Agricultural News
Pork Industry Visionary Myrl Mortenson Inducted into Oklahoma Pork Hall of Fame
Fri, 26 Mar 2010 6:56:11 CDT
The Oklahoma Pork Council inducted Myrl Mortenson, managing partner of Hanor, parent company of the Roberts Ranch of Oklahoma pork operations, into their Hall of Fame. OPC presented this award to Mortenson on Thursday, March 25, during the Oklahoma Pork Congress awards banquet.
Mortenson was selected to be inducted into the Hall of Fame because of the vision he provided for today's commercial pork production model and his role in mentoring and developing many of the leaders in the U.S. pork industry.
Mortenson, a native of Arizona, began his career in the pork industry as general manager of Gilt Edge Farms in 1975. They were the largest pork operation at that time with 1,500 sows. Myrl then joined PIC in 1983 and served as vice president of operations for 15 years. PIC was a small genetics and breeding company when Myrl joined. His vision and drive took them to the largest breeding company in the world.
"While with PIC, Myrl had a vision of a pork production model, how it should look and set in remote areas to maintain the health status, how many people it would take, how to maintain the animal's health, and how to protect the environment," said Blake Russell who worked with Myrl at PIC for many years and is now the vice president for business development and sales at ViaGen. "Myrl then had the adrenalin and influence to make that model a reality in many parts of the U.S. The lessons learned in that model have set the format for the pork industry today."
In 1997, Myrl and his business partners formed the Hanor Company which allowed them to apply PIC genetic in commercial pork production settings throughout the United States. One of those areas is the Roberts Ranch of Oklahoma production system located near Hennessey, Ames and Moreland, Okla.
In 2006 Hanor and three other pork production companies partnered to form the Triumph Foods plant in St. Joseph, Mo. The Triumph Foods plant is the most modern pork processing facility in the world.
"I'm really proud of the Triumph Foods cooperative because after 35 years we are completing the circle and have established an integrated model that takes the pig from farrowing to the plate," said Mortenson.
Finding the right people to manage the farms was a key for Mortenson. While with PIC, he began coming to Oklahoma State University to recruit Animal Science students in the mid-1980s. Mortenson hired many OSU students over the years and taught them about pork production and also how to be good managers and leaders.
"Anyone who's been around Myrl for very long and had the opportunity to participate in the fulfilling of a vision in his business enterprise has been changed," said Russell. "We've all been impacted by the time we've spent with him and seeing his ability to turn things into reality in a big and impressive way."
"Myrl really cares about what you're doing as a person. He finds out about your family and knows your kids," said Jeff Mencke production manager for Roberts Ranch of Oklahoma. "He does it with a personality that you don't see every day. He can make you laugh and also make you think."
Mortenson said he made a commitment when he brought PIC's pork production to Oklahoma that he would someday become a resident of the state. Three years ago, he and his wife Gayle moved to Enid, Okla.
"I wanted to live up to that commitment because we support the state and are proud to be part of Oklahoma," said Mortenson. "It truly is an honor to receive this award and be recognized in the state of Oklahoma."
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