2025 Pork Management Conference
This event is past.
Date and Time
April 28, 2025 - April 30, 2025
All Day
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
Agenda
*Note: Speakers and topics are subject to change. Check often for updates.
Monday, April 28
10:00 a.m. – Registration Opens
2:15 p.m. – Welcome & Opening Remarks
2:30 p.m. – Panel: Creating a Culture Where People Want to Work
Speakers:
- Rick Stott, chief executive officer, Superior Farms
- Kim Fleming, supplier quality & safety, Chick Fil A
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.
3:45 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:
- Sam Oches, editor, Informa/QSR Magazine
- Samantha Bredar, associate editor at National Provisioner
- Sarah Blaskovich, food reporter at Dallas Morning News
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 journalist renowned for his ability to uncover the extraordinary within the ordinary. With over a decade of experience in business and technology reporting, he currently hosts the podcast “The Economics of Everyday Thing,” where he delves into the hidden aspects of daily life.
9:15 a.m. – Break
9:30 a.m. – Succession Planning: The Producer Perspective
Speakers:
- Dwight Mogler, Pig Hill Farms
- Dave Dvorak, Dvorak Law Group
- Tim Schaefer, Encore Consultants
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 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. – Breakout Sessions
- Making Risk Management Work for You
- Speakers:
- Jon Greteman, vice president of hogs, Commodity and Ingredient Hedging (CIH)
- 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.
- Speakers:
- Insurance and Reinsurance on the Farm
- Speakers:
- Eric Conklin, chief executive officer, Agriculture, Rokstone Agriculture
- Wayne Luebbe, area senior vice president, Gallagher
- 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.
- Speakers:
12:15 p.m. – Lunch
1:30 p.m. – PMC 2025 Experiences
Unique, interactive experiences at the Fort Worth Stock Show or Cowboys Stadium!
Wednesday, April 30
7:00 a.m. – Breakfast
8:00 a.m. – Economic Update
Speaker:
- Lee Schulz, chief economist, Ever.Ag
9:15 a.m. – National Pork Producers Council Update
Speakers:
- Holly Cook, economist, National Pork Producers Council
10:30 – National Pork Board Update and Closing Remarks
Speaker:
- Sally Krueger, senior vice president of communications, NPB
