The 17th annual World Pork Expo promises to be greater than ever with new events, the best and brightest of the worldwide pork industry and fun for everyone.
The annual event, hosted by the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC), is June 9-11 at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines, IA.
The three-day event is designed to bring pork producers together with allied industries and suppliers to learn about new products that will benefit their operations. More than 500 exhibitors will display their products and services at this year's World Pork Expo.
National Hog Farmer is planning a series of special events at its booth in the Varied Industries Building this year in honor of the 50th anniversary of the industry's leading pork producer publication.
Back by popular demand, the “Big Grill” returns to provide lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on both Thursday and Friday. Plan is to serve pork loin sandwiches on Thursday and barbecue pork sandwiches on Friday.
World Pork Expo will feature educational seminars for pork producers, facilitated by Environmental Management Solutions, a wholly owned subsidiary of NPPC. Programs June 9 and 10 will focus on reproductive performance and efficiency, performance opportunities and programs to deal with ileitis. Results of an employer/employee survey and treating sick pigs will also be discussed.
A new Marketing Information Center will host seminars on profitability and risk issues that impact every producer's bottom line.
“Pork producers can really benefit from this information,” says Don Buhl, NPPC president. “That's what World Pork Expo is all about: bringing pork producers together with allied industry to make a stronger, more profitable pork industry for everyone.”
World Pork Expo Junior National Swine Show is June 8-10 and an eight-breed World Pork Expo Show and Sale is June 10-11.
The Great Pork BarbeQlossal features teams of grillers lining the streets of the fairgrounds to compete for $20,000 in prizes.
Regular admission to World Pork Expo is $8 at the gate, $5 in advance. Again this year, the Pork Checkoff is offering free tickets to World Pork Expo. Producers can obtain two tickets per pork producer household simply by calling the Pork Checkoff Service Center at 800-456-7675 or by e-mailing freewpxtickets@porkboard.org.
These events and more can be accessed at www.worldpork.org.
Thursday/Friday 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Saturday 8 a.m. - noon
Location: Varied Industries Building, Cattle Barn, Outdoors (southwest of Varied Industries Building)
The world's largest pork-specific trade show offers a wide variety of pork industry products and services.
The National Pork Board will host the Pork Checkoff Cafe in the Cattle Barn. Starting at 9:30 a.m. each day of the show, pork producers are invited to stop by to enjoy a large sample of new pork products, international pork products and new pork recipes.
Twice an hour, there will be 10-minute presentations on critical issues and how the Pork Board is addressing them. Issues include: sow longevity, porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS), animal welfare, environment and the new advertising campaign, “Don't Be Blah.” Two new programs, Symbol III, the ideal market hog, and Worker Health and Safety materials, will be unveiled as well.
Also, roundtable discussions will be held Thursday, June 9 and Friday, June 10 from 1-2 p.m. On Thursday, a pork producer, a soybean grower and a manure specialist will discuss the value of pork production to grain farmers. On Friday, National Hog Farmer Editor Dale Miller, PORK Magazine Editor Marlys Miller and Feedstuffs Staff Editor Rod Smith share their thoughts on the future of the pork industry.
Producers can register for prizes, including two roundtrip airline tickets valued at $600, to anywhere in the United States. Producers will also have the opportunity to meet National Pork Board staff, visit the library of pork checkoff-funded materials and ask questions of industry experts at the Pork Checkoff area of the Cattle Barn. In the Varied Industries Building, the Pork Board will feature a collaboration of information on the PRRS Initiative.
Location: Cattle Barn Sales Arena Free educational seminars will be presented by some of the nation's leading experts, as follows:
Reproductive Performance and Efficiency
10 a.m.: Programmed Induction of Estrus — Rob Knox, University of Illinois
10:30 a.m.: Optimizing Synchronization Strategies in Gilts — Charlie Francisco, DVM, Intervet Inc.
11 a.m.: Return on Investment: Matrix — Brad Thacker, DVM, Intervet Inc.
11:30 a.m.: Question and answer period
1 p.m.: Internal Parasite Management — Hidden Performance — Gil Myers, DVM, Consulting and Research
1:30 p.m.: Successful Killed PRRS Virus Vaccination Strategies — Matt Ackermann, DVM, Swine Vet Services, Greensburg, IN
2 p.m.: Revisiting Flavomycin in a Consumer-Driven Marketplace — Herb Kling, Intervet
2:30 p.m.: Question and answer period
3:30 p.m.: Ileitis Control in Large Swine Production Systems — Andy Holtcamp, DVM, Iowa Select Farms, Iowa Falls, IA
4 p.m.: Ileitis Control in Traditional Swine Production Systems — Monte W. Fuhrman, DVM, Sioux Nation Ag Center, Sioux Falls, SD
4:30 p.m.: Question and answer period
10 a.m.: Working in the U.S. Swine Industry — Major Employee/Employer Survey Results — Stephen May, publisher, National Hog Farmer; Jim Kliebenstein, Department of Agricultural Economics, Iowa State University
11:30 a.m.: Question and answer period
1 p.m.: Better Treatment Decisions by Early Identification of Sick Pigs in the Finisher — Speakers to be announced
2:30 p.m.: Question and answer period
Location: Swine Barn — Eight-Breed World Pork Expo Show and Sale Breed associations will conduct eight breed shows and sales. The breed shows consist of live evaluation and feature tested or performance classes. For more information, visit www.nationalswine.com.
7:30 a.m.: Hampshire Show
Followed by Duroc Show
Followed by Landrace Show
Followed by Yorkshire Show
9 a.m.: Chester White Show
Followed by Spotted Show
Followed by Berkshire Show
9 a.m.: Hampshire Sale
Followed by Duroc Sale
Followed by Landrace Sale
Followed by Yorkshire Sale
10 a.m.: Chester White Sale
Followed by Spotted Sale
Followed by Poland China Gilt Sale
Followed by Berkshire Sale
For more information and registration materials, visit www.nationalswine.com or click through from www.worldpork.org.
1:30 p.m.: Purebred Barrow Show
4:00 p.m.: Crossbred Barrow Show
1:30 p.m.: Crossbred Market Gilt Show
4:30 p.m.: Purebred Gilt Show
Location: Varied Industries Building — Pig images in a variety of media will be on display at the Pig-Casso Art Show. Artists, both professional and amateur, vie for cash prizes and ribbons in this unique traditional show. Expo attendees may vote for their favorite artwork in the Audience's Choice Award.
Location: New Pioneer Gun Club, Waukee, IA — This event features a five-person team shootout. Sign up as a team or individually. Entry fee of $100/person includes all ammunition, targets, Bob Allen shooting vest and the mandatory eye and ear protection. Visit www.worldpork.org for signup information.
Friday, 8:30 a.m. Registration
Location: Briarwood Golf Course Ankeny, IA — A World Pork Expo favorite! Reservations are being accepted for the first 144 golfers. Cost is a $100 contribution per golfer. Sign up as a foursome or register individually. Register online at www.worldpork.org.
This year's entertainment will be held on the Grand Concourse, featuring country legends Highway 101, and headliner David Marks with the All Star Beach Band. Marks is an original member of the Beach Boys and his band consists of studio and touring musicians who have all played with the Beach Boys.
Some of the nation's best barbecuers will vie for $20,000 in prize money in the 18th checkoff-sponsored Great Pork BarbeQlossal contest at the Iowa State Fairgrounds. Contestants from 17 states will bring their custom-made grills and sauces to compete in the categories of whole hog, shoulder, loin and ribs. The overall grand champion receives $3,000 and a smoker donated by Kingfisher Kookers of Kingfisher, OK.
Thursday/Friday/Saturday
Location: Cattle Barn
There will be six live pig races on Thursday and Friday and five pig races on Saturday, hoofing around a sawdust track at blazing speed.
Don't miss the fun as the Iron Warriors, a group of more than 100 law enforcement and emergency services personnel, parade their Harley Davidson Motorcycles up the grand concourse at 10 a.m. for judging and awards. Visit www.worldpork.org for more information.
Thursday/Friday/Saturday
Location: John Deere Ag Building Presented by the National Farm Toy Museum, Dyersville, IA, this second annual toy show will feature more than 100 tables of exhibitors, selling and displaying farm toys and memorabilia. Check out the skilled craftsmanship of the farm toy layouts on display and talk one-on-one with designers. Get tips and advice on how to get started building your own custom farm layout. Explore the National Farm Toy Museum's Traveling Exhibit “Farm Toys Through the Years.”