Ohio pork news

Ventilation systems workshop scheduled

With rising energy costs and swine health issues it is more important now than ever to have swine buildings ventilated properly. OSU Extension is offering a ventilation systems workshop to be held at the Champaign County fairgrounds in Urbana on Sept. 11. The workshop is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. and will conclude by 2:30 p.m. Lunch will be provided. Participants in the workshop will listen to presentations on "Basic Environmental Factors and Their Effects on Pigs," "Ventilation System Design Principles and Indoor Environmental Management," and "Applying the Basics and Troubleshooting a Variety of Buildings." All participants will have an opportunity to ask questions and view ventilation demonstrations using the ventilation systems trailer. Dr. Mike Brugger, Glen Arnold, and Dale Ricker will be conducting the workshop.

The workshop will be limited to the first 30 that register. For more information or to register contact Dale Ricker at 419-523-6294 or e-mail ricker.37@osu.edu.

Pork message

reaching many audiences

Through online advertising the Ohio Pork Producers Council has increased the awareness of pork among Ohio residents, and reached out to the target audience of women ages 25-54 with children in the household. During the month of July, the Ohio Pork Producers Council advertised on sites such as AllRecipes.com, Womans Day.com, AccuWeather .com, and LifeScript.com. Through this advertising campaign more than one million impressions were made on the target audience.

Another key project for the Ohio Pork Producers Council is the curriculum being created to compliment the OhioPorkTour .com website. The curriculum is being promoted as a valuable resource for teachers. Specifically designed to fit today's teaching standards, the curriculum can be used for social studies, science or economics classes and provides appropriate activities for each subject. Through the curriculum, the pork industry's key messages are being presented to students as well.

To promote this component of the OhioPorkTour.com website information will be included in the teacher kits OPPC will be distributing in the fall.

New recipes brochures available for fairs and promotions

The Ohio Pork Producers Council has two new recipe brochures available for your use at county fairs and special pork promotions. One brochure focuses on pork appetizers and meals, while the other brochure encourages consumers to buy in bulk to save money at the meat case. The Stretch your Dollar brochure shows consumers what they can do if they purchase a whole pork loin, from pork chops to stir-fry and kabobs. To order these new brochures for your upcoming event please call the OPPC office at 614-882-5887 or e-mail cneff@ohiopork.org.

OPPC offers additional youth scholarships

The Ohio Pork Producers Council recently approved funds for additional youth scholarships to pork producing families across Ohio.

Up to $5,000 in scholarships will be awarded. The scholarships will range from $500 to $1,000. Application forms are available upon request in writing or e-mail to the Ohio Pork Producers Council, 5930 Sharon Woods Blvd., Suite 101, Columbus, OH 43229, jkeller@ohiopork.org. Forms may also be downloaded from www.OhioPork.org.

Application forms and official transcripts must be completed and returned to the Ohio Pork Producers Council by Sept. 5.

To be eligible applicants must be the child of parents actively engaged in the production of pork (production of pork defined as a continuous 365 day swine operation). Parents must be members of local and/or state pork producer's council, and applicant and parents must be Ohio residents. Applicants must be entering their Sophomore, Junior or Senior year of college.

Ohio Pork Industry Queen applications due

Applications for the 2008 Ohio Pork Industry Queen contest are available from the Ohio Pork Producers Council office. Call 800-320-7991 to request your application or visit ohiopork.org to download an application. Applications are due Aug. 25.