2025 Pork Management Conference

Event Details

The 2025 Pork Management Conference is a leading business-focused conference with renowned speakers and experiences to help better pork industry businesses big and small. 

The conference is tailored to a wide range of professionals, including producers, owners, growers, packers, CFOs, CEOs, human resources, safety directors, controllers, accountants, risk managers and allied industry partners.

Hosted by the National Pork Board, this event is a must-attend for anyone invested in the pork industry’s success.

 

Registration

Click here to register!

 

Agenda

*Note: Speakers and topics are subject to change. Check often for updates. 

Monday, April 28

10:00 a.m. – Registration Opens

1:00 p.m. – Welcome & Opening Remarks

1:15 p.m. – Panel: Creating a Culture Where People Want to Work

Speakers:

• Rick Strott, chief executive officer, Superior Farms
• Additional panelists TBC

Description:

• In today’s competitive labor market, attracting and retaining top talent in agriculture – especially in the pork industry – requires more than just competitive wages. It demands a culture that fosters engagement, purpose, and long-term commitment. Hear from a panel of leaders across the food chain as they share their successful strategies for building and maintaining positive and resilient workplaces where people want to work.  

2:45 p.m. – Break

4:00 p.m. – Legal Questions about Labor

Speaker:

• Brandon Davis, partner, Phelps Dunbar LLC; past president, American Agriculture Law Association

Description:

• Navigating the ever-changing, complex legal landscape of agricultural labor is a growing challenge for producers, ag businesses, and leaders in the industry. From immigration law and H-2A visa compliance to worker classification and employment regulations, understanding the legal aspects of labor is critical to protecting your business. Learn from the legal experts as they review immigration law updates, impacts, best practices, and more.

5:15 p.m. – Panel: What Keeps the Supply Chain Up at Night?

Speakers: 

• TBC

Description:

• The agricultural supply chain faces constant disruption ranging from transportation challenges, labor shortages, shifting consumer demands and regulatory pressures. Join experts and seasoned food service consultants for an in-depth discussion on the biggest challenges keeping the supply chain professionals up at night. How can agriculture and food service collaborate to create more resilient supply chains, meet evolving market depends, and ensure a steady flow of products from producers to plates?  

6:30 p.m. – Evening Reception

 

Tuesday, April 29

7:00 a.m. – Registration Open

7:00 a.m. – Breakfast

8:00 a.m. – Welcome

8:15 a.m. – Keynote Speaker: Zachary Crockett

Description: 

• Zachary Crockett is a seasoned business strategist, market analyst, and contributor to Freakonomics, where he explores the hidden economic forces shaping industries, consumer behavior, and global markets. His research and storytelling have illuminated economic trends in sectors ranging from retail to technology, offering valuable lessons on adaptation, innovation, and resilience. With a knack for uncovering unexpected insights and translating complex data into compelling narratives, Crockett brings a fresh, outside-the-industry perspective to food and agriculture.  

9:15 a.m. – Break

9:30 a.m. – Breakout Sessions

• Making Risk Management Work for You
  • Speakers: Jon Greteman, vice president of hogs, Commodity and Ingredient Hedging (CIH) and Daryl Timmerman, senior lending specialist – swine, Compeer Financial
  • Description: In today’s unpredictable world, effective risk management is essential for protecting agricultural operations and rural businesses. Explore the factors driving rising costs, coverage challenges, and financial vulnerabilities as a panel of experts breaks down why traditional safety nets are shifting, how global risks like foreign animal diseases impact producers, and what strategies you can leverage to mitigate losses.   
• Turning Data into Insights
  • Speakers: TBC
  • Description: Data is everywhere in today’s pork industry – but are you leveraging it to drive better decisions and improve your bottom line? Listen as industry experts explore how to harness data analytics to optimize operations, enhance efficiency, and stay ahead in the competitive market. 
• Succession Planning: The Producer Perspective
  • Speakers: Dwight Mogler, Pig Hill Farms
  • Description: Planning for the future farm or operation is one of the most critical yet challenging aspects of running a successful business. This session will feature real-world insights from producers who have navigated the complexities of succession planning – sharing their experiences, lessons learned, and strategies for ensuring a smooth transition to the next generation. 

10:45 a.m. – Break

11:00 a.m. – Breakout Sessions

• Succession Planning: The Business and Legal Perspective
  • Speakers: Dave Dvorak, Dvorak Law Group
  • Description: A successful transition of your operation requires more than just good intentions – it demands careful planning, financial foresight, and legal expertise. Join business advisors and legal experts as they break down the essential components of a strong succession plan, helping producers navigate the complexities of ownership transfer, tax implications, estate planning, business continuity, and more. 
• Public vs. Consumer: The Perception Debate
  • Speakers: TBC
  • Description: In today’s food landscape, public perception and consumer behavior don’t always align. While industry professionals focus on sustainability, animal welfare, and food safety, misinformation and shifting societal expectations can shape how agriculture – especially pork production – is perceived. Participate in a thought-provoking discussion on managing perception, building trust, and effectively engaging with both the public and consumers in an era of heightened scrutiny and evolving expectations.  
• Insurance and Reinsurance on the Farm
  • Speakers: Eric Conklin, chief executive officer, Agriculture, Rokstone Agriculture; Waye Lubbe, area senior vice president, Gallagher and Scott Barhorst, AON Reinsurance Solutions
  • Description: As insurance costs rise and coverage options shift, many in the agricultural industry are left wondering why traditional policies are no longer meeting their needs. Do you wonder why premiums have increased? Why certain coverages are harder to obtain? Or what the future may hold for agricultural insurance? Hear from the insurance experts as they provide an inside look at the factors driving these changes, from reinsurance costs to global market influences.  

12:15 p.m. – Lunch

1:30 p.m. – PMC 2025 Experiences

 

Wednesday, April 30

7:00 a.m. – Breakfast

8:00 a.m. – National Organization Update

Speakers:

• Bill Even, chief executive officer, National Pork Board
• Bryan Humphreys, chief executive officer, National Pork Producers Association

9:00 a.m. – Economic Update

Speaker: 

• Lee Schulz, chief economist, Ever.Ag

10:30 – Closing Remarks

 

Click here to register!