Annual Meeting 2023 Recap
February 2023
The 2023 Kentucky Pork Producers Annual Meeting took place in Bowling Green, Kentucky on January 19 and 20. Attendees from across the Commonwealth and country traveled to attend the convention and learn about the latest in the Kentucky swine industry.
Thursday evening individuals were invited to attend the Live Scholarship Auction and Awards Banquet. The banquet began with a tastefully designed dinner menu with plenty of pork options for attendees to choose from. After the conclusion of the dinner, Executive Director, Niki Ellis took the stage to announce the 2023 Award Winners. The following recipients were honored:
Outstanding Restaurant Partner: What Chefs Want
Outstanding Farm Family: J.W. & Ashley O’Bryan
2023 Hall of Fame Member: Bill Cochran
Retiring Board President: Benji Hudnall
The Kentucky Pork Producers also had the opportunity to present the Kentucky Soybean staff and organization with the award for Outstanding Associate Member. To highlight the honor and appreciation with this award, Kentucky Pork Producers staff presented this award in front Kentucky Soybean membership at the Kentucky Commodity Conference.
Following award recognitions, auctioneer, Logan Buchanan, began the Live Auction to raise funds for the Margie Holt Memorial Scholarship Fund. Funds raised for this scholarship go directly to individuals within the swine industry who are pursuing higher education. The 2022 recipients of the Margie Holt Memorial Scholarship fund were Riley Hudnall (Warren, KY), Julia Hinton (Breckinridge, KY), Madison Bush (Warren, KY), Ashley Hinton (Breckinridge, KY), Zachary Comer (Warren, KY).
Kentucky Pork Producers would like to thank all of those who donated or purchased items within the scholarship auction.
Attendees had no shortage of activities to choose from on Friday. With the reintroduction of an event trade show, producers and members had the opportunity to interact with prominent companies and organizations within the swine industry.
A wide range of industry professionals were invited to speak to producers. Speaker topics ranged from Economic Outlooks within the swine industry to utilizing Methane Digestion on your operation.
What was formally known as the “Show Pig Clinic” was reintroduced as the Junior Swine Program. The Ohio State University “Swientist” program presented on the importance of Biosecurity within the swine industry through multiple hands-on learning activities for youth to participate in. Those activities ranged from learning how Pathogens spread through making “virus infected snot” to creating their own Biosecurity buckets to take home to their own farms.
Kentucky Pork Producers would once again like to thank the companies and organizations that generously sponsored the 2023 Annual Meeting. These sponsorships give the Association the ability to plan and execute a conference for producers and industry supporters alike to join in fellowship and experiences that will further their personal knowledge within the swine industry.
To view more images and information from the 2023 Annual Meeting, click here.