Change starts with you, National Pork Board president Bob Ruth passionately shared with pork producers during the National Pork Industry Forum in Chicago on March 7.
“I don’t feel good about the situation we are in right now in the pork industry,” Ruth says. “But as we’ve talked about this week, if you don’t feel good about it, what should you do? Change it.”
Ruth’s passion for the pork industry spans decades. In addition to his role leading America’s pork producers, he’s the past president for Country View Family Farms, a farrow-to-finish farm with 110,000 sows. He moved into his current role as the senior vice president for Clemens Food Group after serving Country View Farms for 20 years.
Over the years, one thing that he’s learned is the power of a pork producer’s voice.
“I know we are pretty humble people in agriculture, but you would not believe the power that you have as a pork producer,” Ruth said. “Your voice means so much to our international customers. It’s unbelievable.”
But it’s not just important internationally, he pointed out.
“You can go to any grocery store and share your thoughts. You will make a difference because you are experts in what you do,” he said. “You have the power to change minds immediately.”
Fewer people have knowledge about agriculture today. That’s why he believes the timing is even more critical for producers to elevate their voice along all parts of the supply chain.
“My hope is not a false hope about what we can accomplish together. I have seen it work before. When your plant has 17 million people around it, you learn how important it is to address the consumer. At Clemons we’ve learned a lot about how to navigate within a high people population and it’s taught us a lot of valuable lessons that I hope I’ve been able to impart on the board during my time here,” Ruth said.
He said it’s time for engagement. Time is precious. However, if everyone puts a little more time into telling their story and letting their voice be heard, it will pay off.
“Believe that your work is powerful. Together we are so much stronger than we are separate. If there is one message that I hope you hear from me, it’s that we are not going to get this done on our own,” Ruth said. “We are going to get it done together.”
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