Iowa Pork Congress Returns to Des Moines on January 22-23, 2025

Jan 06, 2025

The 52nd Annual Iowa Pork Congress, North America’s largest winter swine trade show, is set to take place on January 22-23, 2025, at the Iowa Events Center in Des Moines. The highly anticipated event will bring together thousands of pork producers, industry experts, and hundreds of vendors for two days of education, innovation, and networking.

This year’s Congress is a must-attend event for producers across the Midwest, offering unparalleled opportunities to connect with peers, explore the latest technologies, and gain insights that can transform production practices.

Keynote Speaker: Chad Greenway
Attendees will also be inspired by Iowa Hawkeye football legend and former Minnesota Vikings star Chad Greenway, who will deliver the keynote address, “Hunt Greatness.” Greenway’s message will focus on achieving excellence in both personal and professional pursuits by staying true to core values, working hard, and embracing teamwork and accountability.

Educational and Networking Opportunities
The Iowa Pork Congress will feature:

Educational Sessions on key industry topics, including sustainability, animal health, and market trends.
Exhibitor Showcase with hundreds of vendors presenting cutting-edge solutions and products.
Networking Events to foster collaboration and idea-sharing among producers and industry professionals.

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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.