Operation Main Street celebrates growth 20 Nov 2008

"I view my role as an ambassador and an educator for the pork industry," said Steve Weaver, National Pork Board president and OMS participant from Elk Grove, Calif.  

OMS involves intensive speaker training and a scheduling programme that encourages producers to give presentations at local chambers of commerce and other civic organisations about environmental issues, how the pork industry has changed through the years, new technologies pork producers use, and the many ways pork production impacts local and state economies. 

"As pork producers, we need to be willing to represent our industry," said Weaver.  "If we don't, we are missing real opportunities to meet the people in our local communities, promote the benefits of our product and tell our side of the story."

Today this four-year-old effort also includes: 

• A media outreach programme to generate positive pork industry stories in communities where OMS speakers present which has resulted in 1.9 million people reading or listening to the positive message of the pork industry,
• Advanced speaker training to further develop the skills and confidence required of speakers in more challenging situations, and
• Refresher training to help speakers brush up on their skills and learn from other speakers.

Click here for more information on the Operation Main Street programme 

Related Website
• Pork Checkoff

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