Farm director, KC Sheperd, recently sat down with Ethan Drake, a summer intern for the Oklahoma Pork Council, to discuss the state’s significant role in the national pork industry. Originally from Missouri, Drake got his start with the organization through the pork industry group, a college program designed to connect students with industry professionals.
“I really got to know more about the Oklahoma Pork Council and kind of what they did,” Drake said. He jumped at the chance to intern, eventually becoming the education and outreach intern. “I was like, boy, this can’t be the end. I’ve got to have something else.”
During his internship, Drake learned that Oklahoma is home to the fifth-largest breeding herd in the United States. This distinction has earned the state the nickname “the baby pig state.”
Drake explained the economics behind this unique position, saying, “Our sow numbers and our baby pig numbers are extremely high. We tend to truck a lot of those more up into our Corn Belt areas of the world, because it costs so much more for us to send the feed to us, ironically, than it does to send the pigs to them.”
A Diverse Industry
Pork is Oklahoma’s second-largest agricultural enterprise, providing a wide array of job opportunities that many people may not be aware of. Drake dispelled the common misconception that all jobs in the industry are dirty or unpleasant.
“Truly it’s not,” he said, attributing the stereotype to cartoons and other childhood media. “There are a lot of jobs that don’t directly deal with being on the farm and working with those pigs specifically.”
Drake highlighted the diverse roles within the industry, including veterinarians, policy advocates, photographers, and office staff. “We have people that just work in offices that do different things… almost any job we could find a role for you in the pork industry.”
He also emphasized the concept of “one pork,” which recognizes all pig farmers, regardless of the size or type of their operation.
“We all need to support each other and rally for each other, and not get too invested in ‘I’m just show pigs’ or ‘I’m just commercial pigs,'” Drake said. “In the grand scheme of things, we are feeding the world.”
From the Farm to the Store and Beyond
Drake shared one of his favorite phrases: “We use everything but the oink.” He explained that a single pig provides much more than just meat. In addition to a variety of cuts and ground products like sausage and pepperoni, many other products are made from pigs.
“We also utilize a lot of products… they can be made into crayons, they can be made into things like gelatin for marshmallows. Penicillin comes from pigs, and that’s a really big one.”
He noted that even those who don’t eat pork are connected to the industry through products like penicillin.
What’s Next for Ethan Drake
As his internship concludes, Drake is preparing for his senior year at Oklahoma State University, where he is studying agricultural education. He plans to begin student teaching after the fall semester.
“It was a blessing to be there, and as sad as it was to leave there, I’m really excited for what’s to come next,” he said.
