Friendly rivalry with Indiana pays off for those in need during holidays.
What started as a friendly wager between two neighboring states’ pork associations on the outcome of last weekend’s Big 10 football championship game between Ohio State and Indiana University, has turned into a big win for everyone in the end – especially for those Hoosier families in need of high-quality protein during the holidays.
“While Ohio State fans we’re disappointed by the game’s final score, our state’s family pig farmers are very pleased to donate $2,000 of pork products to Indiana Pork’s Hoosier Hogs to Homes program,” said Cheryl Day, Ohio Pork Council executive vice president. “During this holiday season, it’s more important than ever to know that those in need are able to provide nutritious protein to their family dinner tables.”
This pork donation by the Ohio Pork Council should provide roughly 2,400 servings of pork to families, which is above and beyond the organization’s normal Pork Power program, which has already donated over $15,000 of pork products around its home state from Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, and beyond. The previous donations are estimated to have helped provide more than 18,000 servings of pork through Ohio Pork’s food bank partners.
“The goal is to help ensure our communities are getting the assistance they need in terms of protein and we’re happy to do our part to make it happen,” said Clark Jordan, an Ohio pig farmer from Eaton, Ohio, who serves on the OPC board of directors. “It’s a great feeling to know that we’re helping out families on both sides of the state line, which definitely helps ease any bruised egos after the big game.”
Receiving the donation on behalf of Indiana Pork was pork producer Jackie Bowman Ponder, of Greenwood, Indiana, who serves on the Indiana Pork board of directors as well as the National Pork Producers Council’s board of directors. She said, “Indiana pig farmers are passionate about feeding our neighbors. We know how great the need is around the holiday season so we are excited that Ohio wanted to make this friendly bet and the IU Hoosiers came out as the winner!”
About the Ohio Pork Council
The Ohio Pork Council was established in 1968, beginning with nearly 800 pig farmers dedicated to the task of promoting their own product. Currently, OPC has approximately 2,500 members. Their mission is to serve and benefit all Ohio pork producers. To learn more about the Ohio Pork Council, visit www.OhioPork.org or call 614-882-5887.
