I’d like to pretend interviewing superstar Luke Bryan didn’t get my heart racing just a little, but it did. Not only did I want to make the most effective use of my time talking to one of country music’s biggest stars, but I also wanted to represent the pork industry well while learning more about the new face of the National Pork Board’s Mythbusting 2.0 campaign. (And of course, seem totally relaxed while we talked over Zoom.)
As the call popped on my screen and I did a second fluff of my hair (don’t worry pork industry, I do the same for you), I found myself staring at the legend himself in his tour bus.
It didn’t take long after visiting with Bryan to realize the National Pork Board made a great decision to partner with him to help bridge the gap between consumers and modern pig farming practices.
He’s passionate about farming and he’s devoted to his fans. Bryan’s fans come from a variety of walks in life, which makes it even more exciting to think about how he can use his platform to help spread the important message of modern pig farming.
Perhaps what made the interview even more fun and telling were his answers to these three questions.
1. What was the worst chore you did on the farm?
Bryan:
“We had to clean out a grain bin elevator that was full of rotten grain. We shoveled all that grain into five-gallon buckets and then pulled it up like a 20-foot ladder bucket by bucket. It was the worst job I’ve ever had in my life.”What does this mean? He is relatable. He has personal experience living on the farm and facing some of the very same challenges farmers face every day. Having a voice that can reach mainstream consumers and understands farming is invaluable.
2. What’s your favorite cut of pork?
Bryan: “A Boston butt that you smoke all night on the grill – that’s kind of my jam right there. Of course, I love ribs and bacon and so many other cuts of pork. It’s a great source of protein. You can’t do any better than pork.”
What does this mean? He loves the product you produce. You need a voice that stands behind what he promotes. Bryan says they eat a lot of pork on the road and love looking for unique BBQ restaurants along the way.
3. What enticed you to work with the National Pork Board?
Bryan:
“Anytime there’s potential for farmers to be perceived in a negative light, it makes me go to action. Pig farming is a well-oiled machine, especially when you look at how clean and environmentally safe pig farms are and how closely monitored the health of pigs are from the start. It’s easy to spread the love for those hardworking pig farmers across the country.”What does this mean? He believes in you. Of course, this one is the most important – he stands behind what farmers do day in and day out. He wants to help society understand the care that pig farmers give their animals every day as he believes this will help consumers be more likely to choose pork more often.
Unfortunately, too many people are trying to tell pork’s story who don’t know anything about what we do or why we do it. It’s important we find ways to partner with people who can help us take the real story of pork even further than we as an industry can alone.
Let’s not forget music connects people and builds a sense of belonging and understanding. It rallies us and hopefully at the end of the day, reminds us of things that matter in life. I can’t wait to see how Mythbusting 2.0 will move our pork story forward. And never mind me over here listening to Luke Bryan as part of my journalistic research...
Read Farm Journal’s PORK’s exclusive here:
Luke Bryan Exclusive: Why He Stands Behind America’s Pig Farmers
