2007 Annual Report - Manitoba Pork Council

manitoba initiativesProducer & Industry Relations • U.S. Trade Advocacylocal and provincial charities. The BBQCart program continues to be an excellentpublic relations tool, building publicawareness and promoting pork at thesame time.In October 2007, Manitoba Pork Councilheld its first annual Taste of Eleganceevent at the Delta Hotel. Over 100community leaders, including electedofficials, government staff, industryrepresentatives and media, attended theevent sampling delicious pork appetizersand learning more about the hog industryin Manitoba. This event also served asthe launch for Council’s Green Book, areport on Manitoba’s hog industry. Thebook, which included information on thehog sector’s economic and environmentalcontributions, was mailed to about 1,000decision makers.PRODUCER &INDUSTRY RELATIONSThe Swine Stewardship Awards werepresented at Council’s annual meetingin April 2007. The following awardswere presented to producers, communitygroups and industry partners whoseoutstanding efforts contributed to thesustainable growth and prosperity ofManitoba’s pork industry:• The Friend of the Industry Award waspresented to Meyers Norris Penny LLP,recognizing the firm’s many yearsof visionary leadership, integrity,respect and innovation in assistingManitoba’s hog industry grow, succeedand prosper.• The Swine Steward Award waspresented to Edwin Kleinsasser forhis commitment to innovation andpromotion of high-health standards forhog production in Manitoba.• The Education Award was presentedto Assiniboine Community Collegeand its Swine Education Teamfor their visionary delivery offocused agricultural educationand contributions to Manitoba’shog industry.• The Industry Service Award waspresented to Manitoba Pork MarketingCo-op Inc. for continuous innovationand dedicated service to Manitobahog producers.• The Environment Award was presentedto Dr. Katherine E. Buckley ofAgriculture and Agri-FoodCanada’s Brandon Research Centrefor leadership in environmentalresearch and sustainability.U.S. TRADE ADVOCACYIn 2006, Council implemented a tradeadvocacy program focused on enhancingtrade relations with the hog industry inthe U.S. The program was establishedwith a goal to reduce the risks of futuretrade actions against Canadian live swineexports to the U.S. or exports of Canadianpork and pork products.In January 2007, a delegation of staffand directors from Manitoba Pork Councilattended Pork Congresses in Minnesota,Iowa and South Dakota. In additionto speaking with thousands of U.S.producers and industry representativesat Council’s large trade show booth, theA multimediaadvertising campaignwas launched inMarch 2007 toeducate the publicabout the benefitsof the hog industry,including job creation,economic impact andenvironmental efforts.Manitoba Pork Council 2007 Annual Report9