40: NC Pork Council Award Winners 2026 | Part 2

We sit down with this year's NC Pork Council's Award winners to hear their stories. This is part 2 of 2 featuring:

W.W. Shay Award--Dr. Mary Battrell

Emerging Leader Award--Blake Floars

We weren't able to sit down with the Hall of Fame recipient, Greg Brown, but you can watch this video to hear his story. 

Congratulations to all award winners!

Find us on Instagram @raisedonthefarm
Questions? Email us at raisedonthefarmpodcast@gmail.com 

Transcript

Welcome And Award Series Setup

Marisa 0:02

Hi, welcome back to another episode of Raise on the Farm Podcast where everything is on the table. Today's episode is the second installment of interviews with the North Carolina Pork Council annual award winner recipients. As always, these recipients are a shining example of dedication, talent, and passion for the pork industry.

Chad 0:25

Well, uh, we're glad to have uh the winner, North Carolina winner of the North Carolina Pork Council's WW Shea Award for Industry Distinction with us today, Dr. Mary Petrail. How are you doing today, Dr. Petrello?

Speaker 4 0:39

I'm doing wonderful, thank you.

Growing Up With Real Farm Chores

Chad 0:41

Awesome, awesome. Dr. Petrello, you were raised on the farm. Tell us about that. Tell us about growing up on the farm and maybe give us a little insight into who Dr. Petrell is and your family life and stuff like that.

Speaker 4 0:55

Okay. Yeah, I was uh raised on a family farm in in a little town called Albany, Ohio, in southeastern Ohio. And um, very, very hardworking parents. Um anybody that knew them would I think that's the first thing they'd say. Um my father worked at Tennessee Gas Pipeline, swing shift, and he'd try to get midnight shift, probably so he could nap at work. Uh farm during the day, and um he was pretty demanding of his uh kids. We had I have a brother 18 months older than me, and then there's one 10 years younger. But um, so sandwich between two boys, that probably explains a little bit of my uh behavior. Um we uh we did a lot of chores, we had chores like forever, and I I really, I really think it was just an exceptional experience. I I am so grateful that I was raised on a farm. It it teaches you a lot of really important lessons in life. Um I I do have a funny story, wasn't funny at the time, but um when I was when just to tell you kind of the my my parents' thoughts process and um kind of what made me what I am, uh we would go feed the cattle every night. Dad had a cattle feed lot, and we also had hogs fair to finish. Um I don't know if we had the hogs when I was six years old or not, but we had the Rostin Perina cling leans, um, and we just had like 125 salves, and they were breeding gestation happened outdoors, and we brought them in to Faro. I'm very labor intense once they hit that fairing house. But we we had brood cows and we had a cattle feed lot. So every day Kurt and I would go feed the cattle. And when we got done, my job was we had a pet rabbit, flossy. I was supposed to feed Flossie. Um, I was supposed to feed the dog, and I was supposed to feed the cats every other day because they were barn cats. I was not allowed to make them pets. They were there to catch mice, and I had limits on how much I could feed these cats. Well, I forgot. I came in and mom would ask, Did you do your chores? And oh, I'm sorry, I forgot. And I'd do do okay the next night, and then I'd oops, I'm sorry, I forgot. Well, Friday comes one week, and I come in and I'm all excited, and and she fixed like my favorite meal. It was like it was my birthday, my favorite food. And I wash my hands and I sit down at the dinner table and she's like, No, young lady. We put those animals, your rabbit in particular, is in a cage. It cannot fend for itself. It depends on you to feed it. Um, you have forgot to do your chores three nights this week. So I think it's about time you just you experience going to bed hungry.

Chad 4:05

Oh man.

Speaker 4 4:06

And maybe you'll think about that before you forget to do your chores. And it was just, it was honestly such a wonderful, she's right, you know, when we put livestock indoors, they are dependent on us. And it was a great life lesson. So at 62, I can tell you, I have never once forgot to check the cattle to make sure they have water, or forgot to feed my dogs at night. I um I kept that that lesson with me for life. It was it was very impactful.

Chad 4:37

Yeah. So it sounds like quite an operation you grew up on. I mean, 125 sows is nothing to sneeze at, and some cows too.

Marisa 4:46

Yeah. And Ohio winters can get cold.

Chad 4:49

Yeah.

Marisa 4:49

They sure can.

Speaker 4 4:52

Yeah, it's um it's not a real heavy, well, a lot of small farms, it's very rolling hills. So the row crop is all rent land and farm the hilltops. Yeah. And um, yeah, my dad, my dad stayed very busy and made sure his kids never got bored. I mean, you never said, I'm bored at our house, because it would be the the bush hook and walk the fence or a feed sack and go pull the weeds out of the pasture, or you guys know. You grew up on Yeah.

Marisa 5:27

So what brought you to North Carolina?

Speaker 4 5:31

Oh, so when I um graduated vet school, and the hog market was terrible. I graduated in 1995, and I wanted to do 100% swine. I mean, I I knew that's what I wanted to do. Um, I love cattle, but didn't really want to be pulling calves. And I was in Iowa, I was in hog country, but I just I had trouble finding a full-time swine position that year. Um, I think the hogs were like 25 cents that they graduated. And um, Dr. Fred Cunningham, he was in Moyock, North Carolina. He had been a swine consultant and then started working for Williams Farms, and he hired me. And I worked there the first year, which was a great experience, got a lot of production practice. Hogs were PERS negative, it was very clean, not a lot of vet work, um, actually. But um the so the consultant he got so busy with Williams Farms that he wasn't doing much consulting, so I just I stayed there a year. And then um Greg Brown was looking for somebody at Browns of Carolina. So I started with him June 1st, 1996. Yeah. Wow.

Chad 6:47

Wow. Did you I mean did you know from an early age that you wanted to be a swine vet or when did that passion develop?

Speaker 4 6:55

Um, I I knew I wanted to be a veterinarian when I was nine years old. And um I I'll I'll tell you that story. This is this is a pretty good story. Those barn cats I was talking about that I was forbidden to turn into pets. Well, you hardly ever saw them. You put the cat food out, and you didn't know if they were coming or not. And I was nine years old, it was Mother's Day, I stepped out on the back porch, and they were short-haired, black and white cats. And this cat comes up to me and rubs up against my leg. And I was shocked because I mean these things were feral. You never hardly saw them, let alone touch them. And she meowed and I looked down and she was in a mine. She was trying to give birth, and she had a kitten that deceased and lodged. So I ran in the in the door and I I called my mom. I got mom. I'm like, we gotta call the vets. Well, it's Mother's Day, the vets are not answering the phone. And I said, Well, mom, you know, we had hogs. I knew you had the sleever, right? Um I knew that was important. I said, We gotta get that kitten out. And she said, Don't look at me, that cat came to you. So I did, I got the kitten out, and um, it was not pleasant, but that cat rubbed against my leg, purred, I bent down to pet her, and she took off. She she used you and she said, Okay. Yep. And it took about three months. I was looking for her every day to see what happened. I did see her again, I knew she survived, but it was such a rewarding feeling. You know, I helped her, I kept her alive, and um and that's when I knew I wanted to be a veterinarian. And I knew I I really didn't know I wanted to be a swine veterinarian till um I was older, and I I again I love cattle, but it's so physically demanding. And the swine industry's more um herd health and you know, biosecurity and not an individual animal. And agriculture, I've always loved agriculture. And um so when I went to vet school, I wanted to go, I knew I wanted to be a swine veterinarian, and I really wanted to work for an integrator. Uh that was important to me because well, I'm of the age where you know, high school Jimmy Carter was president and a bunch of farms, I saw a bunch of farms get sold. It was just so heartbreaking. Uh and I was smart enough to know that you know, if pork producer's not making any money, usually the packer is, and vice versa. So I I really wanted to go to somewhere that was connected to the packing plant and the final product. So that's that's what uh was very attractive to me about Browns of Carolina.

Chad 10:11

How long were you at Browns of Carolina for?

Speaker 4 10:14

Three years. I was there three years, and I had my son, and daycare was raising him. We paid we paid a late fee like four of the first five days. This is not a good sign. It's not that we don't love her, baby, we just have trouble getting here to get picking up. And um and I I it was just it was and and a lot of that was me. I I was not good at work, well, still not good at work life balance, but um I I took a year off and I went back to uh the pharmaceutical industry. I was a tech service vet for pharmacia and they were wonderful to me, and I missed I missed so bad. I missed the producers, I'm like I missed being in the barn and being around the animals, and um I guess I missed the adrenaline rush from always having you know 50 things on the to-do list. So Murphy was hiring, um, they were looking for a veterinarian, so that was October 1st, 2000. I came to work for Murphy. So basically I have received a uh Smithfield, some connection to Smithfield, um, all but two years since I became a veterinarian. Yeah.

Chad 11:41

Well, I I've been in the barn with Mary before and or Dr. Patrell, and uh what she just said about loving being in the barn. There's there's uh it's obvious when you're in the barn with her that that's where she loves to be, um, and she really loves the animals. I'm curious though, I mean, you've been on my farm, we've had some sick pigs before, um, but you always seem to be um just approachable and and and not upset about it. I mean, you you you come at it with um you know, ready to solve a problem. How do you keep that that motivation even when you know you're about to go in to a barn of some really sick pigs?

Speaker 4 12:18

Oh well, thank you. Um well part of it is uh reflection of you as a grower. You know, you you got a good grower that I know tries hard and does what they can, everything they can. I'm sure they're frustrated. It it's it is a frustrating job. I mean, the sicker they are, the harder you work and the less pay you get. It's just you know, you're always told work hard, it'll pay off. And it seems like it's just the opposite when you when you get a group of sick pigs. Now, it still pays off because it could always be worse. Um it's where I get frustrated is when I walk in a barn of sick hogs or not so bad, off, but people weren't doing their due diligence. That's that's a little frustrating there. Yeah. But um, yeah, I mean, I thank you. I try, I try to be positive and um try to look for solutions, problem solve where we can. And again, I know I know if I'm called out there, it's the grower's probably not a happy person to start with. They've uh had their have their challenges and are probably at their wits' end. So just try to do what we can to help them. And sometimes, sometimes I'm successful. Uh, sometimes I I'm disappointed. Occasionally you'll get a group of pigs that only Jesus can raise.

Chad 13:50

Uh yeah. It happens.

Marisa 13:52

Well, I can I can echo Chad's uh sentiment about you always smiling and and having a positive um air to you when you go into the barns, because I remember shadowing you in high school and just having that experience. And you made me feel so at ease because it's a little daunting going into a sow farm for your first time and then experiencing you know all these um pigs and what to do and um the problem-solving aspect. But I I just always walked out of there really excited, and although I did not become a vet, um, I still think fondly about it.

Big Awards And What They Mean

Chad 14:31

Well, I know you're proud of this award, uh, Dr. Patrail, but you're also the 2018 uh swine practitioner of the year. Uh tell us a little bit about that award and and what that meant to you.

Speaker 4 14:43

Oh, it was um both awards are very nice, and I'm I'm very grateful and um very humbled that and and honored that you chose me. Um the ASV award is veterinarians nominate other veterinarians. And and I honestly never thought I would get that award. It typically typically does not go to integrator vets because it's across the country. Um it goes to you know swine consulting businesses quite often. Um I think I think I was the maybe second or third that worked for an integrator to receive it, and it quite often and and I'm not pointing fingers, the Iowa's hog country, right? It's the it's the largest pork producer, um, pork producing state, and there's a bunch of swine veterinarians out there in Iowa, Minnesota, Indiana. So it it very seldom comes to the East Coast. Um, so I was shocked. I they didn't tell me, uh, they used to not announce who the winners were. And they get to reading, you know, I'm at the award ceremony and they get to talking about the veterinarian. And then they said that they went to the University of Tennessee and got a master's and and actually beef nutrition, right? Beef cow nutrition. And it dawned on me, that's me. And Randy Jones was sitting, I was sitting by my my husband and my son, which should have been a red flag because they came to meet. And and um all of a sudden I bent over and I put my head between my knees. And Randy Jones taps me on the shoulder and he says, Are you alright? And I said, Randy, that's me. I thought I was gonna pass out.

Chad 16:35

Oh, wow.

Speaker 4 16:37

I was so surprised, and it's like I gotta get up in front of about two to three hundred people here in just a little bit and say something. And I was I stood up and I told Don, I said, Hold my hand, and he looks at me. Don't my son, by the way, and he's like, Are you kidding? What for? Hold my hand, I might pass out. So that was that was very, very flattering um and surprising because there's a there's a lot of good swine veterinarians out there, and you know, I I I am not too proud. I pick up the phone and I call them all the time and and ask for advice and information and share ideas. So it was uh it was really nice.

Marisa 17:30

Special.

Women In Swine Vet Medicine

Chad 17:32

Yeah, it sure is. What are you what are you most proud of, Mary or Dr. Petrail when you when you look back on your career? I mean, what sticks out to you? What what I I don't know where I'm actually going with this Christian, but I think you probably know.

Speaker 4 17:49

Yeah, um wow. I I think it's w when I started um in 1995, there were very few female veterinarians in the industry. Very few. Now, it has changed dramatically. But I remember the first American Association of Swine Vets to have an annual meeting, and the very first one I attended, there was this long line for the men's restroom, and I just zipped it, and on the way out, I said, Man, this is great. This is like being at a tractor pole. They all started laughing at me, but um, there weren't many women in the room. And um I honestly, you know, you think back, you know, Greg Brown hired a female veterinarian back in 1995. That was that was pretty bold. And um, you know, I appreciate I appreciate the opportunity he gave me. And then later, Wendell Murphy, Terry Coffey, um, did the same. And and um I guess, you know, there's there's times that I've thought about throwing. There there are days you get a little frustrated and should I do something else? And um I I always felt like women, if they come into uh this type of role, they need to stick it out. Um because I I felt like I was if I walked away early on, it would make it more difficult for other females to get these kind of positions and to stick it out. So maybe that's my greatest accomplishment, just being here and and being through the the good times and the tough times, and um hanging in there like hair in a biscuit.

Chad 19:47

That's I bet that line to the women's bathroom isn't as short anymore.

Speaker 4 19:52

It is not, it is not actually. Today is like I think it's eighty, eighty-seven, eighty-nine percent of veterinarians or students in vet school are female. Now, most of those do dogs and cats, but yeah, there's a lot more women who are swine veterinarians and they're they're doing a great job. I'm I'm very proud of them.

Marisa 20:14

That's awesome. How many swine veterinarians are there across the nation, probably? Do you know?

Speaker 4 20:22

Oh, I I don't. I am I think the I guess it's hundreds? No, it's it's like twelve, fifteen hundred, yeah. Twelve to fifteen hundred. The double ASV, the annual meeting usually has uh eight, eight hundred or so in attendance. Um it varies because it moves locations some years are are um there are more than others, but roughly that. Okay. And they also have some international membership, not a lot. I should say my my other accomplishment is um I gotta I gotta brag my son. Um my son became a veterinarian as well, and he uh Murphy hired him, so I get to work with him. He started May 19th of 2025.

Chad 21:20

That's incredible.

Speaker 4 21:21

That's it, it really is, and and I I count that as a big accomplishment. I said, well, evidently I didn't complain about it too much.

Chad 21:32

I didn't know I didn't know that, Mary. I'm I'm glad you told me that.

Speaker 4 21:37

Yeah, so um, you know, and and his father was a production Wayne just retired, but he for years was he was a service person at Browns of Carolina. Well, I before that, he was with Goldkist and Williams Farms, Browns of Carolina, and then went to work for Jimmy and Kenny Moore, Black River Farms. And uh so he's been in the industry. A very long time. So that young man was raised talking hogs every single night when we got home. How was your day? What are you seeing? Um and um anyway, he he um a lot of people are like, You're gonna work with your mother, or you're gonna work with your son, how's that gonna work? And I have enjoyed every minute of it. I have really enjoyed working with him. It's it's been so fun to watch him watch him learn and grow and and um yeah, yeah, he's um he's gonna be good.

Marisa 22:38

That's awesome.

Chad 22:38

That's what he is. That is, that's really cool.

Marisa 22:41

I know that makes your mama heart just burst. It does. It does.

Future Threats And New Technology

Chad 22:48

Well, I guess to wrap it up, what do you see in the future for pork production? What is uh what is between Don and yourself, what do you guys are seeing in the next five, ten years uh as far as pig health goes?

Speaker 4 23:05

Well, right now we are definitely experiencing challenges. Um unfortunately, P D, which is so frustrating. We were making strides on that, but it's been a bad year. And not real sure why. I mean, we've put a lot of guilts in the farms. It's been extremely cold. We do not do well with cold. I I live for summer. I just love virus killing sunshine. That's yeah, I mean so, but that one, I mean, I we'll we'll get there. Um and and they're actually you know trying to work toward eliminate that at a national level. Um we do have some very devastating purr strain that's been running through the Midwest since about two things, and we're seeing more of it in North Carolina. So it's it's unfortunately the purr strains don't seem to be getting more mild. Progressively more mild, it's the other way. They seem to be getting progressively more aggressive. So I I I still think um you know there's some there's uh some routes or avenues we haven't made much progress on, but antivirals, um immune modulators, genetic resistance. Um I think there'll be well you you see it in the environmental things like barn tools and cameras and cameras that detect when it's time to market pigs and who's sick and not hitting the feeder or water. So I I there will be technological advancements coming. Um I think it's gonna be real interesting to see what the industry will look like in 10 to 15 years. I really do.

Chad 25:01

Yeah. I tell you, I this has been kind of uh enlightening for me. I learned some things about you today, Dr. Patrell. Yeah. It's always a pleasure to be with you um and and talk to you. I'm looking forward to seeing you here in a couple weeks at uh the port conference.

Speaker 4 25:19

Me too. I'm looking forward to it too. And again, uh I'm very honored, very grateful. Yeah, very deserving. I don't know about that, but thank you.

Chad 25:31

Well, when we close here, I want to I want to say uh the the uh WW Shea Award, it's uh award named for William Wardenshea, who, as the first uh swine extension officer in North Carolina, instituted methods and techniques with the singular goal of ensuring profits and success for farmers from pork production in the state. And I think uh Dr. Patrell certainly exemplifies uh those qualities. Uh she's been an asset to pork producers uh across the nation, I'm sure, but especially uh myself here in North Carolina and a lot of producers in North Carolina. So uh congratulations again, Dr. Bitrell, and uh we just appreciate you being on Raised on the Farm Podcast today.

Speaker 4 26:12

Thanks again. Thanks so much. Yep.

Chad 26:16

Uh Blake Forge, welcome to Raise on the Farm Podcast, man. It's great to have you here. Uh Emerging Leader Award for the North Carolina Pork Council this year. Thanks for being on. Thank you. Thank you, thank you guys for having me. Yeah. The Emerging Leader Award, just so we uh know, the North Carolina Pork Council's Emerging Leader Award is to recognize and honor a pork producer aged 40 or younger who has contributed to the pork industry in North Carolina and exhibits potential for leadership. And um 100% you, Blake. Fits you like a glove. I appreciate it.

Speaker 26:48

Yeah I certain I don't see it, but I appreciate it. I try my best.

Chad 26:52

Yeah, for sure. Yeah. Well, look, um, we were just talking about uh about your new addition to the family. Let's let's jump into it a little bit. I mean, it just happened like the last three months. Tell me what's going on.

Speaker 27:07

Yeah, so uh uh had a had a big few months uh to end out 2025. I got married on New Year's Eve, uh had a a small uh ceremony with my family, um, and uh really special, had a had a had a great time, and um just uh a month and uh a month later, um our little daughter uh Millie Blake was born. I I fought Alexa for a while about naming her after me. I said she she probably doesn't deserve uh that name growing up uh to to have my name, but uh people say, was that your dad, Blake? But no, uh it's been great and um great a big adjustment and uh a good adjustment, and you know, like we were talking about, it's just gives gives a new meaning uh to uh life and uh a new reset on um uh of of inspiration um inspiration to work harder and and just do the best job I can. Um so yeah, little Millie's uh coming up on three weeks old and uh everything's been going going pretty well. Uh but but yes, a lot a lot has happened in this last few months.

Chad 28:28

Yeah, you you look decently uh rested, Blake.

Speaker 28:31

Uh maybe you didn't feed last night, but uh well I I uh I've been known to be able to sleep through anything. Tornadoes and Yeah, so I tr I try. I mean I'm trying to I I um I told Alexa I said, just wake me up, you know. Yeah uh you need me, but but I can't help that. I I um somebody could rob me cold and steal everything I have in my house, I would not know that I wouldn't wake up. So um, but yeah, yeah. I have slept, I would say a little better than her. So I have to give props to her. My wife Alexa has been um a rock star this whole time and uh been great. So yeah.

Marisa 29:12

That's a guy thing.

Chad 29:14

Oh, is it is that a guy thing?

Marisa 29:16

I think so.

Chad 29:17

Yeah, I'm I'm the same way. I have to I'm I'm with you, Greg.

Speaker 29:23

I'll do a lot of things. I'll do a lot of things during the day. I mean, I I love I I mean I'm there during the day.

Chad 29:29

Yeah, yeah. I was gonna say whenever um when I first held my daughter uh for the first time, I mean, all I could all I could say was ah like I was just like oh um it was it was a pivotal moment for me. Um just like you described, a new reason to work for, a new meaning uh for life, really. Um it's just it was it was crazy. I'm sure it was for you too. Sounds like what you just described.

Speaker 29:54

Yeah. Yep, just um, you know, you go all those years, uh, you know, in uh early twenties and and and on, and and you hear people say, you know, you don't you don't know uh the love you can have for something and and uh and and how you would do anything for someone until you truly um have a child of your own and and and see it. And uh that's that's just just just the truth. I I uh you know when we found out we were expecting it, we um you know, we it you never feel like you're ready uh fully for things. And so um it was it was a big adjustment trying to f uh figure out um uh at the time uh Lexa was living in Raleigh and um we were planning on getting married soon and and uh but just hadn't nailed out all the the details of of all that. So um everything uh came together well and she she uh she can't moved into Goldsboro, moved to my house here in Goldsboro, and uh everything's been going well.

Marisa 31:00

Yeah, no, it's hard to dis it's so hard to describe that. We've had friends that are like, do we want to have kids? And when we try to explain it to them, like it just you can't.

Speaker 31:10

You just can't.

Marisa 31:12

Just go for it and try it.

Speaker 31:14

I know, but now it's like when I wake up in the morning it's just like, oh my god, let me go see my baby, baby. Yeah, when I get home from work, I'm less I'm I'm I'm trying my best to focus on work, but uh I am uh ready to get home at the end of the day and go play with my baby and holder and and feeder bottle and stuff, but uh and my family is so surprised. They uh, you know, I got um my my my my parents have nine grandchildren, and um so I've grown up I was an uncle when I was 13 uh and so I I've I've grown up uh around my nieces and nephews grown up uh my whole life. So um but as much as I love them when when it's your own, it's a little bit different. I I didn't really necessarily want to uh I didn't change their diapers and and I don't re uh you know I mean like it's a different thing, but uh but yeah.

Building Carolina Swine Integrators

Chad 32:09

We we may catch Blake at the uh at the hog house like rocking a pig now, Marissa. Yeah. Yeah, exactly. Yeah. Well let's talk about pigs a little bit, Blake. Um tell us a little bit about um your family's operation, uh Carolina Swine Integrators, and maybe how it got started and where you're headed with it.

Speaker 32:29

Yeah. So um we have um been in business uh since around uh August of 2021 was when we uh got our first South Arm going, ordered the Gilts, and um uh been going ever since then. Um you know uh I did a podcast um early on uh when I first started and uh and and Marissa, you uh came to my farm uh early on as well, and I was thinking before our podcast today um how much at ground zero I was at that point. Um I I still don't I uh it's like my my grandpa's uh partner he had a sign on his door he said I started with nothing and I have most of it left, and that's how I feel with my knowledge base. I started with nothing, I got most of it left, but but I do feel like uh you know from from that point to now, it's been I'm very thankful for the people that have been there to help me learn, and I've I'm I'm just grateful um for this journey uh this last five years. Um it it's been a great learning experience. Some some of the lessons have been learned the hard way. Uh they cost you money, and and uh some of them you learn before before they hurt you. Um but yeah, it um we have started out with 2,000 sows uh in in uh 2021 and and uh up until um today uh over the years we we added uh two more thousand uh one uh sites or two one thousand head south arm sites uh to get up to four thousand sales. Um and uh it's been uh it's it's been a lot, like I said, with our with our overhead employees. There's there's three of us overhead employees, so we all are kind of running wherever we're needed. And um uh it it's been it's been um it's been great uh getting to this point. Um sometimes we felt like you know uh did we do it, did we did we try to did we get too many souths too quick? Uh but you know it was just a challenge and and now we're at the point where I feel like we we um we're getting settled in and and uh we feel good about where we're at. But um, you know, I think we want to maintain uh um where we're at and and try to um try to perfect our craft with what we have. Um I don't I I think a lot of times for us um uh a numbers of sows or numbers of whatever it may be in agriculture, acres or um anything like that, uh a number can mean a lot, but um I think for it for us personally, I'm focused on um bettering what we have um and and uh perfecting that. Yes, I appreciate it. And and um and maybe when Millie grows up we'll have some more farm labor and we can get add some more sales, but but for now, uh for now if we're doing spokes and what we have and um and yeah, it things have have uh been going as smoothly, I guess, as as they could be going in the hog business uh last year or so. Um all things considered, uh we've been very blessed and um I've just been really um proud of my dad um to just have the uh um the guts to go out there and and jump into something like this. Um he's he was new to it, I was new to it, and um he he not not many people would have were willing to do what he did and and uh once I saw that he made that jump and and and he wanted to make it work and he wanted uh to do something in the hog industry, um that's really what you know inspired me to come home and and uh try to do the best I could for him.

Chad 36:47

What um I mean you've already been uh part of the PLI class. I mean I that was uh I guess what I'm saying is you you've jumped at being involved in the industry um through the PLI and there's probably some other things that I I don't quite remember, but tell us a little bit about that uh that aggressive engagement in the industry that you've had.

Speaker 37:07

Yeah, so like like starting out, like I said, I I uh I I I really felt it and I knew that I I I was I was just at the very beginning stages of of my career and and I was at ground zero. Um so to me I just made the decision that uh I w I want to get as involved in in everything that's going on in the pork industry as I possibly can uh while while also doing my job. And um that's that's what I did. I um I went to uh you know MPI C in Wisconsin, World Pork Expo, um uh just everything I could possibly try to get involved with, uh meet new people, and and to me it was I felt like I I there was not many people out there in doing and dealing with the things I was dealing with. So when I found a group of people coming together to discuss their challenges, um, you know, you found out that there's a lot of people that are dealing with the things that you're dealing with, and and I I was able to connect with a lot of um producers, young, young and old, and um and just really ask them questions that otherwise there would be nobody for me um to t to talk to uh talk to talk with through. So um I made a point to to to try to go to all the conferences I could, um be as involved and and with the port council, um just try to be available when I could be and and uh so yeah that I I um I've been able to I've met some good friends and and uh I I feel like it's been worth worth the while.

Leadership Training And Global Pork Markets

Chad 38:56

That uh Pork Leadership Institute is it is a good uh uh opportunity to network. Where did you guys go for your out-of-country? Yeah. Yeah, I didn't mean to Mexico or Yes, yeah.

Speaker 39:06

So, you know, as you know, I did the the NC um um P uh PLC program. Right, right. The state level um program first, and that kind of gave me the the state level um version basically of what that PLI group was. Uh uh um and and more at the state uh legislatives state legislators and uh dealing with state level government and uh um and then so that really um planted the seed for me, I think, um, on how you communicate with uh legislators in that realm and how you deal um with uh media and and and stuff like that. And I am uh not the best public speaker. I almost uh dropped public speaking in college because I was so scared to to uh speak in front of people. Yeah um but but but yeah, um but anyway, so it's hard. It really is. It's not an easy task. No. Yeah. But yeah, the but the the state the uh P the PLC program kind of put me on that path. And uh then when I had the opportunity and was accepted to uh do the PLI program, man, that really um that really opened my eyes on a national and even international scale of how um our supply chain works. Um and wow, that will really open your eyes. So yes, Chad, we went to uh Chicago, we went to uh um Iowa uh two times, and uh Mexico City um was uh the last trip and Mexico City was very interesting. Um man, learning our international markets, especially with an export partner as valuable as uh Mexico um to be able to um talk with representatives from the the Mexican trade, Mexican trade representatives and hear from them and and being able to see the Mexican uh legislative buildings and what I found most uh interesting about it was their their wet markets or their their meat markets there and how um it just blew my mind that um as a part of their culture, you know, um they purchase they'll go out and purchase meat, it's on the street, and their main hours of business, they were telling us, was something like 11 o'clock at night to six in the morning. Oh wow and I just I just assumed that it was just because when it was dark and it was cooler, the meat maybe wouldn't that's all I could come up with, but yeah, they said that they all the meat buying in that particular um sect happened uh at night. And then of course in Mexico they had as high end of pork and and grocery storage as you wanted. But it it was just uh that program and that trip specifically really opened my eyes to um the different type of consumers out there, the the the price points they're at, and then our off all products and our especially with the Asian markets, um our offall and products we would otherwise discard, um we're able to get some value back as a producer on that pig from those different cultures and markets, and so help me really understand that it's it's it's bigger than what's going on here in the United States, um, even and we got a lot of markets out there and a lot of partners, and uh a lot goes into this hog farming thing, uh, past the farm. So I got to learn a little bit more about that.

Speaker 2 43:05

Yeah.

Marisa 43:06

So it sounds like you have very intentionally developed and grown as a leader, and now you're being awarded this emerging leader award. What does being a leader in this industry mean to you?

Speaker 43:19

Um it it means a lot. it's a very big honor for me uh to be considered a leader in the industry. Um I I I don't feel deserving, um, but I I give it a hundred percent of my effort uh every day. Um and and uh you know when I was in college I I uh I followed the pork council because we had South Farms on contract. And you know, honestly, Chad, you were one of the people that that I saw that that really made a point to get involved and get out there and and go beyond your farm and say, um, you know, this is bigger than me, this is bigger than you know, hearing pork producers, uh it's for all of us. And uh and I and I I've always been involved or interested in the political realm of things. Um that's not all we do, of course, with um with with the pork council and things like that, but that's always been an interest of mine. So um when I was in college at NC State before I graduated, I I've always had a um a desire to be involved with the pork council, um, even when I wasn't. So um I remember having a discussion with a friend of mine that that was involved with the port council and and just saying, man, I I want to be involved um whatever way I can. I I just I want to be involved and um I don't know, it's just yeah, that was just the drive I had in me to want to do that um and be involved and and try to meet as many people as I could and and learn.

Chad 46:07

I think um for me um you know sometimes uh when I'm when I look at being involved in the pork industry, I have to remind myself that you know, I'm a spoke in the wheel. And and your input into pork industry and my input and everybody else's together is what makes it uh what it is. So just uh I mean keep on doing what you're doing on on being involved in the pork industry. You're doing a great job, uh, and and it it matters, it really does. No matter how little it may feel sometimes or how big it may feel, uh every little bit matters for sure. Thank you.

Speaker 46:40

I appreciate it. Yeah, because I um I just I I feel like there's people that are speaking uh on the other end of our issues that aren't they're not giving up and they're they're they're putting their time in it. And you know, on our side, we have farms and uh we have our farms and animals and livestock's well-being to look after. Uh it's a little bit more of a challenge, I would guess, on our end as producers, uh, to have people that want to that are willing to get out there and and uh speak up for us. So um, you know, I'm just happy to do it.

Chad 47:21

I want to share with you guys my note I made today. It says, do not say for sure. And I've said it like eight times now. My word is uh I've had a bad habit lately of saying for sure.

Marisa 47:34

So what so what what is your word for today, Chad?

Chad 47:39

I don't know. I I I was I was absolutely in the beginning, now I'm for sure. So I don't know. Definitely definitely, here we go. Definitely.

Marisa 47:48

Well just get them on rotation and then it'll be good.

Chad 47:51

Yeah. This podcast, uh Blake, if if you um it's been a growing process for me. Uh we first started just both of us hearing hearing you uh both of us hearing ourselves on the on the uh recording. I mean, hell, you know how you sound like a redneck uh whenever. Oh my gosh. It's been a challenge, but you know, at the end of the day, um we just we've we've gotten used to it, I guess, haven't we? Yeah. More you do something, the it's like it's easier. You get used to it. Yeah, yeah, for sure.

Marisa 48:27

Yeah.

Chad 48:28

Yeah. So um, Blake, have you got your uh acceptance speech all worked out? I mean, because you know, you gotta give a speech whenever you get your award.

Speaker 48:36

Yeah, I've been thinking about that since they called me. Um because I I did know I I've noticed, you know, the people do give speeches after awards, and and uh, you know, like I said, I I was contemplating dropping my public speaking class so I could take it the next semester online and not have to talk in front of people. Now we know I think I'm gonna have a pre-uh written speech that because that'll be fine. As you know, I can I can start talking and then I'll I'll create four to five rabbit trails and then I'll ask what I was even talking about. So I have to stay on track. So yes, I I have my speech prepared, um and uh I'm excited, uh very humbled and and just honored. I I I really am. Um and and to be able to have my family there, um, it's gonna be great.

Marisa 49:29

So I was gonna ask if Millie's coming. Yeah, I I hope so.

Speaker 2 49:33

I think she will be. I think she will be, yeah.

Chad 49:35

And I'm sure that um I'm sure Blake, your dad's gonna be very proud of you, man. I I know he's gonna look at you and and all the work you've done together. And I know he I know he enjoys working with you. I've talked to him about that. Um, but I know he's gonna be proud of you. It was good when my when I got outstanding port producer to have my dad there. It is a proud moment. So suck it all in, man. Enjoy it.

Speaker 49:55

Yes, it means so much to me. And uh, yeah. Just hoping I'm just glad to do it for him. I uh he's he's not uh he's kind of a behind the scenes guy. He don't uh he don't want to talk uh, you know, on a public forum ever. Uh you know, when we were doing the uh videos for uh uh the Emerging Leader Award that that Caitlin does, I I thought I was gonna have to grab them and put up and pin them up and say, go say some words about this video here. Because he he was like, I don't want I'm not a good speaker. I I I I don't know if he's gonna make the video bad. And then I I uh I sent him the editor version and he said, Man, Caitlin, Caitlin, if she can edit me and make me sound like that, then she can do anything. Uh so uh I finally got him to go uh go in there, but no. He uh he he's a more behind the scenes guy, and um uh you know he don't gamble. He's never gambled in his life, but uh you wouldn't know it if you uh see um the risk he's willing to take. Not not in a bad way, but he he he takes calculated risk,. He uh he's he's uh not he hadn't been scared to go try something new. Um even if he didn't know a hundred percent about it, uh he's he was willing to take risk. And uh so yeah, it I'm very proud of my dad and um anything I've done uh or or if I ever do anything, I've I've all it's always been centered around my family and my dad, uh trying to make sure we make this thing work because um you know, just just seeing um uh the last five years in the pork industry, the challenges we face with COVID, uh and and all the impacts that that had on producers. Um I just got a um a special drive to uh make it work for for everybody.

Chad 52:14

So this is good.

Marisa 52:18

Your your dad is one of those quiet leaders, right? Yeah.

Speaker 52:23

Yeah, he don't want any uh any uh public any acknowledgement. Uh yeah, any any acknowledgement at all. Uh you know, so he he's fine with it and uh and uh he's always been um you know kind of he he he never he don't have any hobbies, he don't really do any extracurricular stuff. He's he's really a simple guy and and uh it's funny when uh my mom, she loves to travel, uh and she loves cruises and stuff like that, like everybody else usually would, but uh she has to straight up uh convince my dad to go on a vacation with her. And uh and so she'll have to go out and plan them six months out, and uh and then when the time rolls around, he's griping and complaining those two or three weeks before they have to leave because his happy place is at his car lot. And uh if for for anybody that don't know, our hog office is located, it's it's a dual office. It's a h it's a used car lot and it's our hog office. Oh, okay.

Chad 53:32

Um so is that the uh precision, is that the old uh performance east building? Yes, okay.

Speaker 53:38

That's the old performance east building. And so I that's I'm at home today and I I I work from home uh quite a bit, but a lot of times I'll be there um um at at the car lot and my and my brother runs the uh automotive side and and my dad's kind of somewhere in the middle. Yeah. And uh so we um that's his hangout spot. We I see him every day. Uh that's been you know, it you know, anything with family, there's you you you're candid with each other because you're comfortable and and and are you and uh debating something is is is is normal. Um but it's been so special to me to work with my um brother and dad and uh seeing them every day and uh it's just been really good.

Marisa 54:26

Well that's that's good that you can say that still, right?

Speaker 54:30

Yeah, yeah, at least for now. I'll I'll update y'all in a little in uh a week or two or a month, but but uh but yeah, that that's my dad's uh that's his hangout. Uh he there was no place in the world that he would rather be Monday through uh Saturday, Sunday's his church day, but Monday through Saturday, there's no place he'd rather be than his little car lot and uh and uh going down to the farm and riding around and deer hunting and and all that. He uh he's a simple man, but yeah.

Chad 54:59

That's awesome. That's awesome. Well, it's been a great uh it's been a great time just talking with you, Blake, and catching up. Um looking forward to seeing you next week at conference.

Speaker 55:09

Oh, yeah. Yeah. See you guys there.

Marisa 55:12

That concludes our interviews with the 2026 annual award winners for the North Carolina Pork Council. We did want to say that we did not get to sit down with the Hall of Fame recipient, Mr. Greg Brown, but did want to mention him and congratulate him on his honor. He has certainly been integrally involved within the pork industry through many years and seen it evolve and had a play in that. Congratulations to all recipients. Thank you for your dedication, your passion, and all that you do for the North Carolina pork industry. Be sure to subscribe and follow us on Instagram so you never miss an episode. And as always, if you have a question or a topic you want us to cover, let us know. We'd love for you to join the conversation. Remember, everything's on the table.