Source:  NC Pork Council, 1/21/10

The North Carolina Pork Council (NCPC) is pleased to be hosting its 2010 NC Pork Conference in conjunction with the Southern Farm Show.

Pork Conference events are planned for Thursday, February 4th and Friday, February 5th for NCPC members and pork producers. The Southern Farm Show runs Wednesday, February 3 - Friday, February 5, 2010 at the NC State Fairgrounds in Raleigh and is free to attend.

Pork Conference events will begin with a complimentary lunch on Thursday. The "We Care" trailer from the National Pork Board (NPB) will be beside the Martin building on the state fairgrounds serving lunch on both Thursday and Friday.

The theme for Thursday afternoon will be the "State of the Industry."  Beginning in the Martin building at 1 pm, Don Butler, President of the National Pork Producers Council; Richard Eason, CEO/President of Cape Farm Credit; Kelly Zering, Associate Professor at NC State University; Angie Whitener, Director of Policy Development for NCPC and Tommy Stevens, Director of Environmental Services will present on current state and national industry issues as well as the economics facing the pork industry. Speakers will also be available to answer participant questions.

The annual Bacon Bash fundraising event for the NCPC Political Action Committee will also take place during the conference. This members-only event will be at the Raleigh Marriott Crabtree Valley beginning at 5:30 pm. For more information about this members-only event, please contact Angie Whitener at angie@ncpork.org.

Friday morning, NCPC will present their annual industry awards at a breakfast ceremony at the Raleigh Marriott Crabtree Valley. Registration for the breakfast is $10 preregistered or $15 at the door. Award winners being honored this year are Bundy Lane - Outstanding Pork Producer, John Garner - Pork All-American and L.L. Murphrey - Hall of Fame posthumously. Also to be recognized are the 2009 NCPC Environmental Stewards: Butler Farms and L&M Farms.

The awards breakfast will be followed by the NCPC 2010 Annual Meeting and a board meeting.

Friday's complimentary lunch will once again be at the Martin building on the fairgrounds. From 1:00 - 3:00 pm, pork producers may attend seminars for Operator in Charge credits. Topics will include "Commitment to Conservation - An Overview of Bryant Worley Farms: 2009 National Environmental Steward Award Winner" and "Tips for the Implementation of Timely Euthanasia."

For more information on any of these events, please contact Ann Edmondson at NCPC by calling 919-781-0361 or you may email her at ann@ncpork.org.  You may also go to www.ncpork.org to register online.