Written by Cash Martin, TPPA Intern
LUBBOCK, TX – Twenty-four high school students from across Texas gathered in Lubbock to depart and participate in the 2025 Texas Pork Leadership Camp (TPLC) from July 21-25. This camp is a one-of-a-kind educational experience hosted by the Texas Pork Producers Association (TPPA). Held every other year, the intensive five-day program is designed to build advocacy skills and industry knowledge in the next generation of pork industry champions.
“The TPPA leadership camp was one of the most impactful, engaging, fun weeks I have ever experienced,” said Karter Bowen of Lubbock, TX. “I learned so many things I can actually use in everyday life, and if you are thinking about applying one day, I promise you won’t regret it.”
Campers kicked off the week by arriving at the TPPA office in Lubbock before traveling to Canyon to tour West Texas A&M University. There, they participated in hands-on leadership and media training, facility tours, and learned how to be effective advocates for the Texas pork industry.
From there, the group made its way across the Texas Panhandle and Oklahoma for in-depth industry exposure. On-site visits include JBS Foods in Dalhart, the Seaboard Foods harvesting facilities in Guymon, Oklahoma, and the Tyson Bacon Plant in Vernon, giving students a rare, behind-the-scenes look at pork processing operations and the challenges within them.
Educational programming continued throughout the week at Texas Tech University, where students engaged in live hog evaluation, learned to perform sutures, biosecurity planning, carcass fabrication, and food sensory panels led by experts in swine science and meat quality.
Lunch, consisting of pork loin, mashed potatoes, green beans, and salad, was prepared for the campers by Dr. Dale Woerner, which the kids said was a camp highlight. Industry partners such as the National Pork Board and National Pork Producers Council also contributed sessions on national policy and producer representation via Zoom.
Campers wrapped up the week with an interactive grocery store tour led by H-E-B and, of course, the highly anticipated “Pork Wars” challenge at the FiberMax Museum of Discovery. For this challenge, the campers split into their groups and received a mystery pork ingredient that had to be the start of their dish. They were also tasked with preparing a side that had to include some form of pork. The teams presented to a panel of judges to explain their dish and answer questions.
The final day wrapped up with a Jeopardy-style competition testing campers’ pork industry knowledge, an exhibitor connect led by the director of youth and communications, Riley Reep, and finally a group reflection on the week’s experiences and takeaways.
“The TPPA camp was a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” said Kotton West of Taft, TX. “The places you get to tour and the people you meet are truly helping pave the future of our industry every single day.”
The Texas Pork Leadership Camp will return in 2027. For more information, click here.