INDIANAPOLIS — When June 2020 rolls around, young swine showpeople will pack their showboxes, load the pigs and turn their cars, trucks and trailers a different direction.
“The Exposition is the live swine show that was formerly held in conjunction with the World Pork Expo. It is now a separate event,” said Cassie Godwin.
In 2019, to prevent any possible introduction of the deadly African swine fever into the United States, the National Pork Producers Council canceled the World Pork Expo. The expo is traditionally conducted in early June at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines.
In 2020, the two events will be conducted separately. The Exposition will take place June 7-13, 2020, at the Indiana State Fairgrounds in Indianapolis.
“Looking at 2020, NPPC, NSR, Certified Pedigreed Swine and the American Berkshire Association assessed the situation. They decided, from a strategic standpoint, just to best mitigate any sort of risk of ASF, it was best to separate the swine show from any sort of trade show,” Godwin said.
Godwin said the health and welfare of the pigs — from showpigs of the Exposition to the non-show swine at home on farms of those attending the World Pork Expo — was the top priority for those making the decision to separate the events.
“To mitigate any risk of introducing African swine fever — or any foreign animal disease — into the U.S., it was in the best interests of all the parties to separate the trade show from the live swine show,” she said.
Jim Monroe, assistant vice president of communications for the National Pork Producers Council, said NPPC plans to conduct the World Pork Expo in 2020 in Des Moines. The 2020 World Pork Expo is planned for June 3-5.
“The NPPC board of directors will review plans at the regularly scheduled board meeting in December and formal announcements about World Pork Expo will be made after that meeting,” Monroe said.
Godwin said entry deadlines and more information will be available in January 2020. The set up of the Exposition will be similar to the shows formerly held during World Pork Expo.
“We will have the junior show and the open show, then the open sale. We’ll still have a livestock judging contest, activities and things like that for the junior exhibitors. We will have vendor spaces and boutiques, but there won’t be the full trade show that is typically at the World Pork Expo,” Godwin said.
She said the vendor event will feature National Junior Swine Association sponsors and show supply vendors.
Godwin said the feedback so far has been positive.
“We are very excited about the future of the Exposition. We think our partnership with the Indiana State Fairgrounds will be very beneficial long term and our membership seems to be very excited as well,” she said.
For updates and more information about the 2020 Exposition, go to https://nationalswine.com.
For updates and more information about the 2020 World Pork Expo, go to https://nppc.org.