DES MOINES, Iowa, Jan. 27, 2016 — It’s not too early to plan to attend the 2016 World Pork Expo on June 8-10, held at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines, Iowa. Brought to you by the National Pork Producers Council(NPPC), World Pork Expo features the world’s largest pork-specific trade show, educational seminars, swine shows and sales, and an opportunity to interact with a wide range of pork professionals. 

“World Pork Expo’s extensive trade show makes it easy to shop and compare new products and technologies for use on the farm,” says Ron Prestage, D.V.M., NPPC president and South Carolina pork producer. “It’s also an exceptional place to experience educational seminars about what’s happening in Washington, D.C., herd-health strategies, the market outlook and export prospects. The bottom line: anyone who does not attend Expo will have to play serious catch up to remain informed about issues and new developments affecting their businesses.”

Last year, 23,085 attendees from 48 countries participated in this three-day exposition, including more than 1,100 international guests. Looking ahead, NPPC organizers expect a similar showing in 2016.

World Pork Expo’s global flavor is further evident in the trade show with more than 310,000 square feet of commercial exhibits from hundreds of companies throughout the world. Expo’s trade show hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Wednesday, June 8, and Thursday, June 9. On Friday, June 10, the trade show is open from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

An ever-popular feature at Expo is the free educational programming on Wednesday and Thursday. Pork producers and their employees can learn about new auditing programs, business strategies, animal well-being research, herd management and much more. Both the business seminars and PORK Academy include question-and-answer opportunities with the expert presenters.

Live hogs will be on display in the swine barn throughout Expo week, with the World Pork Expo Junior Nationalkicking off on Monday, June 6. Hosted by the by theNational Junior Swine Association (NJSA) and Team Purebred, the Junior National offers a Skillathon, judging contests and certification programs. In 2015, 975 youth from 29 states took part in the educational programs, competitions and hog shows. In all, 2,200 hogs were shown, marking a 38 percent increase from the previous year.

Open shows will take place on Friday, June 10, with breeding stock sales following on Saturday morning, June 11.

The opportunity for pork professionals to interact and exchange ideas has become an increasingly valuable part of World Pork Expo, and MusicFest offers just the setting. On Thursday afternoon, attendees can meander along the Grand Concourse, listen to live music, and enjoy grilled pork and refreshments.

A visit to Expo would not be complete without a stop at the Big Grill. Each day of Expo from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., attendees can enjoy a free pork lunch. Last year, the Big Grill served up 10,000 pork lunches during Expo.

“A benefit of attending Expo that can be hard to measure is the opportunity for pork producers to visit and share ideas, as well as having an opportunity talk to NPPC board members and staff one-on-one,” Prestage says. “Anyone with a vested interest in pork production would find that attending Expo is time well-spent.”

For details about event schedules and the latest information on room availability at official World Pork Expo hotels, visit worldpork.org. From Feb. 1 through June 2, attendees can register online at the discounted rate of $10 per adult (ages 12 and up), which covers all three days of Expo. On-site registration will be $20 per adult, with a special rate of $10 for people arriving on Friday.

Other ways to stay up-to-date include connecting with World Pork Expo on Facebook, following Expo on Twitter (@NPPCWPX, #WPX16), and downloading the free mobile app by searching for “World Pork” in the Apple App Store, Google Play Store or BlackBerry App World.

If you are shopping for new products and services, are interested in the latest production and management information, or want to compare notes with fellow pork producers, make plans today to attend the 2016 World Pork Expo, June 8-10.

World Pork Expo, the world's largest pork-specific trade show, is brought to you by NPPC. On behalf of its members, NPPC develops and defends export markets, fights for reasonable legislation and regulation, and informs and educates legislators. For more information, visitnppc.org.

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More photos are available online