Pork Mentor: Hands-on learning ‘fulfills educational objectives’

By Lacey Schardt, 2010 Pork Mentor

On Thursday, February 3, I shadowed Kyla and Mallory on an Animal Agriculture Promotion school visit.  This program is fairly new, and it is in response to the recent attacks on and misconceptions about animal agriculture.  On the day that I joined them we went to the Ashland-Greenwood high school.  Kyla and Mallory had plans to talk with three classes which encompassed students ranging from freshman to sophomores in high school.

On the trip to Ashland, we discussed the plans for the day, along with new ideas and programs that are being incorporated into the State FFA convention.  I was very pleased to be involved in this conversation, and it empowered me to know that all of the agricultural commodities are joining together to protect agriculture as a whole.  I say this because I remember Kyla stating that the Soybean Board along with the Corn Board have an active role with helping to create the animal agriculture awareness program along with the agriculture academy being incorporated into the State FFA convention.

The Ag teacher at the Ashland-Greenwood school had made a request for the presentation to be presented in her three classes.  To two of the three classes we presented to them about the current issues facing the animal agriculture industry along with specific information about how these misconceptions have arisen.  There was an emphasis placed on the definitions of pet and livestock.  A pet being an animal that provides companionship, while livestock provide food and products to enhance the lifestyle of humans.  With these definitions in place, we then discussed with the classes how there are different needs of caring for the animals that fall under the different categories.  After we discussed these definitions, we focused on how most of the United States population is at least three to four generations away from having family ties to a farming operation.  With this we then discussed how much of the population thinks of farmers with the image of the famous painting, American Gothic¸ in their minds.  With this image, it portrays farmers as grumpy old tired people who do not enjoy their job, while the truth is the exact opposite.

Nebraska pork a good choice here and abroad

Pork producers have made a long-term commitment to responsible pork production through its We CARE initiative.

By the Nebraska Corn Board

LINCOLN, NE – Lean, nutritious and versatile, Nebraska pork stands superbly on its own at the center of the plate – and fits right in as a key ingredient in thousands of recipes enjoyed by Nebraskans and others across the country and around the world, the Nebraska Corn Board said today in acknowledging that October is National Pork Month.

 “While October is an opportunity to celebrate the world’s most widely consumed meat, it is also an opportunity to recognize Nebraska hog farmers who care for their animals every day year round,” said Kelsey Pope, ag promotion coordinator for the Nebraska Corn Board. “Farmers provide shelter, quality feed and fresh water to raise healthy animals. They genuinely care about their animals and extend that care to the environment.”

 David Merrell, a farmer from St. Edward who grows corn and raises hogs, said besides producing pork for Nebraskans and others across the country, pork producers see a lot of value in shipping pork to other countries. In fact, about 22 percent of pork produced in the United States goes to other countries, making the United States the world’s largest pork exporter.

Record-breaking Pork Chop Scramble a great success

The 2010 Pork Chop Scramble was a record-breaking event for both the Nebraska Pork Producers Association and the York Country Club in York, Neb. where the event was held. More than 140 pork producers, allied members and friends of the industry participated in the three flights of golf on Thursday, June 11, 2010.

The Pork Chop Scramble was a fundraiser for the association to sponsor scholarships at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Northeast Community College and Southeast Community College-Beatrice so NPPA thanks all who particpated, donated food and/or prizes and made the day a great success.  A picture slideshow can be seen at NPPA’s new photo gallery on www.nepork.org. Golf payment receipts are available upon request, contact Kyla at 402-472-2528 or at kyla@nepork.org

NPPA would also like to personally thank the following Pork Chop Scramble Sponsors:

Pershing Center          Farmland          Parks of Nebraska          Whole Hog AI          Kemin         

US Feeds          Nebraska Soybean Board          Wiechman Pig Co.         

National Pork Producers Council          Nebraska Corn Growers Association          Elanco         

 Waldo Genetics          Nebraska Corn Board          Alltech          Lynch Livestock, Inc.         

Phibro Animal Health          UNL College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources         

Hormel          Husker Sports Marketing          Pork Checkoff          Advanced Agri Direct         

Central Valley Ag          Boehringer Ingelheim          American Heartland Insurance Agency         

Henderson State Bank          Pfizer Animal Health          Sandy Pine Gene Center         

Farm Credit Services of America          Bob Stephens and Associates          Tyson Fresh Meats, Inc.         

Husker Coop          Kent Feeds          LG Pumping          Akey          Land O Lakes Feed         

 Purina Mills          Midwest Livestock Systems, Inc.          Pinnacle Bank          Alpharma