Farm Progress

Plan to attend 2017 World Pork ExpoPlan to attend 2017 World Pork Expo

World’s largest pork trade show is set for June 7-9 in Des Moines.

March 15, 2017

3 Min Read
MARK YOUR CALENDAR: Hundreds of companies will display their latest products, services and equipment for pork production at World Pork Expo. Producers can shop, compare and get their questions answered on-site.

World Pork Expo — the world’s largest pork-specific tradeshow — will offer hundreds of exhibitors, free educational seminars, live hog shows and sales, networking opportunities and more. Presented by the National Pork Producers Council, the expo will be June 7-9 at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines.

This year NPPC has a new World Pork Expo website. User-friendly, the site has everything you need to register and plan a visit, including event schedules, exhibitor information, and lodging and travel information. In 2016, over 20,000 producers and ag professionals, including 1,100 international guests from 35 countries, participated in the three-day event. NPPC officials expect similar attendance this year.

Education, innovation and networking
“Anyone involved with pork production, including owners, managers, veterinarians, employees and allied industry, should attend World Pork Expo,” says John Weber, NPPC president and an Iowa pork producer. “The expo is truly an international show and offers a great opportunity to interact with producers and companies from other countries, which helps us better understand the global reach of U.S. pork production.”

The trade show is the centerpiece of the expo’s international connection, featuring hundreds of companies from throughout the world. The ever-expanding trade show, with both indoor and outdoor displays, has more than 310,000 square feet of commercial exhibits specific to pork production. Attendees can visit the show from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 7- 8. Trade show hours are 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. June 9.

A valuable part of the expo is the chance for attendees to learn about new and changing developments in pork production during the free educational seminars. Experts on topics such as business planning, swine management, herd health and marketing will present the most up-to-date information at the business seminars and Pork Academy on June 7-8.

Enjoy food and fun
Include time for fun, fellowship and plenty of tasty pork. Allied industry tents provide a spot for producers to interact with each other and mingle with company representatives. Along the Grand Concourse on June 8, attendees can enjoy MusicFest’s live music, grilled pork and refreshments.

Another activity not to be missed is the Big Grill, which serves free pork lunches each day from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Last year, the Big Grill, staffed by Iowa’s Tama County pork producers, provided more than 10,000 pork lunches. “Anyone who hasn’t been to World Pork Expo is missing out,” Weber says. “Whether you’re the boss or an employee, taking time off to attend can pay back the business in a variety of ways because there’s always something to learn.”

Swine shows start Expo week
The World Pork Expo swine shows will kick off the week with activities beginning on June 5. Hosted by the National Junior Swine Association and Team Purebred, the Junior National has evolved into one of the nation’s premier youth swine shows. It combines educational programs, such as judging contests, a Skillathon and certification programs, with live hog competitions through June 9. Continuing its record pace, the 2016 show had 2,351 hogs exhibited by 948 youth from 30 states.

Also located in the swine barn, the open shows will take place June 9, with breeding-stock auction sales scheduled for June 10. Last year, more than 1,090 purebred and crossbred gilts and boars were exhibited.

Register today and save
You can register online through June 1 and receive a discounted rate of $10 per adult (ages 12 and up), which covers all three days. On-site registration will be $20 per adult, with a special Friday-only (June 9) rate of $10.

Stay up to date on all the latest World Pork Expo news by following on Twitter (#WPX17) and connecting on Facebook. Whether you want to shop the trade show, attend seminars or interact with fellow pork professionals, start now planning your trip to 2017 World Pork Expo. For more information, visit nppc.org.

Source: NPPC

 

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