In celebration of swine

From the podium to the banquet table, pork took center stage on January 8 when the Tennessee Pork Producers Association (TPPA) kicked off its 40th year celebration in Lebanon. The day-long program was chock-full of speakers highlighting current events, followed by a Taste of Elegance reception that evening.

Held in the 4-H/FFA building at the Tennessee State Fairgrounds in Wilson County, the event got underway around 2 p.m. with an international trade discussion led by Brian Strobel, global market advisor for JYGA Technologies. An expert in swine production, Brian oversees the development of new markets. He shared updates from his recent trade visits to China, Kenya, and Vietnam. Afterward, Jacob Tipton, livestock consultant for the Tennessee Department of Agriculture, shared updates concerning the swine industry as it relates to Tennessee agriculture.

Tipton shared that the Tennessee Department of Agriculture actively promotes livestock genetics and agricultural products in international markets to expand export opportunities and build long-term trade relationships. The state ranks 22nd in the country for agricultural exports and sold $2.7 billion in agricultural and forestry goods in 2024.

“Our top five destinations for livestock commodities are China, Canada, the Netherlands, Mexico, and Germany,” Tipton said. “Mexico is our leading buyer for swine. It’s followed by Chile, Canada, and Guatemala, but Mexico surpasses the others significantly. We exported about 3.3 million dollars’ worth of live, purebred swine to Mexico in 2024.”

After a word from Ryan King, deputy commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Agriculture, about the state’s agricultural priorities, and comments from Senator Shane Reeves from the Tennessee General Assembly, participants heard from Dr. Ashley Johnson of the National Pork Producers Council on the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement. She advised that eating protein, such as pork, is an important part of maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

“Our food pyramid is now an inverted triangle that prioritizes whole foods, high protein, and healthy fats at the top, while reducing refined carbohydrates, sugars, and processed foods,” she said. “The pyramid has completely flipped with high-quality proteins being a top priority and whole grains given a less prominent portion of the pyramid.”

Following the informational meeting, attendees headed to the nearby Made in Tennessee building for the Taste of Elegance reception.

While a delicious pork feast was being prepped on one side of the room, a heavy competition was heating up on the other. Seven Middle Tennessee chefs created their most tasty pork entrées for competition. Claiming the grand prize was Chef Mitchell Murphree, representing Steakhouse Five in Murfreesboro. The Best Use of Pick Tennessee Products award went to Dalton and Vince Taylor for their pork tenderloin dish, which utilized honey, butter, and apple butter.

The event concluded with a Bid for Pork auction held to benefit TPPA. Tennessee Farmers Cooperative and Rutherford Farmers Cooperative’s Eagleville location both donated items for the auction. The event raised more than $8,000 to support youth livestock and leadership programs, consumer promotions, and agricultural issues on both state and national issues.