LUBBOCK, TEXAS June 15, 2025 — The Texas Pork Producers Association (TPPA) hosted its first-ever Texas Pork Youth Retreat June 12-15. Drawing youth from across the state to Lubbock, Texas, the weekend was packed with leadership development, pork industry education, and hands-on experiences in swine science.
The inaugural retreat welcomed campers to the Texas Tech University campus, where they spent four days immersed in workshops, networking, and fun, all focused on preparing the next generation of agriculture leaders and pork industry advocates.
“The Texas Pork Youth Retreat was a vision the Junior Ambassadors and I had to expand our outreach in Texas,” said Riley Reep, Director of Youth and Communications. “We had high expectations for the first year of this event; however, the entire camp far exceeded our hopes.”
Campers kicked off the weekend with a welcome message from Texas Tech Student Body President and Fredericksburg FFA alumnus, Faith Geistweidt, followed by a group photo on the field at Jones AT&T Stadium. They participated in breakout sessions and icebreakers before diving into educational tracks on swine health and meat science.
Workshops featured presentations by industry professionals and faculty from Texas Tech’s Department of Animal and Food Sciences, covering topics such as pork carcass fabrication, reproduction and AI, and biosecurity. Career pathways and advocacy as youth in the industry through organizations like TPPA, NPB, and NPPC were also discussed.
The retreat included multiple interactive elements, including a live hog evaluation, a “Shock and Awe” session, the pork cooking competition, and a quiz bowl to round out the last night at camp.
While the weekend was packed with learning, we still had plenty of time for fun. Campers took part in an exciting color run, played games, and sang their hearts out to karaoke during the dance at Urbanovsky Park, creating memories and forming new friendships along the way.
“The TPPA Retreat at Texas Tech University was truly an experience beyond anything I could have imagined,” said Hallie Heinrich, a junior at Lubbock Cooper High School. “I loved having the opportunity to hear from some of the most influential leaders in the pork industry and learning about why advocating for Texas Pork is so important.”
TPPA Junior Ambassadors lead the retreat by facilitating group discussions, reflections, and workshops throughout the weekend, helping campers articulate their goals and future roles in agriculture.
“This weekend was one of the greatest experiences I’ve been lucky enough to have,” said Bowen Holder, an eighth grader at Abernathy Middle School. “In my mind, when I put my pig on the truck, I thought it was the end. But in reality, that’s only a small part of the story; with so much more to tell!”
The event concluded Sunday morning with a heartfelt “Pigs and Praise” session, led by TPPA Junior Ambassadors Brooke Reininger and Emily Muehlstein, followed by camper awards and a retirement ceremony for the 2023–2025 TPJA officer team. Retirees include Landry Miller, Braelyn Pointer, Audrey Ratliff, Landri Ottmers, Kynnley Herrington, and Brooke Reininger.
Plans are underway for next year’s retreat, with hopes of expanding the program to welcome even more students from across Texas who want to be the next generation of leaders for the pork industry.