By Bruce Cochrane.The President of the Iowa Pork Producers Association is encouraging pork producers to take the lead in informing the public about the work they do. Last week, as part of Manitoba Pork Council's Annual General Meeting in Winnipeg, the President of the Iowa Pork Producers Association, discussed the importance of pork producers becoming proactive in talking about agricultural issues with the general public. Bill Tentinger observes consumers are probably more aware of agriculture than we realize but attitudes are being skewed by negative media. Bill Tentinger-Iowa Pork Producers Association: Manitoba: Saskatchewan: Full Interview: Some of the studies that have been done indicate that the general public think very positively and highly of farmers but they don't think quite as highly of agriculture as a whole or pork production and really it's the same thing. I consider a pork producer a farmer and I think every individual, every producer has to have the mindset that he is on display every day. Everything we do, everyone of us are constantly on display because we are being critiqued by somebody. Even when we're out in public we need to handle ourselves in a professional manner. There is no better way to get our message across than through a producer. I don't care if the producer is wearing bib overalls or if he wears a suit. The producer needs to be himself, be educated, be up on the issues, be aware of what are the facts and be willing to convey those facts to anybody or at any time and just live the ethical principles of agriculture. Tentinger says producers need to become more vocal and more open to outside forces to try to educate them and suggests it has to be taken one step at a time.