Illinois Bacon Day brings pork producers, policy makers together

May 12, 2025

The Illinois Pork Producers Association was at the Illinois State Capitol to celebrate the commemoration of Senate Joint Resolution 24 designating May 7 as Illinois Bacon Day, sponsored by Senators Chris Balkema, Doris Turner, Sally Turner, Craig Wilcox and Li Arellano Jr. in the Senate, and Representatives Kelly Cassidy and Katie Stuart in the House.

Illinois pig farmers, Illinois Pork Producers Association staff and FFA state officers handed out BLT sandwiches to legislators and discussed the role that pork production plays in Illinois, the fourth largest pork producing state in the United States.

Illinois pig farmers produce over 6 billion slices of bacon annually. Additionally, Illinois pork production is ranked 4th in the U.S. and supports over 30,000 jobs, contributing an estimated $13.8 billion dollars to the economy.

“Illinois Bacon Day is an opportunity to educate our stakeholders about our industry and discuss the issues currently facing pig farmers," said IPPA President Josh Maschhoff. "We understand many stakeholders don’t represent rural districts, and Bacon Day is a great way for pork producers to connect with legislators on a personal level.”

"Our elected officials have demonstrated a deep understanding of the importance of agriculture to our state's prosperity," said Cheryl Walsh, past president of the Illinois Pork Producers Association. "Through their efforts, we've seen meaningful progress on issues that matter to pork producers. The IPPA especially appreciates the open dialogue and collaborative approach legislators have taken in addressing the challenges and opportunities within the livestock sector. Their leadership helps ensure that Illinois remains 4th in the nation, contributing to both local and global food security."

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Video: Season 7, Episode 1: Managing Risk and Seeing Opportunities in U.S. Pork Production

Today’s episode features three guests discussing the similarities and differences between pork production in the United States and Brazil, along with strategies for managing risk in today’s industry while recognizing and acting on opportunities. First, Dr. Anne Caroline de Lara, executive manager of live pig production at Seara Alimentos, a JBS company in Brazil, is joined by Dr. Matthew Turner, head of operations for JBS Live Pork. Together, they discuss how labor, climate and ventilation challenges vary between Brazil and the United States, while underscoring their shared commitment to raising healthy pigs. They also point to lessons producers in both countries can take from one another’s systems and on-farm experiences. Then, Brady Reicks, risk manager at Reicks View Farms, shares his perspective on risk management, drawing from his background in markets and his transition into farming. He discusses how protecting margins varies by operation and offers practical approaches producers can use to make marketing and business decisions with greater confidence rather than hesitation.

Both conversations were recorded at recent industry events focused on swine livability, including the International Conference on Pig Livability and Iowa Swine Day.