Pork lovers can sample foods, see exhibits at expo

Missouri pork producers will find a variety of activities, including speakers, a fundraising auction, a trade show and youth events this week at the pork expo.

Starting today, the Missouri Pork Association’s annual expo gets under way at the Holiday Inn Select Executive Center and Trowbridge Livestock Center at MU. It concludes Friday.

“(The expo) is a chance for producers to visit with their peers, and is an all-around educational experience,” said Don Nikodim, executive vice president of the Missouri Pork Association.

Among the speakers will be Charles Fulhage, professor of agriculture engineering at MU, who will give a presentation Thursday on the calibration of manure application equipment. He said the expo offers many interesting activities.

The trade show is the big event at the expo, Nikodim said. The show has 60 exhibitors, many of which are sponsors. Cargill Pork, MFA Inc., Land O’ Lakes, Purina Feed LLC, and FCS Financial are just a few.

The youth activities will include a statewide speaking contest featuring Missouri Future Farmers of America members, who first competed in a regional competition. A program called “In the Show Ring” teaches children how to prepare their animals for show and how to groom and manage the animals in the show ring.

But the expo isn’t only about the show. Opportunities to consume pork abound. A great pork chili cookoff, pork industry buffet, pork leadership breakfast and Missouri wine-tasting also are scheduled.

For a schedule of events, go to mopork.com/Events_MissouriPorkExpo.asp.