and the US
pork industry for supporting
trade and recognized the importance of NPPC support for
the Doha Round negotiations.
Our representatives stressed
to Director General Lamy the
need for our producers to have
increased access to EU markets
and markets all over the world.
Director General Lamy
shared with us an overview
of how the negotiations were
proceeding and told us our visit
was very timely as the negotiations were at a crucial stage.
He also told us the emerging
countries would be key to
this round of negotiations.
Director General Lamy
encouraged us to keep pushing
for an agreement. He believed
an agreement was “doable.” It
wasn’t done, but it was possible.
Brussels and the
European Union
Our first meeting in Brussels was with Knud Bohl,
Director of International Affairs for the Danish Bacon
and Meat Council. Denmark
is remarkable country when
it comes to pork production.
They export 90 percent of what
they produce. Bohl told us that
environmental restrictions
had capped pork production in
Denmark. Here are a few other
highlights of our discussion:
• United Kingdom is paying
a premium for products that
meet animal welfare standards.
• Europeans views on genetically modified organisms
(GMO) are forcing Danish pork
producers to be less competitive.
• Animal welfare standards
are definitely impacting
competitiveness.
The European Commission
is essentially the government
for the EU. We met with Commission officials to discuss
animal welfare and trade.
The EU has based its animal
welfare strategy on the “five
freedoms.” (see inset). They
have followed the freedoms
with consumer surveys about
welfare. Here are a couple of
the items from those surveys
that I thought we surprising:
• 82 percent of EU consumers believe there is a
duty to protect the animal
–WHATEVER THE COST.
• 89 percent believe that im-
The pigs are raised outdoors. to $1.02 per pound in 2007.
Gestation stalls will be
The sows farrow in “campgrounds” and weaning occurs
banned in France starting in
2013. Our last meeting of the
at 30-40 days. The weaned pigs
are then moved into an outdoor trip was with the World Orpen and held until early Octoganization for Animal Health
ber when they are
moved to a pasture
full of “home oak”
trees. These trees
provide the primary
feed ingredient
– acorns – for the
pigs as they fatten
to 140-160 kg or
approximately 350
pounds. These pigs
Madrid and the Spanish
will be 14-18 months
Pork Industry
old. The combina When we arrived in Madrid, tion of the oils in the
we met with the representatives acorns and the exerfrom the Spanish Ministry of
cise the pigs get as Meat stores, like this one, feature the Iberian
Agriculture and the Spanish
they move around pork products. Iberian hams hang along the top.
pork industry. They shared
in the pasture is believed to
(OIE). We met with the Direcwith us the economic impact
provide a good distribution of
tor General of the OIE, Dr.
of the pork industry in Spain
fat throughout the muscles – es- Bernard Vallat, and Dr. Alex
and some of the challenges they pecially the hams. The pigs stay Thiernan. Dr. Thiernan is
are currently facing. They told
in the pasture until late Februwith USDA and is currently
us production cost was up 30
ary when they move to slaughbeing seconded to the OIE.
The OIE is recognized by
ter. The hams are
then salt cured for the WTO as the source for
up to 12 days and
animal health standards. It’s
then aged for as
role in the setting of animal
much as two years. welfare standards is to proThat means that
vide international leadership
it can be almost
in animal welfare through
four years from
science-based standards and
the time the pigs
guidelines, provide expert adare born until
vice and promotion of relevant
the meat actually
education and research.
There are 170 countries
reaches market.
It may be worth
with membership in the OIE,
the wait as some
and 120 of those are developing
of the Iberian
countries. Before any standards
Iberian pigs graze for acorns in the pasture.
hams sell for
can be adopted by the OIE, all
percent vs. 2006. They also told as much as $500 per ham.
170 countries must agree.
We also discussed animal
us they were paying more than
$9 (U.S.) per bushel for corn.
Paris – French Pork Producers
health issues with the OIE
They recognized that the EU
and the OIE
officials.
limits on the new corn variet The French pork producies was increasing their cost.
ers told us their costs were
There was so much more to
We drove to the Extragoing up and the price they
this trip that just won’t fit in
madura region of western Spain were being paid was not.
these pages. I’ll try to keep
to visit an Iberian hog farm.
They estimated their cost of
sharing bits and pieces from
Iberians are not a specific breed production was 83 cents per
my trip in coming issues of
of pigs, but a number of breeds. pound in 2006 and it was up
the Pork Pages.
ported products should be produced under the same animal
welfare standards as the EU.
The Commission is working
on a community action plan to
promote animal welfare and
included in that plan is an
effort to educate consumers
about proper welfare standards. One component of this
effort is a website aimed at
children that promotes animal
welfare. Keep in mind, this is
not the animal rights activists
proposing to “educate” children, it is the government.
PORK PAGES • JANUARY 2008
5
State Promotions
Promoting “the other white meat” this winter!
Lloyd Hawkins, Marketing and Promotions
Oklahoma Ag in the Classroom and OPC Grant Program
2007 was another great year for the program.
OPC has been supporting Ag In the Classroom
for many years and it contiues to grow more
and more each year. With the help of Jamey
Allen and Mary Ann Kelsey, the program gets
promoted at elementary schools all across the
state. Teachers at elementary schools can apply
for the grant at www.clover.okstate.edu/fourh/
aitc/grants/opc.html. It is a $300 grant and each
check is hand delivered by someone from OPC.
This year we delivered our last grant check
in early October. We had lots of applications
and we even had to hold some over for next
year’s budget. Feel free to spread the word, but
remember that all grants are not approved and
the program gets more competitive each year.
Oklahoma
students
learn about
agriculture
through
various
activities
provided
by the
Oklahoma
Ag in the
Classroom
curriculum.
2007 OPC Tailgates
Tailgating OPC style is always fun and this
season was no diffferent. One of our most exciting
tailgates was at the new gym in Okemah. It
is always exciting when a High School gets a
new gym, but this one was particularly exciting
because Eddie Sutton showed up for the official
opening. Okemah was hosting Mason which is
a big rival. As the people began filing in, Karen
Brewer and Dan Dover, along with their friends,
6
PORK PAGES • JANUARY 2008
were on hand to serve pork chop sandwiches to
the people at the game. Even though Karen is an
Okemah supporter and Dan is a Mason supporter
they always enjoy working together to support
all the communities in the local area. The
sandwiches are always free, but donations are
always welcome and donated to one of the school
programs. We look forward to many tailgates at
the start of 2008!
2007 OPC Tradeshow
The 2006 Trade Show at McAlester was such
a success that we did it again this year. OPC also
did PQA Plus training before the show began
and it was well attended. Over 20 vendors set
up booths and we even had a partial sponsor for
the food. Harry Caldwell from Ivesco LLC. was
not able to attend, but he wanted to support
the show in some way. Thanks to Harry for
partially sponsoring the food and drinks. Overall,
attendance was down, but most of the vendors
reported that they had some quality contact with
pork producers. Quantity is always a problem
for small trade shows, so we may have to look at
doing the trade show every other year. Thanks
to all who attended and a special thanks to the
vendors who took the time and effort to support
the 2007 OPC Trade Show.
2007 National Swine Registry Fall Classic
The 2007 National Swine Registry Fall
Classic, held Nov. 14-17 in Duncan, Okla., drew
large numbers of pigs and people, with sales
grossing more than $778,000.
The NSR Fall Classic is one of the largest
registered swine shows in the country and it
happens here in Oklahoma every year. Not only
do a number of Oklahomans end up participating
in the show, usually doing quite well, but also
they contribute their skills by serving as judges
at the event.
Larry Moore of Taloga, Okla., judged the
Hampshire show and Mickey Bellamy of Fort
Cobb, Okla., and Ryan Sites of Tuttle, Okla.,
were the weanling pig sifters.
Also, Straka/Bowling of Yukon, Okla.,
captured the Reserve Grand Champion and
Champion Dark Cross Female Prospect titles.
PORK PAGES • JANUARY 2008
7
Feature Article
8
2008
OPC Hall of Fame Award Honorees
By Kathryn Bolay
T
he Hitch name has been
synonymous with Oklahoma
agriculture for more than
100 years. Following in his
family’s footsteps, Paul H.
Hitch has continued the tradition that started in 1884 in
the Oklahoma panhandle.
Paul’s great-grandfather,
James K. Hitch, left Tennessee
in the early 1880’s for Kansas
City and ended up in southwest
Kansas, northwest of current
Liberal, Kan. After establish-
cattle feed yards as well as a
15,000 sow unit, which Paul
was instrumental in starting.
“I didn’t really need
anymore market risk in pigs;
I had enough in cattle, but I
was not willing to give up what
I thought was money to be
made in pigs without displacing anything,” Paul said. “What
fascinated me was, we had the
headquarters, we had the circular sprinklers, we
had all
of these corners
ing a place there, he looked
south, toward what would be
the Oklahoma panhandle, and
realized it would be an opportune location to run cattle.
“They called it No Man’s
Land because it was owned by
the federal government, but
there was nobody to exercise
control over it, and it was not
part of any state,” Paul said.
“So, you could come down here
and run cattle because there
was not anybody to tell you
that you couldn’t. In 1884,
James built a little dugout close
to the Coldwater Creek, and
we’ve been here ever since.”
Paul graduated from Wentworth Military Academy
in Lexington, Mo. He then
attended Oklahoma State
University and Stanford University where he graduated
with a Bachelor of Animal Science and a Master of Business
Administration, respectively.
He then returned to continue
operating the family business,
which today includes three
we were not
using, and
we had farmland for effluent,
so we did not have to give up
something to produce pork. We
just fit it in around the edges.”
The opportunity presented
by the farmland was of the
greatest value for Paul because
it provided a location for the
swine barns. Each square of
160 acres had a 120 acre circle
of irrigated cropland on it,
leaving seven or eight acres on
each corner of the farmland.
“On one of those corners,
I could put three finishing
barns and a lagoon,” Paul said.
“Each barn holds about 1,000
pigs. I can take water out of
the lagoon and put it back on
the cropland, and I can sell
$1 million worth of pigs.”
Prior to placing finishing
barns on these corners, they
would plant dry land wheat in
the corners, which would average $500 per year per corner.
Even with the task of adding the infrastructure, it was
PORK PAGES • JANUARY 2008
still worth it in Paul’s mind
to begin pork production.
“Which is more beneficial
to the community? A million
dollars worth of pigs or $500
worth of wheat?” asked Paul.
“I’m not saying the profit is
the difference between a million dollars and $500, but to
me there’s no debate as to
which is the most economically
beneficial use of the land.”
Paul took the opportunities
he had and put them to use
by building 28 barns on those
corners and renting them to
an integrated pork producer.
Paul no longer rents the
barns to anyone, but instead
operates under the Hitch name.
As they were beginning to grow
their operation from the original
barns, it looked as though the
legislature was going to shut
the door on swine production
in Oklahoma, causing Paul to
speed up his production efforts.
“My intention was to operate 15,000 sows, but to do
it 5,000 at a time every two
to three years,” Paul said. “I
did what I planned to do in
about 10 to 12 years in about
three because it looked like
if I waited that I wouldn’t
have the chance to do it.”
Since entering the pork
industry, Paul has experienced
the ups and downs of the market as well as discovered some
of the main differences between
the pork and cattle industries
– production efficiency.
“I found out that the pork
industry is driven, I mean absolutely driven, by production efficiencies,” Paul said. “Cattlemen
are buyers and sellers, more
like traders, paying little attention to production efficiency, but
See Hitch, page 15...
T
he swine industry has
benefited from the combination
of teaching and research that
occurs at Oklahoma State
University, often at the hands
of Kim Brock. He has served as
the swine herd manager at OSU
for 29 years, but his passion for
livestock and agriculture began
to develop early in his life.
Kim’s father was a dairy
farmer, until Kim was around
age eight or nine. His father
then sold the cattle and became
active in the swine industry,
mainly in purebred swine.
Kim then became active in the
Anderson, Mo., 4-H and FFA
programs raising and showing
Hampshire swine.
“We bought purebred
Hampshire gilts,” Kim said. “I
spent some time with Reuben
Edwards, a major breeder at the
time, to learn about purebred
Hampshires and that’s where
my interest in pigs began.”
In high school, Kim became
interested in livestock judging.
This interest continued when
Kim attended Northeastern
Oklahoma A&M College in
Miami, Okla. Kim was on the
livestock judging team at NEO
as a freshman and sophomore,
before continuing his judging
career and his final two years
at OSU, receiving an associate
degree and a bachelor degree in
animal science, respectively.
Along with his role as the
herd manager, Kim has also
served as the OSU livestock
judging coach on various
occasions. The first opportunity
was in 1981, when the team
received a Livestock Judging
National Championship. In
1991, Kim was again asked
to fill the role as coach and
again claimed the National
Championship.
“It was a special time
because the national
championship teams are
introduced 10 years after they
win,” Kim said. “In 1991, we sat
at the table with the current
winning OSU team as well as
Dr. Totusek, who had asked me
to coach in 1981, as I introduced
the 1981 winning team. Getting
to coach those two judging
teams satisfied that need I had
to coach a livestock team.”
With Kim’s work in
developing the swine herd
at OSU, he has seen the
development of the swine
industry, on both the market
and the show pig side.
“I think today we’ve
arrived at a time where a good,
practical, complete hog is what
I and other judges, are looking
for in the show ring,” Kim said.
“The packer accepts that hog
as a good well-rounded, nonextreme market hog, especially
as we continue to emphasize
pork quality.”
The work done by Kim
and OSU has been critical
in bringing together show
managers, livestock judges,
packers and other industry
members to
experience at the shows.”
Along with being involved
in the swine symposiums, Kim
has also been an integral part
of the National Junior Swine
Association. Kim looks at the
NJSA as a way to keep youth
educated and involved in the
pig business because today,
not as many are coming from a
family farm environment.
“It helps put emphasis on
the youth and youth education
with swine and it makes for a
fun, family oriented pig show,”
Kim said. “The NJSA is the
standard for youth livestock
organizations today. I think
many people look at it that
way in terms of other purebred
breed association.”
The contributions Kim has
made to the show pig industry
are infinite, but perhaps the
most important is making a
difference in students’ lives as
they work for him and, hopefully,
join the swine industry.
Kim has had numerous
students work for him at the
OSU swine farm, and they
continue on to various jobs and
set
a direction
for the
industry and
help moderate the extremes
that had been seen in the hogs
in the past.
“We had a swine symposium
at OSU in 2001, and we
followed that up with another
symposium in Las Vegas,” Kim
said. “Those meetings were very
meaningful in terms of bringing
everyone together and making
sure we didn’t have anymore
problems with extreme pigs and
that the youth had a positive
companies; but two that have
become active in the Oklahoma
swine industry are Scott Carter,
assistant professor in swine
nutrition at OSU, and Lonnie
Hoelscher, OPC President and
swine grower.
“A lot of students went on to
become agriculture education
teachers, extension personnel,
livestock judges, or judging
team coaches, and it’s fun to
think that you helped them set
the standard for how to work
See Brock, page 15...
PORK PAGES • JANUARY 2008
9
OPC News
2008 Oklahoma Pork Congress
and Annual Meeting
February 8, 2008
Oklahoma Pork Congress and Annual
Meeting will be held on February 8, 2008.
The OPC staff and board of directors
are busy planning an informative and
educational meeting mixed with lots of fun.
This year’s event will be held at the
Oklahoma History Center in Oklahoma
City. Registration materials were mailed
out in December and more information will
be mailed later this month. .
There is the opportunity to pre-register
for the 2008 Oklahoma Pork Congress
and Annual Meeting. This will allow us at
OPC to better prepare for the number of
participants in the meeting.
Check the OPC Web site at www.okpork.
org for the latest details about the 2008
Pork Congress and Annual Meeting.
2009 National Pork Forum nominations
Public Notice by the Oklahoma Pork Council and the National Pork Board
The election of pork producer delegate
candidates for the 2009 National Pork Producers
(Pork Act) Delegate Body will take place at 3
p.m. on Friday, February 8, 2008 in conjunction
with the Oklahoma Pork Congress and Annual
Meeting which will be held at the Oklahoma
History Museum, 2401 North Laird Ave.,
Oklahoma City, Okla. All Oklahoma pork
producers are invited to attend.
Any producer who is a resident of Oklahoma
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
OPC Bylaw changes
2007 Annual Meeting
proving that hogs were sold in their name and
the checkoff deducted.
If you are interested in being a candidate,
please prepare a short (1/2 page) biography
telling about yourself and send it to the
Oklahoma Pork Council, ATTN: Election
Committee, One North Hudson, Suite 900,
Oklahoma City, OK 73102 to arrive by February
4, 2008. Nominations will also be accepted from
the floor.
For more information, contact the Oklahoma
Pork Council. Telephone: 888-SAY-PORK (7297675) or 405-232-3781.
PAC Auction
At the conclusion of the awards banquet,
OPC will hold its annual OPC Political Action
Committee (PAC) auction. We ask that anyone
who has something to donate to the auction,
please contact the OPC office.
In our continued effort to improve the auction,
we would like to hear from you! We want to know
what items you would be interested in purchasing.
Any OPC member wishing to change the
bylaws must submit the proposed changes in
writing to the OPC office not less than thirty (30)
days prior to the Annual Meeting, which means
this year’s deadline is January 9, 2008.
Proposed changes may be sent by mail, e-mail
or fax to the OPC office. See page 15 for all OPC
contact information.
10 PORK PAGES • JANUARY 2008
2007 Annual Meeting
OPC Board of Directors seats open
There are three open seats on the Oklahoma
Pork Council Board of Directors.
Southwest District: A member will be
elected to serve the Southwest District for a three
year term. To be eligible you must currently live
in the Southwest District. This seat is currently
held by Darren Kraus, who is eligible for reelection to another term.
At-Large: Two members will be elected to
serve in the At-Large capacity for three year
terms. To be eligible to hold these seats, you may
live in any part of the state. These positions are
held by Rich Robinson and Dan Dover, who are
both eligible for re-election to another term.
The deadline for being in the program has
passed, however, we will still take nominations
from the floor.
What’s my district?
Northwest: includes Alfalfa, Beaver,
Blaine, Cimarron, Dewey, Ellis, Garfield,
Grant, Harper, Kay, Kingfisher, Logan, Major,
Noble, Payne, Roger Mills, Texas, Woods, and
Woodward counties.
Northeast: includes Adair, Cherokee,
Craig, Creek, Delaware, Lincoln, Mayes,
McIntosh, Muskogee, Nowata, Okfuskee,
Okmulgee, Osage, Ottawa, Pawnee, Pottawatomie, Rogers, Seminole, Squoyah, Tulsa,
Wagoner, and Washington counties.
Southeast: includes Atoka, Bryan, Choctaw,
Coal, Haskell, Hughes, Johnston, Latimer, LeFlore, Marshall, McCurtain, Pittsburgh, Pontotoc, and Pushmataha Counties.
Southwest: includes Beckham, Caddo, Canadian, Carter, Cleveland, Comanche, Cotton,
Custer, Garvin, Grady, Greer, Harmon, Jackson, Jefferson, Kiowa, Love, McClain, Murray,
Oklahoma, Stephens, Tillman, and Washita
counties.
We have secured an OPC group rate at the
Holiday Inn Airport, located at 2101 S. Meridian,
Oklahoma City, OK 73108. This rate is for $69
per night. Members should call 405-685-4000 to
reserve their rooms and must ask for the OPC
Group Rate.
Hotel Information
PORK PAGES • JANUARY 2008
11
OPC News
2008 Oklahoma Pork Congress
and Annual Meeting
Tentative Schedule*
8:00 – 9:00 Registration
9:00 – 10:30
How You Can Connect with OPC
• Communicating Your Story - Kathryn Bolay
• Be Part of the Industry Image
• Reach Your Community on a Personal Level - Lloyd Hawkins
• You Can Influence the Political
Process - Roy Lee Lindsey, Jr.
News From Nationals
• National Pork Board
• Pat McGonegle - National Pork
Producers Council
10: 45 – 12:00
Educational Session #1
Animal Welfare - Charlie Arnot
12:15 – 1:30
Luncheon
1:30 – 2:30
Educational Session #2
Producer Panel Discussion and Q&A on Mortality - Jeff Mencke,
Chuck Luthi, Ron Dill
2:30 – 3:15
Legislative Update - McSpadden and
Associates
3:15 – 4:30
OPC Annual Meeting
5:00
Reception and Silent Auction
6:00 Awards Banquet
7:30
Live Auction
12 PORK PAGES • JANUARY 2008
*Schedule subject to change
Don’t wait!! Register for the 2008 Oklahoma Pork Congress & Annual Meeting today! Fill out the form below and return it to:
One North Hudson, Suite 900
Oklahoma City, OK 73102
or fax it to (405) 232-3862
You can also download this form from our web site www.okpork.org. Please
pass this information on to any pork producer who is not a current OPC member and would like to attend Pork Congress.
Please remember to fill out the OPC membership form on page 14 of this magazine. This will make the check-in process at the event easier for you!
2008 Oklahoma Pork Congress & Annual
Meeting Pre-Registration Form
I will attend the 2008 Oklahoma Pork Congress & Annual Meeting on February
8, 2008 at the Oklahoma History Center in Oklahoma City.
I will need __________ lunch tickets.
I will need __________ dinner tickets.
Names of attendees:
13
OPC News

One North Hudson, Suite 900 ? Oklahoma City, OK 73102
(405) 232-3781 ? Toll Free (888) SAY-PORK ? Fax (405) 232-3862
Check membership type: † Producer ($25)
† Friend ($25)
† Associate ($200)
PLEASE PRINT CLEARLY!
Membership Description
Producer: Individuals, partnerships,
corporations or firms that are actively engaged
in the production of swine in Oklahoma.
Friend: Extension educators, agriculture
education instructors, local businessmen,
others supporting OPC and Oklahoma’s pork
industry.
Associate: Feed companies, veterinary
suppliers, pork product manufacturers, etc.
Name:
Address:
City, State & Zip:
Fax:
Phone:
E-mail:
Spouse Name:
County: ___________________________
Company/Farm Name:
District:
† Northeast
† Northwest
† Southeast
Describe your operation:
† Independent
† Corporate
† Contract
† Show pig or purebred
† At Large (out of state)
Type of production:
† Farrow only
# of sows __________________
† Farrow to feeder
# of sows __________________
† Farrow to finish
# of sows __________________
† Nursery only
# of pigs ___________________
† Finisher
# of hogs __________________
† Other (please describe)________________________
Payment Method
† Cash
† Southwest
† Check (Payable to OPC)
Credit Card: † Visa
† MasterCard
† Discover
# ___________________________ Expiration Date _____________ Signature ________________________
PAC Contributions
The OPC Political Action Committee (PAC) allows us to help with the election of friends of agriculture for state
political office. The OPC will use your contribution to manage issues of benefit to the Oklahoma pork industry.
Please check all that apply & sign below!
† Please commit ALL of my membership dues to OPC’s Political Action Committee. (If you do not
check here, your dues will stay in the OPC Membership fund.)
† I would also like to contribute $ ______ to OPC’s Political Action Committee.
The contribution was freely and voluntarily given by me from my personal property. I have not directly or indirectly been
compensated or reimbursed for the contribution.
________________________________
SIGNATURE OF CONTRIBUTOR
FOR OFFICE USE ONLY
Date received __________
Cash ________ Check # ________ Amount received $________
Update: Membership _______
Pork Pages _______ E-Pork Partner _______ Membership Card ______
PLEASE COMPLETE AND RETURN THIS FORM TO OPC WITH THE MEMBERSHIP PAYMENT ENCLOSED
14 PORK PAGES • JANUARY 2008
Jan. 11-12
Enid Farm Show
Feb. 8
OPC Pork Congress and
Annual Meeting
Mar. 6-7
Pork Forum
Mar. 10-20
Oklahoma Youth Expo
Oklahoma’s Pork Producers ...
Roy
Lee Lindsey,
Office
StaffJr.
Executive Director
rllindsey@okpork.org
Lloyd Hawkins
Coordinator of
Marketing & Promotions
lhawkins@okpork.org
Kathryn Bolay
Coordinator of
Consumer & Producer Information
kbolay@okpork.org
Community Outreach Specialist
Creating Opportunities,
Caring for the Environment,
Feeding the World,
Committed to Oklahoma.
Brock...
hard and be proud of what you
do,” Kim said. “I’ve always
heard that the students at the
swine farm have to work a little
harder than they do at any of
the other barns, and I’m kind
of proud to hear that. They
understand the challenge and
what it’s like to work for their
own sense of pride.”
The impact Kim has made
on the students is reflected by
the impact he has made on the
university as well. During his
29 years, OSU has developed an
outstanding reputation for its
purebreds, constructed a new
swine facility and set numerous
purebred sales records.
“The new facility gives us a
more presentable place as well
as more opportunities,” Kim
said. “There are opportunities
for research that we did not
have before and potential for
OPC News
Calendar of Events
research in odor and waste
management with other
agriculture departments.”
Two sales records that
Kim and OSU are incredibly
proud of are the sale of a
Yorkshire boar at a national
type conference for $70,000,
and to anyone’s knowledge that
is the highest priced pig any
college or university has ever
sold at auction. Also, they sold a
Hampshire boar for $26,000 out
of an OSU test station where
the boar gained over three
pounds per day.
Aside from his work at OSU,
Kim enjoys judging swine shows
across the nation and working
with the youth involved at
the shows. He has judged at
all levels of competition in 30
states. He also enjoys spending
time with his wife, Pam, and
their son Kaid at his many
extra-curricular activities.
Donna Jackson
Office Manager
djackson@okpork.org
Hitch...
rather buying low and selling
high and watching the market.”
As far as such markets
go, Paul feels that the 1998
market convinced pork producers that they cannot entirely
ignore the market and that
cattlemen are becoming more
aware of the fact they have an
incredibly inefficient system.
Along with his operations
with Hitch Enterprises, Paul
and his wife, Linda, enjoy
spending time with their sons,
Chris and his wife Brooke,
and Jason and his wife Sarah
and their son Tyler. Chris
and Jason are continuing the
family business and are both
part of Hitch Enterprises.
The 2008 OPC Hall of Fame
recipients will be honored at
the 2008 Pork Congress and
Annual Meeting on Feb. 8 at the
Oklahoma History Center.
PORK PAGES • JANUARY 2008
15
Winter White Chili
1
1
1
2
1
1
1
1
pound lean ground pork
medium onion, diced
teaspoon ground cumin
teaspoons chili powder
16-oz can white beans, drained
14-oz can corn, drained
141/2-oz can chicken broth
4-oz can diced green chilies
Cooking Directions
In large saucepan, brown pork with
onion, stir in cumin and chili powder;
stir. Stir in remaining ingredients;
bring to a boil, cover and simmer for 15-20 minutes, until heated through and flavors
are blended. Serves 6.
Serving Suggestions
Warm up with this ground pork chili. Serve with tortilla chips and carrot sticks on
the side and chocolate cupcakes for dessert.
OKLAHOMA PORK COUNCIL
One North Hudson, Suite 900
Oklahoma City, OK 73102
NON-PROFIT
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
Permit No. 8
OKLA. CITY, OK