Agricultural News
Missouri Hog Farmer Forkner Inducted into NPPC Hall of Fame
Thu, 05 Mar 2020 13:36:43 CST
Everett Forkner, a longtime Missouri pork producer who was instrumental in establishing the Pork Quality Assurance (PQA) certification program-representing the U.S. pork industry's production standards-was inducted today into the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) Hall of Fame. Forker received the honor during the National Pork Industry Forum held here.
Forkner grew up on a farm in southwestern Missouri, where he gained a strong work ethic and learned to show cattle. Before he graduated second in his class in the College of Agriculture at the University of Missouri in 1961, he launched his own pork production enterprise, Forkner Farms, with 10 Duroc gilts and a Duroc boar. Experience on the livestock judging team at the university introduced him to purebred pig production and then to cutting-edge ultrasound technology for measuring performance traits.
Forker later added multiple breeds to his enterprise, including Yorkshire females, Hampshire boars and Duroc terminal sires. Through a commitment to performance testing and meat quality, Forkner Farms built a reputation as a premier pork supplier. This shift resulted in the launch of Truline Genetics. His wean-to-finish barns, built in the late 1990s, were the first of their kind in Missouri.
Forkner has always had a strong commitment to sustainability and responsible production. He was at the forefront of educating consumers about responsible farming, leading to the formation of the industry's PQA program in 1989.
Throughout his career, Forkner sat on several breed association boards, served with the Missouri Pork Association and participated on national pork industry committees. In 2012, he was named president of the National Pork Board, continuing his willingness to share his experience and commitment to the industry.
"With more than 50 years of service to producers in Missouri and around the country, Everett Forkner's career is the very definition of a lifetime commitment," said NPPC President David Herring, a hog farmer from Lillington, N.C. "His leadership, passionate advocacy on animal health and sustainability, and innovative production practices are widely recognized by pork producers. For his ongoing success and leadership in our industry, we are pleased to induct Everett into the NPPC Hall of Fame."
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