Joe Popplewell, a longtime Oklahoma pork producer and former president of the Oklahoma Pork Council, is the first Oklahoman elected to the National Pork Producers Council board of directors, bringing state-level experience to national policy work. Popplewell and Senior Farm and Ranch Broadcaster Ron Hays talked about lifetime of service to the pork industry and this most recent opportunity to serve at the national level- click on the listen bar above to listen to their conversation.
“As I woke up that Friday morning after being elected, I thought to myself, ‘What have I done?’” Popplewell said, calling the role “a challenge and a lot of responsibility.” He said he ran to ensure Oklahoma producers have a voice in Washington. “We have people in those positions. … It is time for me to run and time for me to get active and represent Oklahoma nationally.”
Top of Mind- Fixing Prop 12
Popplewell identified the Prop 12 issue — California’s animal housing law — as a top priority. “The Supreme Court has pushed it back to say if this is going to be challenged or dealt with, it needs to be done legislatively, which is why we’re trying to get the fix in with the Farm Bill,” he said, stressing the need to avoid “patchwork across states” and secure a national solution. The NPPC has rolled out a lengthy statement sharing a variety of statements in favor of fixing Prop 12.
The Farm Bill itself is a central vehicle for several industry goals, Popplewell said, including strengthened foreign animal disease prevention. He praised bipartisan support for the US SHIP program and broader biosecurity efforts: “I was very pleased to hear … that we had full support from Oklahoma legislators to support that US SHIP program, which is a huge deal to help us prevent—try and prevent—foreign animal disease.”
Adequate Labor for Pork Farms and Trade Policy Help Push Pork Exports
Workforce shortages and trade also topped Popplewell’s list of concerns. “We’ve always been challenged with farm workforce,” he said, urging Congress to ease access to labor. On trade, he noted the importance of Canada and Mexico markets under USMCA, calling them “so critical” given the high share of U.S. pork exports that move to those partners.
Reflecting on his first full board meeting in Washington, Popplewell said hearing other states’ challenges underscored the need for unified action. He also praised the NPPC staff: “I am amazed every time I go to DC, the young people that are out there that are so incredibly bright and leading these different directives … we know we’re in good hands.”
Popplewell’s election signals deeper Oklahoma engagement in national pork policy as producers press for legislative solutions on consumer-driven state rules, stronger biosecurity and workforce relief while defending access to key export markets.
