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Volume 20 | Issue 19
At the N.C. Pork Council, we can't count the number of times at events we've been asked where to buy a NC Pork shirt. Up until now, we didn't have an answer. The NC Pork Store just launched today and is full of t-shirts and more for the whole family to show off your pork pride. You'll find pieces with our logo, plus some other fun designs that celebrate our love for bacon and barbecue. We've also partnered with the NC State Fair to offer up a few popular designs from the fair's souvenir shop for a limited time. Proceeds from all fair designs will support State Fair livestock programs.

For anyone curious, we're not spending money on inventory. All orders will be handled by a company in Charlotte that will print shirts on demand and mail the t-shirt directly to the customer, with the exception of the "So Unfair" design, which is available by pre-order only.

The purpose of the NC Pork Store is to promote the NC Pork brand and increase positive feelings for the the industry. If you see our announcement on your favorite social channel, please share it with your friends!
Nemechek appointed interim CEO
Dr. Gene Nemechek of Wilson has been appointed to serve as the interim CEO of the North Carolina Pork Council, effective Sept. 11. He will step in for former CEO Andy Curliss, who has accepted a corporate affairs position with Smithfield Foods. The search for a permanent replacement is underway. 
 
Nemechek, a respected swine veterinarian, has been involved in the pork industry for more than 30 years. He is a past president of the National Pork Board (2010) and North Carolina Pork Council (2005) and has served on the NC Pork Council’s Board of Directors for the past five years as an industry representative. 

“Dr. Nemechek is highly respected throughout the pork industry and his experience with the checkoff programs makes him the right person to step in as interim CEO while we pursue a new leader of the North Carolina Pork Council,” said NC Pork Council President Jim Lynch of Wayne County. “We appreciate all that Andy Curliss has accomplished for our organization and look forward to continue working with him in his new role.”
 
Nemechek recently retired from Zoetis, a leading animal health company that produces medicine and vaccinations for livestock.

The NC Pork Council Board of Directors has established a search committee to identify the next leader of the organization. It expects to appoint a new CEO before the end of the year.
 
NC Partcipation needed in Pork Checkoff Survey
You may have recently received an invitation from the National Pork Board to take the Pork Checkoff Annual Producer Survey. Your feedback on the issues affecting the industry right now is critically important.
If you haven’t taken the survey yet, please do so by following this link: 

The survey will take about 20 minutes to complete and may be filled out from your mobile phone, tablet, desktop or laptop computer. Your answers will be completely confidential and aggregated with answers from others.

If you'd like more information about the survey and how the results will be used, please contact the Pork Board Service Center at (800)-456-7675 Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. CST.
Upcoming continuing education classes
Virtual animal waste continuing education training
September 22, and 29, 6-7 p.m. and 7:30-8:30 p.m. each night.
Contact: Wanda Hargrove at 910-296-2143.
Must pre-register for attendance information and instructions. This event is by computer only – face to face events will be announced later. When you sign up, please let us know if you will be attending all classes or just certain ones. We will also ask for your email address and phone number when you register.

10-hour animal waste class (to prepare for taking the exam)
October 21 & 22 - 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days
Cost is $35 for manual and $25 for exam application fee; lunch on your own; must pre-register.
Contact: Wanda Hargrove at 910-296-2143.
Share your pork pride using #NCPorkProud