Alberta pork producers thank Largest Pork Cookout in Camrose Edmonton, Alta., Sept. 25 2009: Alberta pork producers extend their thanks to those who organized and participated in the World’s Largest Pork Cookout, held in Camrose over four days in late August. The event was a great success both in raising awareness of the financial crisis pork producers are facing, as well as in generating funds that will go directly to crisis management activities in support of those producers facing a “perfect storm” of challenges and now pushed further to the brink in recent months by the H1N1 flu situation. Organizers of the Cookout this week presented Alberta Pork, which represents the province’s pork producers, with a cheque for $9,600 from the event. The cheque was presented by Dallas Ramey of Copperhead Marketing, who created the Cookout, to Paul Hodgman, Executive Director of Alberta Pork, at the Camrose UFA parking lot where the Cookout also took place. Plans are to use the funds to help producers cope with the emotional impact of facing financial crisis. For example, one option being explored is to hire a crisis counselor to work with producers. An additional $2,000 in left over product from the event was donated to the Camrose Open Door Association, an emergency youth shelter. “It is times like these when you find out who your friends are,” says Hodgman. “Pork producers are facing unprecedented losses. However what has really helped provide some light in a time of financial crisis are the people who have come of out the woodwork to help and the tremendous community support we have seen. The organizers and participants in the Pork Cookout are a leading example. “Alberta pork producers are thankful for this support. It is something we will never forget.” Ramey, whose family has farmed and ranched in Alberta for more than a century, previously spearheaded several World’s Longest Barbecue events to support beef producers in the wake of the Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) crisis. He says creating a similar event to support pork producers in their current crisis was a natural extension. While the circumstances were different, in both cases the crisis was a “game changing” event that caused great producer hardship and forever reshaped the industry. “As farmers and ranchers ourselves we sympathize with the plight of pork producers,” says Ramey. “We had an opportunity to help and it only seemed right to do that. We wanted to do something big and the people from Camrose and many parts of the province who came here to support this effort made that happen. “The money raised is important and will go provide help to real people facing tough times. But most important was drawing attention to the situation. We wanted to help bring the truth to light.” Corporate sponsors for the Cookout included UFA, 790 CFCW, Copperhead Marketing, Calahoo Meats, Spark- the Branding Shop and Alberta Pork. A variety of Alberta pork products from Calahoo Meats and Sturgeon Valley Meats were offered at the event, which ran from dawn until dusk each of the four days. More information on the Alberta pork industry is available at www.albertapork.com. For more information contact: Alberta Pork
Ph: (780) 474-8288
Web: www.albertapork.com Dallas Ramey
Copperhead Marketing
Ph: (780) 781 8793
copperheadmarketing@gmail.com |