Pork Checkoff Announces Search for America's Top #ChopGriller

Apr 23, 2014

Best entry about the secret to the perfect pork chop wins a $15,000 backyard makeover

DES MOINES, IOWA - With flame masters everywhere starting to fire up the grates, there's no better time for grill enthusiasts to show off their chops - their pork chops, that is. This grilling season, the Pork Checkoff is challenging grillers to share their secret about what makes their chop pop.

The person with the best entry sharing his or her perfect pork-chop pride will have the chance to win $15,000 toward a backyard makeover, a Large Big Green Egg® Grill Package (which includes a Large Big Green Egg® in Mahogany Table, Custom EGG® Tools and Big Green Egg Organic Lump Charcoal), a summer of free pork and all the fame and glory associated with being named America's Top #ChopGriller.

"Contests like this are a great way to connect with consumersand we find they increase awareness and consumer demand for pork whileunderscoring pork's versatility," said David Newman, chair of the PorkCheckoff Domestic Marketing Committee and a pork producer from Fargo, N.D."It is so easy to grill up juicy, tender pork, and it's that simplicitythat inspired us to make the contest so easy."

To help narrow the field of entries, Ray "Dr. BBQ" Lampe, chef and author of the recently releasedPork Chopcookbook, will lend his expertise.

"Pork chops are the perfect complement to the grill, and we know that Americans across the country have their own methods for creating chop perfection," Lampe said. "My secret to grilling the ultimate pork chop that nobody can resist is to cook it like a steak - between 145°F and 160°F, followed by a three-minute rest."

Chop Your Way to the Top
Starting April 22, fans can visit PorkBeinspired.com, choose their favorite pork chop (Porterhouse, ribeye bone-in, ribeye boneless or New York) and submit a mouthwatering 140-character entry describing what makes their pork chop the top chop. Photos of mouthwatering chops are welcome, but not required.

Eight finalists (two from each pork chop category) will be selected. Between June 2 and June 13, Americans across the country can weigh in on who they think has what it takes to be named America's Top #ChopGriller. The finalist with the most votes will receive the grand prize. All fans who submit a vote will be entered for a chance to win a variety of other prizes to help them "get their grill on" this summer.

Source: Porkcheckoff

Video: WARNING! Rough Start To Breeding Season!!

WARNING! Sheep Breeding Season Begins With A Bang! Breeding season is officially underway at Ewetopia Farms, but it didn’t exactly start the way we planned!

This vlog begins with us sorting through our rams to find the perfect match for a customer’s breeding program. What should have been routine quickly turned dangerous when one of our more nervous rams panicked. In seconds, Arnie’s knee was injured, and then I was slammed hard onto the concrete floor — both of us taken down by one ram!

Thankfully, it was just bruises, but it’s a reminder of how unpredictable and powerful mature rams can be. Once we recovered, it was time to get back to the real work — the start of breeding season.

We sorted the ewes into four breeding groups (two Suffolk and two Dorset), checking parentage as they ran through the chute, deworming those that needed it, and setting aside thinner ewes for session two of breeding season in a month’s time.This staggered approach keeps lambing organized and prevents overcrowding in the barns.

From rogue rams to the excitement of new breeding groups, this episode is full of action. Stay tuned for the next vlog, where we’ll share how we chose the rams for each group!