Sandra Hartman, President of NY Pork Producers and NY Delegate for National Pork Forum 2010

 

National Pork Industry Forum held March 4-6 at Hyatt Regency Crown Center in Kansas City, Missouri. The 15 producers who serve as members of the National Pork Board also look forward each year to the direction they get from the deliberations of the Pork Act Delegates. The Delegates always let us know their views on the important issues facing pork producers and the pork industry, and on how they would like to see the Pork Checkoff dollars invested.

 

We’ve chosen for our theme this year, “Leading a World-Class Food Industry -- Responsible. Sustainable. Professional. Profitable.” This also is the vision statement drafted by a group of producers who advised the National Pork Board on the development of a new five-year strategic plan. The board looks forward to sharing the details of that plan with you at Forum and to hearing the Delegates discussion of the important concepts in the new plan.

 

At Forum, we listen carefully to Delegates to help us identify new challenges and to examine how the Pork Checkoff can be used to build demand, to conduct research and to identify and help manage issues that affect all producers.

 

Pork Industry Forum also is a good time for us to celebrate our success as producers and as an industry. We know we have been through a difficult year, made more difficult by the H1N1 flu crisis. Even with all the noise about “swine flu,” our retail sales were up more than 8 percent over the previous year, indicating that consumers continue to see value in buying pork. Challenges from high input costs and lower prices created strain, but our industry remains fundamentally healthy and there is growing optimism about the future.

New York’s Delegate for 2010 is Sandra Hartman from Ovid, NY. She is also trained in Operation Main Street.  In 2004, the Pork Checkoff launched Operation Main Street, an intensive training program for producers to help spread the message about the pork industry. This program helps producers across the country upgrade the pork industry’s image starting at the vital local level.

Producers who participate in Operation Main Street gain public speaking experience, receive training on how to deliver a positive industry message to media and the public, and walk away ready for public presentations. Participants also receive updates on emerging issues facing the pork industry, and have the opportunity to connect with other producers.

Producers aren’t the only beneficiaries of Operation Main Street. Research shows that having producers promoting a positive image is paying off for the pork industry.

Operation Main Street speakers say they have had a positive impact by telling the industry’s story of innovation, quality and environmental stewardship. According to a survey of 9,888 audience members, 81 percent of the audience left the presentation with a positive impression when it comes to the pork industry.

Are you ready to take it on the road? Operation Main Street trainings are available all over the country. Entertaining and supportive educators will assist and train you to develop your public speaking skills, as well as inform you about current issues facing the industry. Pork producers are an integral part of spreading the message and securing the future of our industry. Ensure that your community is aware about the positive aspects of the pork industry.

If you are interested in participating in Operation Main Street and attending one of the training presentations, call the Pork Checkoff Service Center at 800-456-PORK or contact: Ernie Barnes ebarnes@pork.org

Legislative Education Action Development Resource

Why you are needed as a LEADR If you’re not telling your story, someone else will! Your voice is needed in the halls of your state capital and in Washington, D.C., to ensure that lawmakers understand how their decisions affect your business, your family, your community and the U.S. pork industry’s ability to provide consumers with a safe, affordable and healthy supply of pork. The Goal of LEADR To build, maintain and coordinate an effective grassroots movement of trained and willing volunteers who can be mobilized easily and rapidly to advance important pork industry issues or defend against bad public policy. Who can be a LEADR? If you are engaged in the pork business, have an interest in public policy issues, a willingness to be a grassroots volunteer and a desire to protect and promote the U.S. pork industry, you will want to participate in the LEADR program. LEADR Training Training programs are designed with you in mind. The LEADR program gives you the opportunity to learn the necessary skills and become part of the grassroots mobilization of producers and industry allies to tell the story of U.S. pork. LEADR is more than Training • LEADR will link you with your state and national elected officials and keep you updated when your public officials support public policy efforts, legislation or groups that will be harmful to your business. • LEADR will notify you when your personal efforts are needed to make a call or visit, write a letter or take some other action so that your efforts are meaningful. • LEADR will respect your time and interests. You decide what kind of time commitment you can make and in which activities you will participate. As a LEADR you will be kept informed about current industry issues and developments, AND you will help shape the public policy initiatives affecting the pork industry at both the state and federal level.   How you can become a LEADR Attend a LEADR training program in your state to learn the skills and current industry issues so you can tell your own story.