Not much was left in the communities of Sulphur and Holdenville, Okla., after killer tornados struck the towns located southeast of Oklahoma City on April 28. In Holdenville, two people died in the twister, including an infant, The Weather Channel reports. One victim was found in the hard-hit town of Sulphur. One death was confirmed in Marietta. The tornado, determined to be at least an EF3, caused widespread damage to homes and businesses. Oklahoma Pork Council immediately stepped up to help the state through an unimaginably challenging time by providing free pork meals.
At Robinson Family Farms in Holdenville, the storms caused structural damage to several barns. This disruption has affected not only the physical infrastructure but also the daily operations and well-being of the animals housed there, explains Kylee Deniz, executive director of the Oklahoma Pork Council.
“The extent of the damage underscores the challenges faced by our producers in the wake of such natural disasters,” she says.
Devastating scenes like this dot the Oklahoma landscape this week. Photo by Oklahoma Pork Council.
On Sunday, Joe Locke, Oklahoma Pork Council president-elect, had the Oklahoma Pork Council smoker rolling by noon to serve food in his hometown of Marietta, Okla. He continued to cook pork until dinner on Monday, providing much-needed meals to the community that is still grappling with power outages. This act of service underscores Oklahoma Pork Council’s commitment not just as an organization but as individuals deeply rooted in and dedicated to the well-being of their fellow Oklahomans, he explains.
“It’s crucial for the pork industry to embody the role of good neighbors due to our significant presence in Oklahoma’s agricultural landscape, where pork ranks as the second largest enterprise. More importantly, we are integral members of the communities surrounding our farms. Our farmers strive to exceed the expectations of merely being good neighbors; they are vital contributors to the fabric of rural Oklahoma communities,” Locke says. “We are more than pig farmers — we are proud Oklahomans, deeply committed to the welfare of our animals, our people, our communities and our land.”
Pork producers hand out meals to storm victims in Sulphur. Photo by Oklahoma Pork Council.
On Monday, Oklahoma Pork Council showed up with food truck partner, Newman’s Firehouse BBQ, in Holdenville to hand out 1,600 free pork meals.
“Within 50 miles of the Holdenville community, there are 80,000 sows within the Tyson Foods system. The majority of these sows are cared for by local farmers who contract with Tyson Foods,” Deniz says. “Behind our large pig footprint in western Oklahoma, around Holdenville would be the second most prevalence of pigs in the state of Oklahoma.”
Oklahoma Pork Council collaborated with Newman’s Firehouse BBQ to serve free pork meals in Holdenville. Photo by Oklahoma Pork Council.
On Tuesday, they served 800 free pork meals in partnership with Operation BBQ Relief and Newman’s Firehouse BBQ at the WalMart in Sulphur, Okla.
Ben E. Keith and the Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma, along with Operation BBQ, arranged for an additional fresh pork product delivery to Sulphur. The Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma’s CEO, Jeff Marlow, arranged for a refrigerated truck loaded with vegetables to be driven to Sulphur and staying on site at the Walmart in Sulphur through the week. Ben E. Keith’s Emily Melton arranged for a special delivery of pork purchased by Oklahoma pig farmers via Oklahoma Pork to fill the reefer truck. As well, Oklahoma Pork purchased 10 cases of pork loins and 10 cases of pork butts, meaning thousands of more meals for Sulphur residents to be prepared by Operation BBQ tonight for dinner and through the balance of this week.
Oklahoma Pork Council Executive Director Kylee Deniz hands out meals to volunteers in Sulphur. Photo by Oklahoma Pork Council.
“The Oklahoma Pork Board and staff recognize the urgent needs of communities affected by the recent storms and are actively fulfilling them. Sulphur and Holdenville, dense pork-producing regions of Oklahoma, have received significant support from local communities, which is vital for our producers’ daily operations. In response to the crisis, our board members and staff were compelled to band together to assist these areas,” Deniz says. “By doing so, Oklahoma Pork and its partners are not only addressing immediate needs but also reinforcing the bonds of the community. This effort exemplifies the spirit of ‘One Oklahoma,’ characterized by unity and collective resilience.”
Community members grabbing a sandwich and drink in Holdenville. Photo by Oklahoma Pork Council.
Locke says Oklahoma Pork Council’s commitment to Oklahoma informs and inspires every aspect of their organization’s operations.
“For our farmers, being good neighbors is fundamentally about caring for our friends and family, which naturally includes our neighbors. This approach fosters a strong community spirit and ensures that our practices reflect the values we cherish as Oklahomans,” he says.
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