To me, barbeque is a niche product and one I really enjoy. I’m not sure that’s exactly what NichePork has in mind though. But to find out I could attend the NichePork Pork Producer Conference on Jan. 23, 2007, at the Ramada Conference Center in Bryan-Montpelier, Ohio.

“This conference provides pork producers with an opportunity to learn from and share ideas with industry experts as well as other producers who are having success marketing niche pork,” according to Rick Pfortmiller with the National Swine Registry and member of the Niche Marketing Committee. “If producers have any interest in niche pork production at all, this is the place to be.”

The conference will run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The pre-registration fee is $30, while registration at the door is $35 Download a registration form at http://www.nichepork.org/ProducerHome.asp. Interested producers are asked to pre-register by Jan. 16, 2007. For more information, call Florian Chirra, Ohio State University Extension, at (419) 636- 5607 or email Chirra1@postoffice.ag.ohio-state.edu or call Beth Franz, Cass County Extension Office, at (269) 445-4438 or email franzeli@msu.edu.