A comfortable level of familiarity spiced up with a few fresh ideas tucked into a nice, neat package for the 44th Annual Alberta Pork Congress.

Trade booths were fully subscribed, says President Nick Korver, with exhibitors hosting a strong crowd of guests for the two-day show, held at Westerner Park in Red Deer on June 13 and 14.

There were some bittersweet moments as producers and suppliers bade farewell to a few industry leaders who have moved on to new things. Lee Whittington, who retired in June after 26 years with Prairie Swine Centre, was on hand to introduce his replacement. Reproduction scientist Murray Pettit, who has worked with PSC in the past, has now assumed the position of CEO. Pettit grew up in rural Manitoba and earned his PhD from Guelph University in 1997.

A few steps down the aisle, procurement manager Ian Moon and plant manager Rob Ackerblade of Olymel’s Red Deer processing plant could be found slipping into the role vacated by the retirement of procurement manager Don Brookbank, who said his farewells during the awards banquet and then slipped quietly away. Formerly employed with Western Hog Exchange, Moon was recruited to take over from Brookbank, whose service with the plant reaches back three decades, when it was still owned by Fletcher’s Fine Foods.

The Wednesday evening awards banquet was freshened up a bit as well, with a change in venue and the addition of a new award.

For the first time this year, the banquet was held at the nearby Holiday Inn & Suites, where guests were treated to exquisitely roasted crowns of pork, carved at the table and served family style. The Prairie Hog Country crew and exhibitor Don Bridge had the privilege of joining award winner Frank Marshall, his wife Wendy and Manitoba veterinarian Peter Provis, who entertained us with comments about Marshall’s post mortem surgical skills as he served up thick slices of hot pork.

Based in Camrose, Marshall was named winner of the 2018 Lifetime Achievement Award for his years of work in swine health. Marshall has been in practice for 35 years, starting in a general practice with the Camrose Vet Group before channeling his skills into working with pigs and their people.

“I was kind of challenged to develop the swine herd health programs for our area. The training experience was incredibly educational. You realize it’s not about the pigs, it’s about the people and what’s happening at that level.”

Through the following years, Marshall has contributed to the industry in a big way, taking part in various projects and initiatives aimed at improving swine production.

He says he has been working with some producers for 30 years. He considers himself and those producers to be part of a team looking after the family farm.

These days, his job description includes working in the swine program at the University of Calgary’s veterinary program while continuing with his farm work.

“We’re certainly looking to expand our practice – we do need more swine and poultry vets in our industries. In my world, I don’t see retirement in the near future, that’s for sure. It’s still very exciting and I really enjoy what I’m doing. I enjoy the people that I work with, so I intend to be around for a while.”

Marshall had the pleasure of watching one of those people receive a new award presented during the ceremony. Newly-minted veterinarian Jessica Law, a graduate of the U of C program and one of the students Marshall has mentored, was named inaugural recipient of the Rising Star Award. Alberta Pork Congress created the award to encourage and inspire young people who have the potential to become industry leaders.

The 2018 Farm Team Award was presented to a Hutterite Colony featured in Prairie Hog Country a year ago for the expansions within their swine, dairy and poultry operations.

Cousins Amos and Ron Wipf accepted the award on behalf of the Verdant Valley Colony, located northeast of Drumheller.

“Just when major changes came to the industry, we were due for a new barn. So, in 2005, we built a grow-finisher for 580 sows,” said Amos. A new feed mill was built two years later, grinding 525 tonnes of complete feed per month. Bins and storage were added in 2012 and, in 2017, a new sow barn was erected with loose housing and electronic (ESF) feeding stations.

Both cousins emphasize communication and support as the essential ingredients along with the necessity of seeking out and fixing the weakest links in their recipe for success.

“It is important to teach our young kids to work in and out of the barn. Working with them and with animals . . . teaches them to be responsible for what they do,” said Ron. “We always say, ‘Have a positive attitude that will bring enjoyment to what you do,’” he said.

The 2018 Ambassador Award went to Ben Woolley, Vice-president of Acme-based Sunterra Farms. Woolley expressed his gratitude for the opportunities offered him as the son of an industry giant.

“Because my dad was the founder of PIC, I’ve been very, very fortunate to have access to some of the really, really smart people in the industry. It’s helped me to have a really clear understanding of all aspects of the industry.”

Woolley has served as vice-chair of Alberta Pork and also chaired the Canadian Pork Round Table for three years. He served in a variety of other roles as well, including as a founding member of the Canadian 21st Century Club and Canadian Swinehealth Alliance as well as a group that put together a management course for young leaders.

“Working with the Canadian Swinehealth Alliance, I’m really, really proud of what we’ve done in Western Canada and how well provincial organizations are now working together, especially with Manitoba and Saskatchewan and Alberta working really closely together,” said Woolley.

“What we don’t need is a lot of unnecessary regulations. We’ve got a government in Alberta right now who are making life more difficult for us than it needs to be, concerning access to labour.”

Woolley says he also feels lucky to have the support of his wife, Stacey, a Vanderbilt graduate who has instilled the value of a good education in their two children.

“The main thing, I think, is to try to balance what you want personally from the industry versus what is best for the industry. Those two things aren’t always the same,” said Woolley. He cited supply management as an example, stating that it might be good for the individual while impeding growth of the exports. “The award has nothing to do with me,” said Woolley. “The award is to do with the things that we have accomplished on our boards, as an industry. It’s the great people I have on my team at Sunterra who, when I go off to do work in the industry, I can leave the business because I know that they’re going to do a tremendous job.”

Ackerblade and Moon slipped into Brookbank’s boots to deliver Olymel’s annual Reach for the Top awards, recognizing producers who do the best job of hitting the plant’s carcass targets.

Awards are granted in four key categories, with a Grand Champion awarded to the farm who did the best job overall. The Grand Champion may not have taken first place in any of the four categories, but would have earned enough points in all four to reach the top.

The 2018 Reach For The Top winners are:

*Britestone Colony for Food Safety

*Twighlight Colony for High Health

*Fairville Colony for Core Weight

*Alix Farming for Core Lean

*Wheatland Colony was named Grand Champion.

The ribbon wrapping it all together is the booth award, presented to the three exhibitors who provided the strongest presence on the trade floor. This year’s winners, from first to third, were Nor-Ag Ltd. of Red Deer, whose giant video screen gave visitors a larger-than-life look inside a working barn; Monitrol/Genius of Boucherville, QC, and Schippers Canada, based in Lacombe.

Alberta Pork Congress is an industry-led project operated by a volunteer Board of Directors under the capable guidance of Kate Cheney and her team at ConventionALL Management, based in Calgary.

Planning starts soon for the 45th annual show in 2019. The first opportunity to book booths for the 2019 Alberta Pork Congress will take place at the Annual General Meeting held prior to Red Deer Swine Technology Workshop Wednesday October 24th. •

— By Brenda Kossowan