The Oklahoma Pork Council celebrated 35 years of modern pork production in Oklahoma at the 67th Oklahoma Pork Congress at the Sheraton Hotel in Downtown Oklahoma City. More than 150 pork producers and supporters came together for educational sessions and Oklahoma Pork’s annual business meeting to elect new leadership.
One highlight included celebrating 10 deserving award recipients for outstanding performance within Oklahoma’s pork industry or steadfast support of Oklahoma pig farmers. The 2026 Oklahoma Pork Council award winners are as follows:
Anita Wray
Anita Wray of Hitchcock, Okla., was named a 2026 Oklahoma Pork Council Excellence Award recipient. Even before joining The HANOR Company in 2001, Wray gained impressive experience across production agriculture. She now uses that extensive knowledge as a farm manager for HANOR, leading a team of nearly 30 employees to care for 10,000 sows. Widely respected for her leadership and dedication, Wray ensures the highest possible care is given to the animals on her farms while helping to develop her teammates as professionals. The Excellence Award is a peer-recommended accolade for pork producers who have made the daily work of raising pigs more than a job, but a true calling to take care of their animals and their teams.
Jim Coakley
Jim Coakley of Stillwater, Okla., was named a 2026 Oklahoma Pork Council Excellence Award recipient. Over the past four decades, it would be impossible to tally the number of pig-loving young people Coakley has mentored first as an agricultural education teacher then as the senior herd manager for OSU’s Swine Center. Thanks in large part to Coakley, the OSU “school farm” serves as an eye-opening introduction to modern pig farming for countless students while also providing an ideal environment for meaningful industry research. Additionally, OSU’s swine farm has played a central role in the Oklahoma Pork Partners Derby supplying novice exhibitors with their first-ever show pigs to raise with help. The Excellence Award is a peer-recommended accolade for pork producers who have made the daily work of raising pigs more than a job, but a true calling to take care of their animals and their teams.
Karen Oropeza
Karen Oropeza of Seminole, Okla., was named a 2026 Oklahoma Pork Council Excellence Award recipient. In her eight years working at Tyson Foods, Oropeza has built upon her already remarkable agriculture career from before she even moved to the United States. Since her first role in the barns as an animal caretaker to her current leadership position as associate of operations for Tyson Foods – Oropeza is beloved for her excellent attitude, her willingness to always help, and her ability to train and mentor a quality workforce. She helps run a 2,700-head sow farm while ensuring new hires receive not only the training, but also the sense of community they need to succeed. The Excellence Award is a peer-recommended accolade for pork producers who have made the daily work of raising pigs more than a job, but a true calling to take care of their animals and their teams.
Goss Livestock
Goss Livestock of Leedey and Butler, Okla., was named a 2026 Oklahoma Pork Council Excellence Award recipient. Led by Kent, Danna, Blake and Ty Goss, this multi-generational family operation sets an incredible example within Oklahoma’s show pig community. No doubt influenced by Danna’s father Rick Maloney, who served as Oklahoma Pork’s first-ever executive director, the family truly believes the values young people gain from livestock activities reap lifelong benefits. With fantastic support from additional family members and friends, their more than 100-sow show pig operation sells to clients across the United States and creates a platform for their 12 signature events throughout the year. From the classroom to the showing and beyond – these individuals devote much of their time to shaping future leaders within pork production. The Excellence Award is a peer-recommended accolade for pork producers who have made the daily work of raising pigs more than a job, but a true calling to take care of their animals and their teams.
Brett Ramsey
Brett Ramsey of Jones, Oklahoma, was surprised with a Distinguished Service Award for his longstanding example of character, knowledge, and dedication to Oklahoma’s pork industry as an allied industry partner. Co-owner of the beloved Oklahoma staple Blue & Gold Sausage Company, Ramsey has served more than 20 years on Oklahoma Pork’s board of directors in addition to meaningful volunteer work with likeminded organizations. Each year around 1,000 groups like local FFA chapters and youth sports teams can achieve more because of the 3 million pounds of sausage, 1.5 million pounds of bacon, and 600,000 pounds of chicken strips supplied to their fundraisers by the Blue & Gold Sausage Company. The Distinguished Service Award is only given to those held in the highest possible regard by the Oklahoma Pork board of directors to celebrate decades of service, even when someone’s legacy may still be in progress.
State Representative Trey Caldwell
State Representative Trey Caldwell of Lawton, Okla., was awarded as an Oklahoma Pork Council Outstanding Legislator for ardent support of pork production at the State Capitol. During the 2026 legislative session, Representative Caldwell authored House Bill 3977 at the request of the agricultural community to “future-proof” the state veterinarian by requiring candidates for this position to possess food animal experience. With his passion for agriculture and his firsthand knowledge of rural Oklahoma, Representative Caldwell proved to be a strong ally on this legislative priority for Oklahoma Pork and other important measures impacting our members. Growing up in Comanche County, Representative Caldwell has long been involved with farming and ranching. Oklahoma Pork’s Outstanding Legislator recognition is reserved for policymakers who specifically defend pork and agriculture priorities within the policy and regulatory space.
Jack Miller
Jack Miller of Guthrie, Okla., was presented a Golden Pig Award for his fascinating career helping feed Oklahoma families and connect hundreds of “pig kids” to the pride that comes from personally contributing to the pork supply chain. Miller recently completed 20 heartfelt years of service to the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma and began his much-deserved retirement. Of special note to Oklahoma’s pork industry, Miller has been a driving force behind the wildly successful “Backpack Program” that includes Oklahoma Pork’s annual “Pork for Packs” initiative. Alongside our friends at Oklahoma Farm Bureau and the beef industry, the “Backpack Program” allows Oklahoma 4-H and FFA students to donate their show animals at the end of each competition season to be processed into high-quality protein sticks. The delicious sticks are then sent home alongside other nutritious food items for children at risk of hunger over weekends and holiday breaks from school. Under Miller’s leadership, more than 5,350 animals have been donated to this worthy cause since 2012, creating more than 8.7 million protein sticks statewide for our food banks to distribute. Selection for a Golden Pig Award is reserved for leaders who embodied decades-long success and integrity within pork production.
Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry
Leadership from the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry (ODAFF) was announced as Oklahoma Pork’s 2026 Ambassador Award recipient. Despite having a regulatory role that could instead cause friction, the ODAFF leaders continually go above and beyond in meaningful ways to bolster Oklahoma’s pork industry. Under the impeccable leadership of Secretary Blayne Arthur and her division directors over the past eight years, ODAFF’s already strong relationship with the Oklahoma Pork Council has flourished. The current ODAFF leadership team has championed modern pork production while passionately working alongside our industry to protect herd health, advocate for production agriculture, and strengthen the pork workforce. The Ambassador Award is given to individuals and organizations who do not work directly within pork production but serve as vocal advocates for the work done by Oklahoma pig farmers.
Dan Schiedel
Dan Schiedel from Enid, Okla., was presented an inaugural Oklahoma Pork Council Collaborator Award for 2026. After more than a decade serving as executive director of the United Way of Enid and Northwest Oklahoma, Schiedel plans to retire at the close of this year. A fantastic fundraiser and true champion for the region, Schiedel has repeatedly stepped up to support the Oklahoma Pork Council during our annual Give-A-Ham holiday feeding campaign and other pork donations by area farmers. Serving as a coordination point for 14 Enid area charitable organizations, Schiedel and his team at the United Way have whole-heartedly served many Oklahomans in need, including efforts to help get nutritious, delicious pork onto the tables of countless families. The Collaborator Award was created in 2026 to celebrate like-minded people and organizations who have helped Oklahoma Pork to promote our producers, feed more people, and ultimately do good for our fellow Oklahomans.
Oklahoma’s Own Ozarka Water
Oklahoma’s Own Ozarka Water, represented by Colt Clark, received an inaugural Oklahoma Pork Council Collaborator Award for 2026. No matter what corner of the state Oklahoma Pork visits for community outreach events, we can count on our friends at Oklahoma’s Own Ozarka Water to join the adventure. Whether we are promoting the pork industry with free lunch giveaways during our annual Give-A-Ham Challenge or offering pop-up hot meals to those impacted by natural disasters – the generous crew at Ozarka continually says “yes.” Their charitable giving to distribute hundreds of free bottled waters in partnership with Oklahoma Pork throughout the year lets our budget stretch further to feed delicious pork to even more folks. The Collaborator Award was created in 2026 to celebrate like-minded people and organizations who have helped Oklahoma Pork to promote our producers, feed more people, and ultimately do good for our fellow Oklahomans.
