A pumped-up crowd with a sold-out tradeshow shows the optimistic mood of America’s pork industry. Nearly 5,000 people travel to Iowa for North America’s largest winter trade show, Iowa Pork Congress. While the tradeshow and seminars kicked off mid-week, Iowa Pork Producers Association hosts events throughout the entire week to assist hog farmers to successfully farm, promote pork and enrich lives.

The coffee was flowing and so was the conversations. Here’s the buzz straight from the 46th annual Iowa Pork Congress.