We are heading to the Center of the Pork Universe this week to join some 20,000 pork producers and industry professionals from 32 countries for the 2014 World Pork Expo.

“World Pork Expo is a showcase of pork production,” says National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) president Howard Hill. “It offers a great opportunity for pork producers to get a crash course in what’s new.”

The Expo, which is sponsored by NPPC, features the world’s largest pork-specific trade show with some 375 commercial exhibits in more than 310,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor exhibit space. New this year is the World Pork Expo Universe Passport, offering visitors a daily chance to win $500. Expo General Manager Alicia Newman says attendees can pick up a passport in the registration area, located in the Animal Learning Center.

“As attendees travel around World Pork Expo, they can get their passports stamped at the booths of participating companies,” says Newman. “Then they can bring their completed passports to the NPPC booth in the Agriculture Building, get a prize and be entered into the daily drawing.”

In addition to the trade show, Expo offers free, educational seminars on a wide range of topics from manure handling or exports, to sow-herd management and swine health. Youth education programs, judging contests and pig shows are part of the World Pork Expo Junior National, which set another record this year with 2,947 entries from across the nation.

This will be our seventh World Pork Expo on AgWired.com and the first time it will be featured on our new website Animal.Agwired.com. Thanks to our sponsor Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica Inc. (BIVI) for once again allowing us to bring this important pork industry event to our readers.

Check out the 2014 World Pork Expo photo album.