October marks National Pork Month

Oct 10, 2017

The United States celebrates ‘Porktober’

By Kate Ayers

Staff Reporter

Many states across the U.S. are celebrating National Pork Month.

This special designation provides pig farmers with an opportunity to show off their products. October was selected for this celebration as autumn is the time of year when producers traditionally marketed their hogs, according to an online article in Ohio’s Country Journal, today.

“October Pork Month is an opportunity to re-establish that producer-to-consumer relationship. Our mission is to produce safe, nutritious food in a responsible manner, and we need to share how we do that with consumers,” Rich Deaton, Ohio Pork Council president, said to Ohio’s Country Journal.

The fall season offers a time when pork producers can take part locally in festivities and product marketing.

“October Pork Month is an exciting time to promote more pork and promote what producers are doing,” Cindy Cunninhman, a National Pork Board spokesperson, said to Farms.com today.

“The way that modern production works, we don’t see the ebbs and flows that we once did in pork production – the seasonality if you will. But we still choose to promote pork and market pork especially in October when we can get everyone’s attention. And what a great time of the year … to enjoy pork in some different ways, as the temperature cools down and more of that home-style cooking comes into play.”

The five most popular cuts of pork sold in the United States are center-cut chops, assorted chops, back ribs, blade roasts and centre-cut loin roasts. Last year, these cuts comprised $2.45 billion worth of sales, as stated in Ohio’s Country Journal.

Producers and consumers can use the hashtag #NationalPorkMonth to share their pork celebrations on social media .

Video: You Be The Judge: Evaluating 8 Breeding Rams!

It's time for some honest feedback here at Ewetopia Farms! Today, we’re showing you all eight rams we used for breeding this year. Instead of just presenting them, we thought it would be fun to create a “Ram Report Card” — where we point out both their strengths and areas for improvement.

But here’s the twist: you be the judge! In the comments, let us know what you like about each ram and what you think could be improved. No ram is ever perfect, but every one of them brings something valuable to the flock. By sharing perspectives, we all learn more about what to look for in good breeding stock.

At Ewetopia Farms, we raise registered Suffolk and Polled Dorset sheep, focusing on high-quality genetics, structure, and friendly temperaments. Evaluating breeding rams is part of the bigger picture of building stronger flocks — and we’re excited to share the process with you.

If you enjoy seeing how we evaluate our animals, follow along by subscribing to our channel. We share daily insights into the joys and challenges of sheep farming here in Canada.