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First Illinois Pork Industry Group meets this week

The executive director of the Illinois Pork Producers Association says a new initiative is aimed at addressing the pork industry’s labor needs.

Jennifer Tirey says the Illinois Pork Industry Group is offering junior college students full access to the industry.

“Next week, we’re actually taking the students on a field trip to a sow farm nearby.”  She says, “They’re going to shower in and shower out, and they’re going to see the whole sow farm process from beginning to end.”

She says the 6-week session also offers the students a look at industry politics, regulations, retail, and much more.

“Later on we’re taking them on another week to a packing plant tour.”  She says, “We are going to be taking them to Beardstown to JBS so that they can see the harvesting process from beginning to end.”

Tirey tells Brownfield it’s an investment into the future.

“When we are continuously having trouble with labor, we need to do a better job of sharing what our industry has to offer,” she says.

Tirey says a long-term goal is to expand the program to junior colleges across the state.  Each student that participates also receives a small scholarship from IPPA.

The first installment of the Illinois Pork Industry Group is being offered to Lincoln Land Community College in Springfield.  The group’s first meeting is Thursday.

AUDIO: Jennifer Tirey – IL Pork Producers