Checkoff Offers Educational Opportunities
From Hogs to Blogs

A lot has changed in the 20 years since the national Pork Checkoff began.  Computers in every classroom.  The emergence of the Internet.  Listening to podcasts.  Reading blogs.  But one thing has remained constant – the Checkoff's efforts to transfer information and technology to producers through various educational opportunities.

These tools range from PORK Academy, held annually the day before World Pork Expo kicks off, to the Checkoff’s new distance-learning courses, whose  roots go back several years.

As pork production changed, so did the Checkoff’s educational materials.  The Checkoff began offering a self-study farrowing management course via the Internet on its Web site in 1999.  In two years, more than 80 percent of the participants said the course helped them improve their job skills and change how they performed work in farrowing. 

As the demand for at-your-own-pace education increased, the Pork Checkoff developed distance-learning classes or modules in 2003.

“These CDs provide producers and their employees the flexibility to learn at their own pace,” said Tony Bornhorst, a producer from Fort Loramie, Ohio, and member of the Producer Services Committee.  “This is a great way for swine experts to channel information back to pork producers.”

During World Pork Expo June 8-10, the Pork Checkoff will be releasing new free distance-learning CDs.  The new production series distance-learning CD combines several of the current distance-learning courses and new courses onto three CDs and one DVD. 

The majority of the material in the production series is offered in Spanish and English, with the option of switching between the two.  The manager series distance-learning CD combines several current distance-leaning courses and new courses into one CD and one DVD.

“These CDs were built with the end user in mind,” said Jim Lummus, Pork Checkoff curriculum manager.  “They are designed for new employees as well as to reinforce experienced staff.”

To order the distance-learning courses, go to pork.org or call the (800) 456-PORK.

The new U.S. Pork Center of Excellence also will play an important role in education for producers.   An Extension Center of Excellence will focus on the Pork Information Gateway, a virtual tool to help share the latest swine-related information with producers.

The Pork Information Gateway (PIG) will be launched at World Pork Expo.  Producers can access PIG from pork.org by clicking on the For Producers section and the PIG link.