The 17th annual World Pork Expo, June 9-11 in Des Moines, IA, was a resounding success, according to show officials. Attendance was 31,505, up from 28,000 in 2004.
“We had a great World Pork Expo in 2005,” reports Don Buhl, president of the National Pork Producers Council, owners of the show. “There were 441 pork-specific exhibitors as well as 50 farm toy exhibitors. The showrooms were packed with pork producers throughout the event.”
There were also 2,150 foreign visitors from 40 countries.
Adam Perry Lang, Daisy Mays's Barbecue of New York City, took top honors in the BarBQlossal contest.
More than 300 boars and gilts were shown and sold during the World Pork Expo Breed Show and Sale, highlighted by the grand champion and top-selling Hampshire boar shown by Gary Baker, Earlville, IL, and John Graber, Stryker, OH. The boar sold for $50,000 to Real McCoy Genetics, Bloomingburg, OH.
“Sales were up $130,000 from last year,” says Darrell Anderson, CEO of the National Swine Registry, show manager. “Gilt sales were incredible. The World Pork Expo Junior National drew nearly double the participants as last year.”