The 16th annual World Pork Expo promises to be greater than ever with new events, the best and the brightest of the worldwide pork industry and fun for everyone. It's hosted by the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC).
The three-day event, held at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines, is designed to bring pork producers together with allied industries and suppliers to learn about new products that will benefit their operations. National Hog Farmer is expanding its New Product Tour to allow pork producers to vote on their favorites at company booths in The Business District. Some 500 exhibitors will have products on display at the show. The show will feature educational events and seminars, contests, family fun and the popular golf tournament, World Pork Open.
“There's something for everybody at World Pork Expo,” says Keith Berry, president of NPPC. “Along with the world-class pork industry trade show and educational seminars for producers, we'll be hosting the purebred breed association shows and sales, as well as the new World Pork Expo Junior Classic Barrow Show and the new World Pork Expo Farm Toy Collector Show and Sale, featuring a limited edition World Pork Expo commemorative toy tractor,” he adds.
Another addition to the lineup is the first annual World Pork Open Sporting Clay Shooting Tournament Championship. For families, NPPC has added performances by Valentine's Performing Pigs on the Bill Riley Stage. In the cattle barn, the PigCasso art show will be held, as well as the ever-popular pig races and more.
Again this year, the nation's top barbecuers will line the streets of the fairgrounds, grilling for the chance to win $20,000 in prizes. An outdoor track will blaze with live pig races.
Highlights of the educational seminars include four discussions on optimizing reproductive efficiency, and three related sessions on understanding swine influenza virus. Another educational session features two timely talks on the role of antibiotics in food animal production. A separate session explores judicious use of antimicrobials. Two talks cover management and control of the porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus.
Admission to World Pork Expo is $8/day at the gate or $5 in advance. Producers can request up to two free admission tickets for World Pork Expo by calling the Pork Checkoff Service Center at 800-456-7675 or sending an e-mail including their producer ID and their mailing address, to freewpxtickets@porkboard.org by May 28.
These events and more can be accessed at www.worldpork.org.
Th/Fri. 8 am - 5 pm
Sat. 8 am - noon
Location: Varied Industries Building, Cattle Barn, Outdoors (southwest of Varied Industries Building)
At the world's largest pork-specific trade show, a wide array of pork industry products and services will be offered by more than 500 exhibitors.
Location: Cattle Barn
National Hog Farmer and other participating industry partners will feature business areas with professional representatives on hand to answer producer questions.
Location: Cattle Barn
Visitors will want to stop by to learn more about programs funded by the pork checkoff, sample free food and register for prizes. The pork checkoff is sponsoring free pork for breakfast in the Swine Barn and lunch in the Pork Hospitality Tent.
Location: Cattle Barn Sales Arena
Free educational seminars will be presented by some of the nation's leading experts. Topics and times follow:
10 - 10:30 am: Replacement Gilt Management in a Production System
Dr. Billy Flowers, North Carolina State University
10:30 - 11 am: Utilizing Animal Synchronization in Batch Farrowing in a Production System
Dr. Brad Thacker, Intervet Technical Services
11 - 11:30 am: Economic Modeling — What Really Pays
Dr. Joe Connor, Carthage Veterinary Service, Carthage, IL
11:30 am - Noon: Questions & Answers
1 - 1:30 pm: What are Diagnostic Labs Seeing Today and Trends
Dr. Marie Gramer, University of Minnesota
1:30 - 2 pm: Management of Swine Influenza in a Production System
Dr. Spencer Wayne, Murphy-Browns North Carolina, Warsaw, NC
2 - 2:30 pm: Practical Swine Influenza Vaccine Vaccinology
Dr. Brad Thacker, Intervet Technical Services
2:30 - 3 pm: Questions & Answers
3:30 - 4 pm: Global Perspective on Antibiotic Use in Food Animal Production
To be determined
4 - 4:30 pm: Measuring the Real Value of Antibiotics
To be determined
4:30 - 5 pm: Questions & Answers
10 - 10:30 am: Measuring Variation and Opportunity Costs
Dr. John Deen, University of Minnesota
10:30 - 11 am: Enteric Diseases Impacting Finisher Variation
To be determined
11 - 11:30 am: Respiratory Diseases Impacting Finisher Variation
Dr. Paul Yeske, Swine Vet Center, St. Peter, MN
11:30 - noon: Questions & Answers
1 - 1:30 pm: Learning the Ins and Outs of the Animal Medical Drug Use Clarification Act of 1994 (AMDUCA)
To be determined
1:30 - 2 pm: The Latest in the Pork Quality Assurance Program
Dr. Erik Risa, National Pork Board
2 - 2:30 pm: Antibiotic Selection Principles
To be determined
2:30 - 3 pm: Questions & Answers
3:30 - 4 pm: Techniques for Reducing the Financial Impact of PRRS Outbreaks
Dr. Tom Wetzell, South Central Veterinary Associates, Wells, MN
4 - 4:30 pm: New Information of PRRS Virus Transmission and Biosecurity
Dr. Scott Dee, University of Minnesota
4:30 - 5 pm: Questions and Answers
Location: Swine Barn
Breed associations will conduct seven 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 am: Yorkshire Show
Followed by Landrace Show
Followed by Duroc Show
Followed by Hampshire Show
9 am: Spotted Show
Followed by Chester White Show
Followed by Berkshire Show
9 am: Yorkshire Sale
Followed by Landrace Sale
Followed by Duroc Sale
Followed by Hampshire Sale
10 am: Spotted Sale
Followed by Chester White Sale
Followed by Poland China Gilt Sale
Followed by Berkshire Sale
10 am: Market Swine Show Begins
Market Gilts with Four Weight Divisions Market Barrows with Four Weight Divisions
8 pm: Selection of Grand Champion Market Hogs
This annual event will be held during trade show hours in the Cattle Barn.
Th., 5 pm.
Location: New Pioneer Gun Club, Waukee, Iowa
This event features a five-person team shootout. Sign up as a team or individually. Visit www.worldpork.org for signup information.
Fri., 8:30 am, Registration
Location: Briarwood Golf Course, Ankeny, Iowa
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.
Sat., Noon - 6 pm.
From homegrown Des Moines music to the British Invasion to the patriotism of American country music, this year's Music Fest has it all. Local artist Tony Valdez will kick off Music Fest, followed by the Broadway Beatles — a world-class Beatles tribute band — and headliner country singer David Ball, whose touching single, “Riding with Private Malone,” rose twice through the charts. Music Fest is included in the regular admission to World Pork Expo.
The nation's best barbecuers will compete for $20,000 in cash and prizes and national competition points in this 17th annual World Pork Expo tradition. More than 80 teams are expected to bring their custom-made grills and sauces to compete in the categories of whole hog, shoulder, loin and ribs. The overall grand prize winner receives $3,000 and a smoker donated by Kingfisher Kookers.
Th/Fri/Sat.
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. It's fun for the entire family to enjoy the pageantry of the pig races.
Th/Fri/Sat.
Location: Riley Stage
Catch the antics of these energetic hams as they play golf and football, skateboard, “ham dunk,” play catch with the audience and spell words. Featuring “Nellie,” the world's smartest pig. There will be four shows both Thursday and Friday, plus one show Saturday morning.
Sat. 9 am.
Iowa Farm Bureau Foundation's (IFBF) Cruisin' with the Hogs is a motorcycle ride starting at the ADESA Auto Auction in Grimes, IA, and finishing at the Iowa State Fairgrounds. The 60-mile ride costs $20 through May 21 and $25 through event day. A skullcap and lunch are provided. Sponsors are IFBF, Zylstra Harley-Davidson of Ames, IA, Cookies Barbeque Sauce and World Pork Expo. To participate, contact Deb Yount Woods at IFBF, 515-225-5418 or sign up online, www.worldpork.org.
Th/Fri/Sat.
Location: John Deere Ag Building
Presented by the National Farm Toy Museum, Dyersville, IA, this first 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. A special-edition, World Pork Expo toy tractor will be on sale during the show or online. For serious collectors, a very limited supply of serial-numbered tractors are available through NPPC. For more information, visit www.worldpork.org.