September 2011 - Iowa Pork Producers Association

Iowa and Texas join forces for
Pork Youth Leadership Camp
Camp
2011 marked the first year of
collaboration between the Texas
Pork Producers Association
(TPPA) and the Iowa Pork
Producers Association (IPPA)
for the Iowa/Texas Pork Youth
Leadership Camp. The camp was
held in both states June 4-10 and
was open to all FFA and 4-H
students ages 16 to 18.
The Youth Leadership Camp
was developed in Texas to
identify young leaders in the
pork industry and continue
their leadership development so
that these students will remain
valuable resources into the
future.
Nine Iowa students were
selected to participate in the
Youth Leadership Camp. Those
students were Allison Dittmer,
Columbia; Brady Marienau, Le
Mars; Bryan Schroeder, Remsen;
Darren Struthers, Collins; Kyle
Larsen, Clare; Melanie Weber,
Winthrop; Nichole Licht,
Humboldt; and Zach Lear,
Spencer.
The Iowa group left Des Moines
on Saturday, June 4 and flew
to Amarillo, TX. After a day’s
worth of sightseeing in the
Texas panhandle, the Iowans
met up with the rest of the
Texas students in Amarillo. The
students spent the first part of
their camp learning more about
the U.S. pork industry and going
through extensive media training.
The first stop on the tour was the
Kyle Stephens Farm just outside
of Amarillo. The Stephens farm is
known for breeding champion show
pigs and is considered one of the
largest farms of its kind in Texas.
The next day, the group toured the
Texas A&M Veterinary Diagnostic
Lab in Amarillo and drove by
charter bus to Pampa, TX, to tour
the Smithfield Premium Genetics
Farm. Later that afternoon, the
group arrived at Perryton, TX to
meet with representatives from Texas
Farm. After a tour of the Texas Farm
facilities, the group had a discussion
dinner at its corporate headquarters.
The students then drove from Texas
and started their trip north to Iowa.
The first stop in Iowa was at the
National Pork Board to continue on
with media training and tour the
office. The next day, the students were
divided into three groups to tour
different farrowing facilities. Later on,
the group reunited at the Ellsworth
Equestrian Center and listened to
presentations from representatives
from Iowa Select Farms and Pinnacle
of Iowa on manure management.
That evening, the group toured
the Iowa State University Meat
Laboratory and participated in
workshops about pork cuts and
various pork products.
On the fifth day, the students toured
Osceola Foods, a Hormel plant in
Osceola, IA. After the tour, the group
stopped at a Hy-Vee store in West
Des Moines to visit the meat case
and participate in a store scavenger
hunt for pork products. After a brief
stop at the World Pork Expo for
a livestock judging workshop, the
students met up again with a Texas
Farm representative at the Iowa
Machine Shed restaurant to continue
discussion about markets.
The last day of the camp was held
at the World Pork Expo, where the
students were given time to view the
show and participate in a scavenger
hunt that focused on new products
showcased by exhibitors. In the
afternoon, the group headed back
to the National Pork Board’s offices
to finish its media training and
participate in a live interview with a
TV reporter.
Throughout the week, the students
were given assignments and were
required to turn in their work. These
assignments included coming up
with a discussion question from each
tour stop to discuss with the rest of
the group, identifying three out of
the six “We Care” principles from
each stop, and work as teams on their
media scenarios.
Four students were awarded with Top
Camper Scholarships from TPPA and
IPPA. The Top Campers were Allison
Dittmer and Nichole Licht from Iowa
and Jack Clark and Ian Schaefer from
Texas. Each student received a $500
scholarship.
12 SEPTEMBER 2011