One of the best parts of the World Pork Expo is the opportunity to network and connect with pork industry leaders from across the country. Everywhere you go, you’ll find people in engaging conversations and to say there’s a lot of good advice being shared is an understatement.
Farm Journal’s PORK caught up with pork industry leaders to find out the best piece of advice they’ve heard lately. These nuggets of wisdom range from practical barn advice to thoughtful leadership perspective. Here’s what they had to say.
“A decision to not make a decision is a decision itself.” – Doug Albright, Hubbard Feeds swine specialist
“Guard your integrity like it is your most precious possession.” – Bill Even, National Pork Board CEO
“Follow your heart. Working with students, I get to see a lot of opportunities and decisions being made. The best piece of advice I’ve heard lately is follow your heart, follow your gut, and at the end of the day do what’s best for you and your heart will guide you.” – Morgan Wonderly, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo State University lecturer
“Look at the pork industry. If you are looking not just for a job, but for a career, there are so many opportunities in the pork industry. Plus, you can make a lot of friends and have a good time while you’re doing it.” – Jerry Hairr, Smithfield Foods
“Farmers that have land are in a great position to impact the carbon sequestration process. Don’t sell yourself short – there’s a better day ahead to capture value on the farm. I don’t want producers to jump too soon.” – Terry Wolters, National Pork Producers Council president
“The best advice I’ve heard lately came from my dad passed down from his father: ‘To have a neighbor, you have to be a neighbor.’ I think that is a prime example of pig farming and farming in general because everything we do is striving to be a good neighbor whether it’s caring for our animals, our environment or our community. That’s something we carry through our entire pig farming practice.” – Jill Brokaw, Illinois pork producer
“Today’s efforts are the groundwork for tomorrow’s groundbreaking.” – Bryan Humphreys, National Pork Producers Council CEO
“Someone recently told me how you do anything is how you do everything. That’s something I have held true in my heart in work, in life and in any aspect or situation I find myself in – constantly checking myself, how I do things and how I’m perceived to do things.” – Lauren Nagel, veterinarian with AMVC in Indiana
“Don’t wait until you’re ‘ready’ because you’ll spend your whole life waiting. Take the leap, because sink or swim, you’ll never look back and wonder, ‘what if...’” – Heidi Flory, Pennsylvania pork producer
We will be uniting together June 6-12 for PORK Week across all of our Farm Journal platforms to elevate the important role the pork industry plays in feeding the world. Share your stories and post photos on social media using #PORKWeek22 to help us honor the pork industry. From “AgDay TV” to “AgriTalk” to “U.S. Farm Report” to PorkBusiness.com and everything in between, tune in and join us as we acknowledge the most noble profession there is: feeding people.
Read More from Farm Journal’s PORK:
Innovative Insight: How Bryan Humphreys Will Lead Pork Industry Forward
Economists Urge Pig Farmers to Watch Out for These Threats to Pork Outlook
