Farms.com Home   News

Ron Plain Wins Coveted Industry Honor at 2023 Pork Forum

Hailed the “smartest man in the room” by many pork producers, Ron Plain has spent his career focused on his passion for education and his passion for the pork industry. On March 9, the National Pork Board recognized Plain, professor emeritus and extension economist in Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics at the University of Missouri- Columbia, with its Distinguished Service Award at the 2023 Pork Forum.

Plain spent a semester in college as a nuclear engineering major, but changed trajectories when he realized the lack of available career opportunities. He changed majors and enrolled in agricultural education at the University of Missouri. After receiving his degree, he taught ag for three years before returning to the classroom as a student. He completed a Ph.D. in agricultural economics at Oklahoma State University and moved back to Missouri to join the University of Missouri faculty.

For the next 35 years, Plain gave more than 2,100 presentations to farm audiences across the country, living out the land-grant mission and helping producers understand the economic forces related to their pork production business. 

Click here to see more...

Trending Video

From Barns to Better Solutions: PigTek’s Producer Perspective

Video: From Barns to Better Solutions: PigTek’s Producer Perspective

At the 2025 World Pork Expo, Rachel Fishback spoke with Michelle Workman of PigTek, who shared how her production background helps shape real-world solutions. Michelle emphasized the value of hands-on experience in understanding producers' challenges and creating equipment that truly works in barns. One example she shared showed how her insight improved animal flow — proving PigTek isn’t just building equipment, they’re building with purpose.