The Missouri Pork Association welcomes producers, suppliers and distributors to the 2009 Missouri Pork Expo. The two-day event promotes the pork industry, educates youths and adults, and distributes information from current research.
The Expo begins the morning of Wed., Feb. 11 and runs through Thursday afternoon at the Holiday Inn Select Expo Center.
The Educational Series and Swine Trade Show are feature attractions for the 2009 Expo. Participants will also attend events including the FFA Pork Speaking Contest Finals, Pork Industry Buffet and Pork Leadership Breakfast.
More than 100 youths are expected to complete Show Me Quality Assurance (SMQA) certification during the 2009 In the Show Ring educational workshop. The Wednesday workshop, sponsored by FCS Financial, prepares young people to show swine at the local and state levels.
Youths will learn good management, nutrition, and showmanship practices during sessions led by industry professionals. Live animals for the sessions will be provided by OBC Genetics of Wellsville.
Participants will also enjoy lunch and a scavenger hunt. SMQA certification is required for youth swine exhibitors in Missouri.
The 2009 Expo Educational Series is sponsored by the Commercial Agriculture Program at the University of Missouri and targets pork producers. Research faculty from MU will discuss new technology and on-farm applications during Wednesday afternoon and Thursday morning sessions.
Dr. Steve Meyer, with Paragon Economics of Des Moines, IA, will give a swine industry update, sponsored by Alltech. The Educational Series also includes the Pork Leadership Breakfast, featuring Jim Wiesemeyer from Informa Economics in Washington, DC.
There is an additional $35 fee to attend the breakfast, which is sponsored by Premium Standard Farms LLC, Murphy Brown LLC, and the National Pork Producers Council.
The largest swine trade show in Missouri will include more than 60 agricultural businesses, representing 12 states. The show opens at 8 a.m. on Wednesday and includes a silent auction, hosted by the MPA; as well as the Trade Show Hospitality Area, sponsored by MFA, Inc. Live auction items to be sold during the Pork Industry Buffet will also be on display.
The Pork Industry Buffet will include wine tasting, courtesy of the Missouri Wine and Grape Board, as well as the Missouri Pork Association’s live auction. There is an additional $25 fee to attend the Buffet. The Buffet is sponsored by the Pork Checkoff and Farmland Foods.
The Missouri Pork Expo will also host a barbecue lunch on Wednesday, sponsored by Cargill Pork and prepared by the Mizzou BBQ Team. This will follow the FFA Pork Speaking Contest Finals.
The Expo concludes with a Missouri Pork Association Board meeting on Thursday afternoon.
Additional sponsors for the 2009 Missouri Pork Expo include the Archer Daniels Midland Company, Davidson Construction & Mgt. Co., LLC, the City of Columbia, the Missouri Agribusiness Association, and UPI/Parks, LLC.
Registration for the Expo is $10 and includes all activities except the Pork Industry Buffet and the Pork Leadership Breakfast. The fee is waived for Missouri Pork Association Members and youths.
More information regarding the 2009 Missouri Pork Expo is available at www.mopork.com, or through the Missouri Pork Association at (573)445-8375.