Winter can feel like it goes on forever. That’s one reason why Jeff Tuente, owner of Tuente Farms, Inc., in Osgood, Ohio, looks forward to getting off the farm and traveling to the Ohio Pork Congress.
“It’s a great event to re-energize my passion of being a farmer and build off the enthusiasm of my peers,” Tuente says. “I saw many of my good business friends and allies in the trade show.”
There’s no question meeting new people and catching up with friends in the industry gives attendees something to look forward to all year, says Kevin Stuckey, sow division manager for Cooper Farms in Hicksville, Ohio. The educational sessions are also a great opportunity.
Step Outside Your Box
“This event helps people discover ways to make their operation better,” Stuckey says. “I also appreciate how it encourages more involvement for the younger people on our farms. Oftentimes, they started in our organization and only know our organization. You get so much more growth when you learn outside of your box.”
This year, the Ohio Pork Council offered a special track of educational sessions in Spanish. Stuckey says that’s something he appreciates with the number of TN visa workers in the pork industry now.
“They are so hungry for more information,” Stuckey says. “With the language barrier, that gets hard to provide that for them on the farm. Translation is tough – there’s a gap in pig lingo and barn lingo and getting that translated in a meaningful way.”
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