Agricultural News
okPORK Honors Gayle Mortenson with their 2016 Distiniguished Service Award
Sat, 27 Feb 2016 18:12:16 CST
On Friday evening, Gayle Mortenson was honored with the Distinguished Service Award during the 57th annual Oklahoma Pork Congress.
Gayle has always been many things to many people in the pork industry. She has been a friend, a mother, a wife, a mentor, an exporter, a community activist, a conservation enthusiast and a believer in both the health and well-being of the people and animals with which she works.
She is married to Myrl Mortenson, the managing partner of Hanor which is the parent company of Roberts Ranch of Oklahoma. Myrl will gladly tell you that she has been involved in every decision he makes and all aspects of the business. She will tell you she is happy to be Myrl's right-hand.
"Who is more deserving than someone who has been involved with every aspect of our company and helping the pork industry in Oklahoma and around the world grow?" Myrl said. "She's involved in all of the decisions but she is the one who realizes that we always need to be involved as pork producers to be giving back to the communities we live in. She's the kind of person, it's never about her, it's about what is best for mankind."
The Oklahoma Pork Council produced a video to salute the 2016 Distinguished Service Award winner- click on the PLAY button in the video box below to see that complete presentation.
Gayle's attention to detail serves her community well. She helps to donate to food programs to combat the high levels of food insecurity in the area. She helps connect people who can trim bushes and shrubs with the people in the community who can't. According to okPORK Board of Directors President Keith Reiner there is no job which is too big for Gayle to be willing to assist.
"Gayle is a country girl," Reiner said. "She isn't afraid to roll up her sleeves and get dirty if something needs to be done. I tried to remember the first time we met and I can't. It's like I've always known her. She's just that kind of person, you feel like she's your friend you haven't seen in 20 years even though you just met."
The detail with which Gayle sees the world served the pork industry around the world when she worked as the exporter for PIC. In that position she oversaw the shipment of thousands of animals to China and around the world. They helped provide the equipment for the modern farms and get thousands of animals exported while operating under the highest health and wellness requirements. There is no doubt that Gayle Mortenson has been a friend to the pork industry in Oklahoma, across the country and around the world.
"No one knows these stories about Gayle and I am glad everything she has done for the industry will be brought to light," Reiner said.
The 2016 Oklahoma Pork Congress was held at the Embassy Suites in Norman on Friday, February 26, with pork producers, allied industry supporters and others interested in the Oklahoma pork industry in attendance.
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