During my year as president of the National Pork Producers Council, I’ve had the opportunity to travel to ten states and multiple countries. And I’ve learned that pork producers around the world are more similar than we are different. We’re all focused on raising healthy pork – economically and efficiently. We’re all trying to be good stewards of limited resources, whether that’s land, water, or feed. And we all face misconceptions and pressures from the public — whether they are consumers, activists or legislators.
To combat those misconceptions, we must build relationships. You can’t simply meet a legislator once and then expect them to take your side on labor policy, Proposition 12 or line speeds. They need to know you, to trust in your expertise and your passion for the industry. Then, when you show up again and explain how the rules and regulations affect you, it’s powerful.
Building relationships can happen at the local level by participating in livestock boards and other industry-related organizations. At the state level, Minnesota’s annual Farmfest has become a destination for politicians and government officials to engage with agribusiness members from across the state. At the federal level, NPPC’s Legislative Action Conference offers access to our nation’s representatives. These are just a handful of examples.
But this kind of grassroots work lays the foundation for bigger advocacy wins and opportunities ahead. For example, while we anticipate finalization of the Farm Bill, NPPC continues to elevate the industry’s request for funding for animal health programs and foreign market development and highlighting the need for a federal solution for Prop 12.
Other wins also set our industry on the right path for the future: defeating the Denver slaughterhouse ban, the Ninth Circuit ruling on CAFOs, maintaining line speed trials, and passing traceability standards within our industry. These key wins are all the result of consistently showing up, working together, and building relationships.
I’ve had the opportunity to interact with the next generation of leaders in the pork industry. They are smart, future-focused, and ready to adapt to innovation. That makes me optimistic. I encourage them to get engaged – and stay engaged – in whatever way they can. They have different experiences, and we’re going to need those as new challenges come our way.
The world is run by those who show up. Because when we show up, we get a seat at the table. We get to tell our own story. I know it’s hard and sometimes inconvenient. We’re busy. We have work to do on our farms. But, as I step down from the president’s role at NPPC, I will still be involved. Our industry needs all of us — making calls, visiting D.C., engaging in our states and communities, building relationships and telling our story. That’s how we protect the future of the pork industry.
And if you hit a wall? Find a way over, around or under it but just keep showing up.
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