The Minnesota Pork Board works on behalf of Minnesota pork producers who pay into themandatory Pork Checkoff by administering state-level activities. These Pork Checkoff programs fall into three categories: research, education, promotion. Pork producers and individuals associated with entities who pay the Pork Checkoff are encouraged to take part in Pork Checkoff activities and to help determine how to invest Pork Checkoff funding.
To assist with planning lunch, seating and handouts, pre-registration is requested, but not required. To
pre-register, e-mail colleen@mnpork.com or telephone 1-800-537-7675.
Meet Your 2010 Minnesota Pork Board Candidates
Minnesota Pork Board annual meeting attendees will elect12 individuals to serve as executive board members of the Minnesota Pork Board and as Pork Act Delegates to the national meeting. The executive board members serve one-year terms and they deal exclusively with Pork Checkoff topics.
The following information on each candidate is meant to help attendees make an informed vote. The candidates are listed alphabetically. Each candidate answered the following questions:
Describe your involvement in the swine industry.
Name one personal quality that you would bring to the MPB executive board and describe how this quality would benefit the board.
The Pork Checkoff can fund three areas of work: pork promotions, producer and consumer research and educational programs. In percentages, how would you allocate 100% towards these areas and briefly explain why.
I work for Preferred Capital Management (PCM), a swine production management company in Fairmont. My expertise is in manure management with over 17 years of environmental/ regulatory/permitting experience. Prior to PCM, I worked 10 years with southern Minnesota swine producers as an University of Minnesota Extension Educator. I own a 2,400-head custom finishing barn west of my native Pipestone. I have served five years on the MPB executive board and I am co-chair of the MPB research committee. I also serve on the Pork Congress committee. I served for seven years on the Martin County Pork Producers Board and I remain active at the county level.
I bring access to producers and information from a broad cross section of the swine industry. My work with many producers from all aspects of the industry is beneficial and broadens the knowledge pool. I listen and I can objectively evaluate information when determining an appropriate course of action for the challenges facing the pork industry.
Promotion: 50%. I believe growing our market share in U.S. grocery stores has long-term benefits. As we have experienced, our growing exports are tremendous when they continue to grow. Increasing business from existing customers is typically easier than converting or locating new customers.
Research: 15%. We will always have a question or challenge that needs an answer. The goal of research is to lower production costs and increase efficiency, which, in turn, improves pork producers overall profitability.
Education: 35%. As we have seen with the novel H1 N1situation, education is a never-ending struggle and we need to increase our reach to the younger and media savvy consumer age groups. If we can connect with people sooner, perhaps we can establish communication and credibility ahead of our challengers or challenges.
Bruce Dornink, Preston
I operate a wean-to-finish facility for Sauer Valley Farms and market 6,000-head per year. I am presently serving my eighth year on the Fillmore County Pork Board with the last two years as treasurer and membership chairman. My wife and I also coordinate the county pork wagon, which serves pork at various events throughout the summer. I have also served on the MPB promotions committee.
I’ve been in the pork industry for 34 years. I am a good listener and more than willing to do whatever is asked of me to help our industry grow.
Promotion: 50%. It is very important to be visible in getting our product out to the consumer. We need to increase consumption, both locally and globally, with the assurance that pork is a nutritious and safe product.
Research: 25%. We have a responsibility to be able to respond to the public when questions arise regarding food and health safety. H1N1 is a current example. Also, research is important to the producers themselves in improving their production of quality product at an affordable price.
Education: 25%. It is important to teach people of all ages about our industry. It’s amazing how little people really know about pork production, preparing pork and pork nutrition.
I am a partner in Protein Sources Management, a swine management company. I have been an active member of the Wright County Pork Producers for 22 years and president five of those years. I have been a member of the Cokato Lions for 20 years and have served as its president three times. Our Lions Club annually has three big fundraising dinners and at each one we serve either pork chops or grilled chops. I served five years on the Minnesota Pork Producers Association executive board and a year as president of the MPPA. I have also served on the MPB human capital committee and the Pork Congress committee. I am a PQA Plus and TQA advisor and have spent this past year certifying many producers and employees, along with doing site assessments. I am also a Youth PQA Plus advisor. As an MPB executive board member, I would like to use by leadership and experience to make decisions that help our industry move forward and to meet our new challenges.
I am open to all points of view and able to add to discussions. I believe that the decisions I make should benefit all producers and the pork industry.
Promotion: 45%. As pork producers, we need to sell both our products and our commitment to environmental stewardship and animal welfare.
Research: 25%. I think a quarter of the budget should remain in research because there are always challenges to work on and questions to answer.
Education: 30%. Consumer education on pork quality, food safety and on our commitment to providing the best animal care possible is an educational message we need to share.
My family has been in agriculture for over 50 years and I have actively raised pigs since graduating from South Dakota State University. I’m involved with day-to-day management of our farrow-to-finish operations, which are located in seven states. I have participated in the National Pork Board’s plan of work budget committee and I am active in the 21st Century Pork Group. I am a Minnesota Agri-Growth Council board member and I am a great supporter of 4-H and FFA youth activities.
I am very committed to the pork industry and take great pride and satisfaction in producing the highest quality and safest pork in the world. As an active pork producer with industry experience, I will use my insight and knowledge to benefit Minnesota pork producers and the pork industry.
The difficult times facing the pork industry demonstrates that we need to annually evaluate how we allocate our funds to assure sustainability. Our guidance of Pork Checkoff funding is critical for the pork industry and producers’ future.
Promotion: 50-60%. We need to improve product development and focus on marketing and promoting cuts that can return the most value and increase consumption.
Research: 20%. We need to continue looking for products and technical innovations to lower costs, improve efficiencies and positively influence pork producers’ overall profitability.
Education: 20%. Knowledge is power and we need to educate the public on how pork is a great product and how we care for our livestock. Our future relies on the next generation of talented youth becoming pork producers and consumer understanding of how our food comes to their plates.
I own and operate a wean-to- finish operation in Pipestone County. I am currently the vice president of the MPB and I am co-chair of the MPB human capital committee. Other MPB committees I have served on are education/ambassador, producer services and promotions. At the local level, I serve as the Pipestone County Pork Producers secretary.
I would like to continue offering my many years of swine industry knowledge and experience to the Minnesota Pork Board. As a board member, I believe my top priority is to keep the needs of my fellow pork producers as our foremost goal.
Promotion: 50%. To make this a more stable and viable industry, we will have to continue investing in promotions. Our outreach to pork consumers will help stabilize both our domestic and global markets.
Research: 20%. We need to continually address our on-going challenges with health concerns, public image and production. As we go forward, all operations will need to be as efficient as possible for the changing economic times.
Education: 30%. The Pork Checkoff educational programs have been huge assets for our industry, as evidenced this past year by the MPB and National Pork Board media campaigns to educate our consumers about pork safety and the H1N1 influenza virus. I believe this helped minimize the negative affects to our markets.
I am the general manager of two sow sites that are cooperatively owned by 45 pork producers. While the 10,000 sows are in North Dakota, most of the production is finished in Minnesota. I am a University of Minnesota graduate and served in the military. I worked at South St. Paul Stockyards and was a 1988 Minnesota Swine Honor Roll inductee. I also served as co-chair of the J.D. Hawton Animal Evaluation and Teaching Fund to perpetuate the U of M General Livestock Judging Program.
I will be completing my first term on the MPB executive board. I maintain a close relationship with the U of M and I believe that this tie can be an asset to the MPB in the areas of swine research and outreach. We need to continually advocate for applied research that could potentially benefit Minnesota pork producers. I believe we need to blend youth and experience on the MPB Executive Board and my many years of experience will be an asset to the board.
Promotion: 50-60%. To improve all levels of consumption, both domestically and globally.
Research: 25-30%. Invest in applied research to improve our efficiency, as well as product quality.
Education: 10-25%. Teach chefs, restaurateurs, foodservice and the general public about the many uses and ways to best prepare and present all cuts and types of pork .
I own and manage a contract finishing and nursery operation consisting of 9,000 finishing hogs and 1,000 nursery pigs on two sites, and I am involved in all aspects of production. This is my second year on the MPB executive board and I am board secretary. I am active on the MPB promotion committee and the Pork Congress committee. I took part in the National Pork Board’s Pork Leadership Academy last year, serve on the alumni board for Minnesota Agricultural and Rural Leadership program, serve as secretary of the GFW FFA Alumni Association and as co-leader of our local 4-H club. I was recently elected to the Nicollet County Farm Bureau board.
Through my leadership training and board positions, I understand the importance looking at new and innovative approaches to situations that arise. With the current economic crisis in the pork industry and the affect H1N1 had on exports, the board must remain committed to utilizing Pork Checkoff dollars to best serve all Minnesota producers. By working with other organizations we can also increase the effectiveness of our checkoff dollars. The recent donation of ground pork and cheese to food shelves by Minnesota pork, soybean and dairy groups is a great example of leveraging our Pork Checkoff.
Pork Checkoff dollars are designated to promotion, research and education. The allocation of the Pork Checkoff shows producers that we have their best interest in mind.
Promotion: 60%.With the current H1N1 scare, we have to work to regain trade with foreign markets and promote to U.S. consumers that pork is a safe and nutritious protein source.
Research: 22%. Funding research gives our industry science-based standards from which to be fairly measured.
Education: 18%. Educational efforts provide knowledge to consumers and opportunities to work with youth to encourage them to become active leaders in the industry.
I have been farming on our family farm since 2005. We finish about 2,200 head of market hogs a year, in addition to crop farming. I am a 2007 graduate of the National Pork Board’s Pork Leadership Academy. Since 2004, I have been on the board of directors for the Brown County Pork Producers. I am a member of the Brown County 4-H livestock committee and I am the Brown County Fair’s 4-H swine superintendent. I have a lot of experience organizing and volunteering at pork promotions, and working with youth and the general public.
I am enthusiastic, passionate and dedicated to involving youth in 4-H programs, and promoting pork and educating the public through various events such as the Brown County Pork Producers’ food stand.
Promotion: 30%. Promotion dollars are needed to keep improving our image as pork producers and the safety of our pork products.
Research: 30%. Both consumer and producer research is required. Consumer research can help find new target markets for our products, as well as showing where, how and what are the most effective ways to change or adapt our product to get the maximum response possible.
Education: 40%. To get more pork into the average household, I would supp ort pro grams that educate the younger generation and the primary household consumer.
I have been employed with Schwartz Farms, Inc. since 2002 and am involved in human resources, legislative communications and contract grower relations. I currently serve on the MPPA public policy committee and participate in the NPPC Legislative Education Action Development Resource program.
Perhaps the greatest asset I could bring the executive board and pork producers is my passion for our rural communities and our livelihood. Passion drives persistence, and our industry and rural communities need a persistent voice. My experiences as chair for St. Mary’s Catholic School’s board of education and Sleepy Eye Area Optimists Club, and earning a master’s degree from Carlson School of Management, has prepared me to communicate with various personalities and to identify and implement priorities.
I believe the percentage allocated to each area needs to be annually reviewed.
Promotion and Research: 80%. Given the supply versus demand issue, as well as the growing competition from other markets, it is imperative we collaborate with National Pork Board and the foodservice sector to develop products that meet today’s consumers’ desire for easy, convenient, precooked, frozen and individually packaged product. While product research and promotion requires significant allocations of time and money, the obvious lack of product for today’s consumers at retail and foodservice outlets needs to be addressed. In the interim, we need to promote and market the contemporary image of pork within programs already developed and we need to jointly market our product and producer message. Creating demand is beneficial to all pork producers, and therefore, is well worth the investment.
Education: 20%. We need to continue promoting swine welfare, environmental stewardship, nutritional information and food safety, particularly in light of campaigns such as “Meatless Mondays.” The gravity of this concern is exponential as such campaigns can become standard practice for schools and other recipients of federal monies for food programs.
1. I have been involved in pork production most of my life, including many years as a swine seedstock producer. In addition to a small swine operation, I also crop farm.
My involvement and experience in pork production and the swine industry are assets that I can bring to the executive board. I have been involved with the MPB and MPPA for almost 30 years and have served on several committees. One of my strengths is listening, and as a board member, I will listen to and act on producer concerns. I am completing my first term on the MPB executive board and I am a current member of the Pork Congress committee. I have served as county pork association director and president, as well as serving on several state committees.
I think we should fund the Pork Checkoff areas equally because each is very important to pork production and to the future of the swine industry.
Promotion: 33.3%. We need to keep pork promotions in front of the consumer and find ways to reach new consumers.
Research: 33.3%. We need to do research to help our producers find more global markets and develop new pork products for busy families.
Education: 33.4%. We need to continue educating the public on the quality
Jackie Tlam, Dunnell
My husband, Daryl, and I are partners of Pedigree Pork, a 1,000 sow, farrow-to- finish operation in southern Martin County. I manage the farm finances and help out on the farm as needed. I have been a member of the MPB promotion and image committee for several years and have been on the MPB executive board for one year. This past year, my family and I participated in pork grilling promotions at the Taste of Minnesota, the Insight Bowl in Phoenix Ariz. and Minnesota Twins baseball games.
I am home care director at The Pines Assisted Living in Jackson. The knowledge and skills I use in the healthcare field translate well into pork production. For example, my communication and problem solving skills are useful as a board member and when working in the swine barn, and our farm’s production benefits because we adopt practices used in health care facilities to prevent cross contamination and control infection in the swine barns. This has become a very valuable asset with the occurrence of H1N1.
I would rate promotion, research and education equally in importance. Considering what our industry has had to deal with on a more human level when faced with H1N1, I believe consumer education ranks highest on the list of priorities.
I co-own Thome Family Farms, which includes farrow-to-finish production, with my brother, Matt, and my father, Gary. I am finishing my second year of service on the MPB executive board. I also serve on the Mower County Pork Producers’ board and cochair the MPB research committee.
The one personal quality that I feel I would bring to the MPB executive board is a positive attitude. I believe that during these difficult times in our industry, a positive attitude is a quality we need in our leadership.
Promotion: 40%. We need to continuously allocate funds to promotions that advance pork’s market share.
Research: 20%. Today’s producers need tools to adapt to our ever changing industry. These tools are developed through producer research programs.
Education: 40%. Our industry has learned a hard lesson on what it can truly cost us when our consumers are ill informed. As a board member, I will work to fund education to help keep our consumers correctly informed.
I operate a finishing site and two wean-to- finish sites with my wife and two adult sons. As a member of the Nicollet County Pork Producers, I have served seven years on the board, one of which as president. I also actively volunteer to work at pork promotional events. I currently serve on the MPB executive board and I have served on various state pork committees over the last 10 years. I am also a Minnesota Agriculture and Rural Leadership program alumni.
From my involvement on boards, including Nicollet County Planning and Zoning and various MPB Pork Checkoff committees, I bring experience to the executive board. Serving on the county planning and zoning board, in addition to other committee and board experiences, has demonstrated the need to listen to others and to actively discuss not only my views but also the views of others.
We are all aware that we are in an ever-changing environment, whether it be our industry, consumers, technology, regulations or the businesses we work with. Because of rapid change, budget priorities must be flexible with decisions made that reflect current and pending challenges and issues. Having served on various state pork committees, it is difficult to put percentages on which topic is the most important because they are all important to the pork industry, with unexpected circumstance changing priorities. When making budget decisions at MPB meetings, there are always convincing arguments on how to fund various programs and what programs are most important. That is why it’s important to be a patient listener.
I am co-owner of Leonard Pork Farms and Timber Lake Sod with my brother-in-law, Jeff Leonard. We have a wean-to-finish operation in which we utilize our nursery and finishing barns to raise 10,000 head per year. I have been involved with county, state and national organizations in various forms since 1991.
One quality I believe I will bring to the board is experience. Serving as president this past year has given me additional insight on how to handle certain situations and enabled me to promote pork in new ways and to different customers. Another quality I will share is a positive attitude. I feel that a positive attitude can go a long way when working on issues. It helps bring out the best in others. If I am going to do something, I want to do it right!
This past year has taught me that things change rapidly as to where Pork Checkoff dollars are best spent. As you may know, we invested a large sum on H1N1 education and “pork is safe” promotions. This being the case, we need to constantly monitor and change our spending to meet the needs of our ever changing industry. In a normal year, I would like to see 40% promotion, 30% research and 30% education.
VI. Election of 2010 MPB Executive Board and 2011 Pork Act Delegates
VII. National Pork Board Initiatives and Priorities
Chris Novak, CEO National Pork Board
VIII. Consideration of 2010 Resolutions
IX. Consideration of MPB Bylaw Amendment
X. Election Results for MPB Executive Board and Pork Act Delegates
XI. Announcements
XII. Adjourn
Full Schedule
11:30 a.m.-12:45 p.m. Lunch (open to all pork producers attending meetings)
1-3:30 p.m. Minnesota Pork Producers Association Annual Meeting
MPPA membership is required to attend this meeting. MPPA membership requires enrollment in the voluntary Strategic Investment Program or MPPA Partners program. The MPPA works on public policy development and legislative affairs and does NOT use Pork Checkoff funding for its work.
3:30-6 p.m. Minnesota Pork Board Annual Meeting
The MPB meeting is open to all pork producers who have paid into the mandatory Pork Checkoff during 2009, or to individuals representing an entity that has paid into the Pork Checkoff during the current year. MPB programs deal exclusively with promotion, research and education.
U.S. pork producers and importers pay 40 cents per $100 of value when pigs are sold and when pigs or pork products are brought into the United States. The National Pork Board collects and distributes Pork Checkoff funds and administers Pork Checkoff programs at the national level. A percentage of the annual Pork Checkoff collections return to state where the funding originated. Minnesota's return is 17 percent of the total amount collected in the state. An outside auditor annually reviews the spending of Minnesota's Pork Checkoff dollars to assure the money is used in accordance with federal law.
