The Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines will be the destination June 3-5 for the world’s largest event focusing solely on the business of pork production.

Join thousands of pork producers from across the United States and worldwide to see firsthand the newest innovations and gather valuable intelligence on pork production at the 2015 World Pork Expo, brought to you by the National Pork Producers Council.

“We expect World Pork Expo 2015 to be a huge success. As we have had for the past several years, we again will have more than 400 exhibitors, more than 20,000 attendees— and, of course, lots of pork,” says NPPC President Ron Prestage, a veterinarian and pork producer from South Carolina. “Expo is a celebration of U.S. pork producers, who produce for this country and countries around the globe the safest, most nutritious, wholesome pork in the world.”

Traditionally, the World Pork Expo was about eating pork, but it has now evolved into a one-stop shopping opportunity for new technology, equipment and services available to the pork industry, Prestage explains.

Additionally, the Expo has several educational seminars for producers to gather information on the latest government regulations, legislative issues and management practices.

“Producers can really use it as an opportunity to be well-educated about what is available in technology and what is expected of them from the government,” he adds.

The worldpork.org website provides the most up-to-date schedule on all the activities, hotel information, and a simple avenue to secure the discounted admission fee through May 28 of $10 per adult (ages 12 and up) for the entire Expo. The on-site entrance fee is $20 per adult.

Click to the next page for a preview of the “must-see” events at this year’s World Pork Expo.

Pork-explicit to-do list

World’s largest trade show

Plan to spend hours exploring cutting-edge products, services and technologies from more than 400 exhibitors in the 310,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor exhibit space exclusively geared for pork enthusiasts. The trade show, comprised of companies around the world, offers visitors a chance to engage with businesses and sort through a variety of products and services.

National Swine Registry America’s Best Genetics Alley, featuring the leading U.S. genetics and technology companies, has been expanded and is now in two separate locations: the Varied Industries Building Upper-West Meeting Room, and the Agricultural Building, which is also the center for international visitors.

Trade show hours run from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on June 3 and June 4; and 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on June 5.

Educational seminars

If you are searching for knowledge on hot-topic issues, research or management practices, then mark the educational seminars down as an item that must be completed at this year’s World Pork Expo, scheduled June 3-4.

A wealth of information will be presented in the business seminars held Wednesday and Thursday in the Room B of the Varied Industries Building. Rapid-responding vaccines to emerging diseases will be the subject of the Wednesday morning seminar sponsored by Harrisvaccines. The United Soybean Board will host a seminar on how biodiesel can add up to a big win for the pork industry; that presentation is scheduled for two different times on Thursday.

The PORK Academy, sponsored by the Pork Checkoff, will include 10 well-planned seminars from 9:15 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday in the Varied Industries Building, Room C. Experts in the pork industry will present recent information on regulatory changes for antibiotic use in food animals, on-farm audit programs, preparing a response to foreign-animal disease outbreaks, sow management, and creating a positive eating experience for consumers worldwide. 

New Product Tour

The New Product Tour spotlights the most promising new products in the industry. Pork industry innovators have been hard at work developing an array of new products to assist producers in improving efficiency and increasing profits. National Hog Farmer is pleased to offer our readers and World Pork Expo partakers an opportunity to learn more about the new products and services recently introduced to the pork industry.

On behalf of our pork producer readers, a panel of pork industry experts will investigate the new products during the Expo. The New Product Review Panel will also share members’ thoughts in a special feature of the July issue of National Hog Farmer.

Your opinion counts, too. Stop by the National Hog Farmer booth, No. 625, in the Varied Industries Building during trade show hours at the World Pork Expo to cast your vote for most promising new product. When you cast your vote, you are automatically entered into a daily drawing. The product with the most votes casts by World Pork Expo attendees will be showcased as the “producer’s choice” new product.

Network and reconnect

Sharing information and ideas with fellow pork producers is at the heart and soul of the World Pork Expo. No matter if you start a conversation at the Big Grill, trade show, hospitality tents or Music Fest, World Pork Expo provides the perfect atmosphere for connecting with individuals who share a passion for the pork industry.

“Pork producers are a pretty open, transparent group of people. They typically share those things that work well in their operations, versus things they find to be challenging,” Prestage says.

Visit NPPC and NPB tents or booths

The NPPC works hard to develop and defend export markets, fight for reasonable legislation and regulation, and inform and educate legislators. The Expo gives you the chance to visit with NPPC leadership and staff at the tent on the Grand Concourse, or at either of its booths in the Varied Industries and Agriculture buildings.

Also don’t forget to stop by the National Pork Board to connect with staff and leadership, and enjoy breakfast and bacon snacks daily at the Hospitality Tent outside of the Varied Industries Building. Lunch will be provided from noon to 2:30 p.m. during a seminar luncheon featuring National Hog Farmer market expert Steve Meyer, Ph.D., and Iowa State University weather expert Elwynn Taylor, Ph.D.

Eat pork

Paid admission to the Expo entitles you to a free lunch of mouth-watering pork served from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday through Friday at the Big Grill on the Fairground Triangle.

In the beginning, the Expo was a way to introduce the versatility of pork to consumers, but it has grown into an event for pork production business. Still, everyone can enjoy the great taste of pork during the time spent at the World Pork Expo.

Schedule fun time

A fun activity for the golf enthusiast will be the World Pork Open Golf Tournament, made possible by underwriting sponsors ADM Alliance Nutrition and Chr. Hansen. The tournament begins with registration at 8 a.m. June 3 at Otter Creek Golf Course in Ankeny, Iowa. It is open to all interested parties, but limited to 144 golfers.

Prefer shooting clay targets over swinging a golf club? Then participate in the World Pork Open Clay Target Championship, to be held June 4 at the New Pioneer Gun Club, Waukee, Iowa. Complete details on both events and registration are available at worldpork.org.

Unwind Thursday evening to the sounds of music on Grand Avenue from 4:30 to 8 p.m. A strong lineup of talented musicians is ready to perform in an array of music genres: Country music newcomer Jake McVey; rhythm and blues musicians Hot Rod-Chevy Kevy; Denny Laine, formerly with the Moody Blues and Paul McCartney and Wings; and legend Terry Sylvester of the Hollies.

Hog show activities

The swine barns will be a flurry of weeklong activities, which include shows, sales and educational opportunities. Live hogs will begin arriving on June 1 to be on display for Expo visitors.

A Stock Show U Clinic for swine will kick off the youth activities on Monday evening. Pork Quality Assurance Plus certification will also be held on June 2 for both youth and adults. The Team Purebred Skillathon Quiz will take place on Wednesday, with the judging contest on Thursday.

Leading the showing events, the World Pork Expo Junior National, hosted by the National Junior Swine Association and Team Purebred will start bright and early at 8 a.m. June 3. In 2014, the Junior National Show set an all-time record with more than 1,600 hogs exhibited.

Swine breeders from across the nation will compete for top honors in the Expo’s open shows on June 5. The breeding stock sales start at 8 a.m. June 6.

Stay informed before and during the Expo by downloading the free mobile app, connecting with the World Pork Expo on Facebook, or following on Twitter at #NPPCWPX. 

Plan your visit

Prior to arriving at the Expo, you can plan your visit by downloading the free Expo mobile app by searching for “World Pork” at the Apple Store, Android Market or Blackberry’s App World websites. Presented by National Hog Farmer, this app will keep you updated with the most recent developments; interactive exhibitor map; and listings, schedules and locations of activities, including seminars.

The user-friendly app has additional features that include receiving alerts, connecting to social media and personalizing your schedule to maximize your Expo visit. Each year’s app is unique, so download the 2015 app to ensure you do not miss a thing.

PORK Academy Schedule
June 3
Varied Industries Building, Room C
9:15 a.m. – 10 a.m.
FDA ABX Guidance
Jennifer Koeman, National Pork Board
Harry Snelson, American Association of Swine Veterinarians

10:15 a.m. – 11 a.m.
Secure Pork Supply
Pam Zaabel, Iowa State University

11:15 a.m. – noon
Common Industry Audit
Sherrie Webb, National Pork Board

1:30 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.
Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus
Paul Thomas, AMVC

2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
U.S. Pork Exports — Situation and Outlook
Dermot Hayes, Iowa State University
Becca Nepple, National Pork Board

June 4
Varied Industries Building, Room C
9:15 a.m. – 10 a.m.
Sow Lifetime Productivity
Chris Hostetler, National Pork Board

10:15 a.m. – 11 a.m.
Planning for an Emergency Mass-Depopulation of Swine in Response to a Foreign-Animal Disease Outbreak
Mark Rice, North Carolina State University

11:15 p.m. – noon
The Swine Health Information Center – A New Defense for the Industry
Paul Sundberg, National Pork Board

1:30 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.
Mitigating the Impact of Seasonal Loss of Productivity
Tim Safranski, University of Missouri

2:30 p.m. – 3:15 p.m.
Pork Quality
David Newman, North Dakota State University
Dustin Boler, University of Illinois