I never thought that one day I would eat my way through a hog. But all of that changed once I attended this year’s World Pork Exposition hosted in Des Moines, Iowa.

I attended with three of my fellow Nebraska Pork Ambassadors. This was my first year attending, and you can guarantee I texted my dad afterward to ask why he has never brought me to WPX before. But these days, it is hard to get away from the farm with a never-ending to-do list.

For those of us who can get away from the farm, it is a great experience to see how the swine industry is advancing and the new technologies on the market. Whether you are looking to buy a new product, listen to a panel of experts or simply are there for the good pork, a great time is had by all.

Nebraska Pork Ambassador program

After a three-year hiatus, the Nebraska Pork Ambassador program is back in full swing with adviser Sophia Lentfer leading the troops. My fellow pork ambassadors who represent Nebraska — the sixth-highest pork-producing state — include Kristen Herrick, Mattie Beattie, Alex Flessner and Larissa Meier, all students at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

This is a great program to gain more exposure to different aspects of the pork industry, and there is even a scholarship available at the end of the year. From the farrowing barn to the processing plant, we make connections and network through the whole integrated system. Coming from a small, niche operation, it certainly is valuable to have these new experiences.

The first event that we attended was at our Nebraska governor’s homeplace in Columbus. At Pillen Family Farms, we were able to sit down with a nutritionist, a geneticist, a veterinarian and the communications director, learning about their operations. My favorite part was learning about the research they conduct on both their maternal and terminal lines.

We then followed the food chain and ended up at Wholestone, the 10th-largest pork processing plant in the U.S.

Wholestone’s business model of being a farmer-owned cooperative is what makes this type of processing plant unique. Some of Pillen’s hogs are even sent to this plant.

Nebraska pork takes on World Pork

Our next big event was, of course, at WPX. Walking around and talking to different businesses showed us the new technology that is up and coming in the swine industry. When talking to the National Pork Board volunteers serving pork tacos, we found out that the Iowa Pork Ambassadors also were in attendance. We couldn’t find Iowa’s ambassadors, even though that would have made an iconic photo-op and a great debate on who has better corn. (Clearly, it is Nebraska.)

My favorite part of WPX, besides all the great pork, was sitting in on a session about adding value to the pork loin. It is no secret that the belly is the most valuable primal because of bacon.

That, however, is not how it is “supposed” to be. With the value of the pork loin being a leading loss of the carcass, the Pork Checkoff is working to add value to the loin, ultimately adding more dollars into pork producers’ pockets.

Recently we were invited to a listening session with three Nebraska U.S. representatives in Congress — Mike Flood, Don Bacon and Adrian Smith — and Sen. Deb Fischer to talk about the future of pork and the farm bill.

BEARING THE COLD: A trip to Wholestone’s pork processing plant included getting frocked up and bearing the cold. We walked our way from the fabrication room to live delivery to get a sense of the whole process. Pictured are (left to right) Kristen Herrick, Mattie Beattie, Larissa Meier, Elizabeth Hodges, Alex Flessner and adviser Sophia Lentfer.

California’s Prop 12 and trade agreements were on the top of the agenda, and it was insightful to see how the different stakeholders around the table are pushing for a more affordable and sustainable pork product. With Prop 12 in effect, it erases a lot of the work the industry has done to create a sustainable protein source.

On the agenda for the pork ambassadors in the future, we will make an appearance at Nebraska Pork Expo on July 20 in York, along with taking different industry visits and making a trip to the National Pork Producers Council office in Urbandale, Iowa.

If you are a college student interested in becoming a pork ambassador or know of someone in college who is passionate about Nebraska pork, applications are due in November. Any questions can be directed to Lentfer, our adviser, at [email protected].