GUYMON, Okla. (May 31, 2023) – Nine high school educators explored career pathways and opportunities in the pork industry at the Educators Learning Experience hosted by ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ on May 24. Representing five school districts from the Oklahoma Panhandle and southwest Kansas, educators gained a better understanding of ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ farm and plant operations to use in their curriculums and help teach about agribusiness to their students.
Attendees toured a sow farm and the Guymon, Okla., pork processing plant facility followed by an interactive career panel with employees from unique backgrounds, education statuses and career paths across the ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ system. The employees provided tips for educators to help high school-aged students excel when starting a new career at ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ or in the pork industry.
Mike Benedict, ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ regional milling manager shared with the educators, “When I began with ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ, I had no knowledge on how to operate a feed mill but I was willing to learn. That is what we are looking for in our new hire candidates today — being willing to learn.â€
The Educators Learning Experience is one of the programs offered by ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ to fuel education in the communities where it operates. The company seeks to uplift local education and the systems that provide it by leveraging the company’s expertise and enhancing educational opportunities through this program as well as its community scholarship and educator grant programs.
Lara Allen, an agricultural education teacher at Texhoma Public Schools, said, “Living within a ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ area of operation, I have always seen the name but never knew how the business operated. I am excited to tell my students about the numerous career pathways they can choose within our community working with ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ.â€
Educators from Oklahoma and Kansas attending included:
Guymon High School
- Kali Cutright, physical education instructor and head volleyball coach
- Jessica Jacobs, special education instructor
- Manuel Medina, college and career readiness instructor
Texhoma High School
- Lara Allen, agricultural education instructor
Hooker High School
- Carol Cathcart, school counselor
- Kylie Edwards, agricultural education instructor
Liberal High School
- Tasha Ebeling, CTE coordinator/ business teacher
Beaver High School
- Ashley Harrison, agriculture education instructor
Gruver High School
- Kelsey Haiber, agriculture education instructor
About ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ
ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ is a proud producer of ® pork and employs more than 5,600 team members in Oklahoma, Kansas, Colorado, Iowa and Texas. Our hardworking employees show up each day to do work that is meaningful to their families, communities and people who enjoy delicious pork products. Our team members have diverse backgrounds and unique skill sets which define their work on our farms, processing plant, feed mills, transportation departments and the many different jobs that make it possible to provide pork products for families to enjoy throughout the world.
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