SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – The current overall health of the pork industry is good, according to the executive director of the Illinois Pork Producers Association (IPPA). Jennifer Tirey, who has led the state’s premier pork commodity organization for the last 10 years, said she is looking forward to a good year for producers in 2025 despite a tight farm economy and stiff competition for the consumer food dollar.

“I would say right now that things are looking really good,” Tirey told Farm World, while meeting with the media during the 2025 Illinois Pork Expo at the Bank of Springfield Center. “I’ve talked to several producers who said the summer market numbers are looking good, and I would say that things are looking in a positive direction. We’re in a positive state, but I don’t want to say that too loudly.”

Just 48 hours removed from the “Big Game” on the 9th, Tirey was pleased with the rate consumers had been purchasing pork at a great financial value. However, she would like to see pork’s retail value increase in favor of the producer.

“We’re kind of tired of having a discounted product. We want consumers to buy our product because it’s good, and we want them to (enjoy) all the different nutrients and flavors that are a part of this protein without feeling like they’re only going to put it in their shopping cart when it’s on sale,” she said. “The National Pork Board is getting ready to launch a new marketing campaign that is going to do that, and I think that all the states are going to get behind that and really try to move the needle. It’s an exciting time for our industry.”

To help increase pork’s market share, IPPA has been reaching out to food service directors at public schools and supplying them with pork cookbooks loaded with menu recipes designed to feed 50 or more students. “Pork is cost-effective for schools to purchase and there are grants they can take advantage of by purchasing pork within a 300-mile radius, making it a local product,” Tirey said.

IPPA has been working to “build their bench” by actively recruiting new, young members to fill crucial leadership and board of directors’ roles, Tirey said. “We want to get that younger generation engaged in our association, so we’ve been doing some programs with community colleges. Our first program was at Lincoln Land College in Springfield, and we’re going to do a second partnership with Lakeland College in Mattoon. We’re trying to target those ‘ag kids’ who may not know what sort of opportunities there are in the pork industry,” she explained.

Lincoln Land College students who enrolled in the IPPA mini program attended six sessions entailing a packing plant tour, a carcass demo with the University of Illinois, animal health instruction from the Illinois Department of Agriculture and presentations from National Pork Producers Association leaders and lobbyists. Those who completed the six sessions received scholarship payments in the amount of $300 each from IPPA. Around 70 family members of the eight program graduates attended a recognition banquet hosted by IPPA.

“This means we’ve tapped a group that is interested in the industry,” Tirey said. “We don’t require these students to be agriculture majors to participate in the program, because sometimes students may not even know that they could find a job in our industry without a livestock production major. That’s where we’re really trying to encourage students beyond those general ag classes to learn more about our industry.”

Looking back on her decade of leading Illinois Pork, Tirey said one of the most glaring changes she’s seen in the industry has been a reduction in the number of new swine containment buildings under construction throughout the state.

“We had a lot more open houses to celebrate in the first half of my tenure here,” she said.

“We’re seeing a change in the producers, with not as many owners; some of them are becoming contract growers, changing the risk element. We’re also seeing more producers that want to get involved and want to give back to their industry. I’ve seen past presidents of this association get re-engaged and rejoin the board because they are excited to be a part of it – and that’s exciting for me.”

Looking ahead, IPPA plans to host a state capital “Bacon Bash” for legislators in May. “We’re inviting producers to meet with our legislators for some valuable face-to-face time. We’ve had new legislators elected, and we want to make sure to educate the new ones,” Tirey said. 

The 2025 Illinois Pork Expo was Feb. 10-11 in downtown Springfield.