NPPA going strong for National Pork Month,By Dee Petersen, NPPA Producer Information Director, for Pork Industry Report

It continues to be a busy Pork Month at the Association office. On October 19, Jane Reeson, Domestic Marketing Director, was joined by Chef Judy Gillard of Lincoln at the Creighton Cardiac Center in Omaha. More than 35 people in varying levels of cardiac care were given information about the nutritional attributes of pork and then were treated to three heart healthy pork meals.

Kyla Wize, Youth Leadership Specialist, and Jane Reeson traveled to Polk Neb. on October 20 to attend the Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) District 6 leadership conference. More than 100 high school students representing area schools attended the one day conference. FCCLA is a non-profit national career and technical student organization for young men and women in family and consumer sciences education in public and private school, grades 7- 12. Students learned about where pork comes from, how our animals are raised and treated to insure healthy and safe pork products.

Former president of the Association, Terry O’Neel from Friend Neb. welcomed individuals to his diverse farm operation on October 21. Representatives from Nebraska Farm Bureau, Nebraska Humane Society , Nebraska Cattlemen, Girl Scouts of America and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln along with representatives from Senator Mike Johanns, Congressman Adrian Smith and Congressman Jeff Fortenberry offices were present.

Also on the farm tour were representatives from seven State Senator offices. The group learned about pork production and to see first hand the actual day-to-day operations. The group was able to visualize how pork producers follow the ethical principals and animal well-being practices set by the National Pork Board’s  We Care, PQA Plus and TQA program.

For more information about the Nebraska Pork Producers Association visit  www.nepork.org or call 1 (888) 627-7

This is a gilt, a young girl pig, being bred for the first time. In 3 months, 3 weeks, and 3 days, a total of 114 days, this gilt will farrow or give birth to her first litter of piglets.