The Pork Act Delegate Body theme for this year is 'Principles, Practices and Proof: The Path to Success.' "Producers who have followed news reports about our industry in recent months know that this is a theme that should give us much to discuss and debate," said Steve Weaver, National Pork Board President.

"Forum is a key time for the people who invest in the Checkoff to participate in the business of how to use those investments to address the critical issues faced by US pork producers," said Weaver. "One of the questions before Delegates this year will be what's next in the industry's efforts to create a positive public image."

In addition, normal business will be conducted by the Delegates as it relates to the Pork Checkoff program, including the rate of the Checkoff and the amount of Checkoff revenue distributed to state pork associations for Checkoff-funded programs. Delegates also nominate producers and/or importers for appointment to the National Pork Board and to the Pork Nominating Committee. The recommendations concerning the Pork Checkoff and the appointments to the National Pork Board are made to the US Secretary of Agriculture, who makes the final determination.

Pork Act Delegates are pork producers or importers nominated by their state pork producer associations or individually, then appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture. Each of the 50 states may be represented by at least two Pork Act Delegates. The number of delegates and the voting "power" of each delegate are determined by the amount of Checkoff collected from the state they represent.

For 2009, the former Secretary of Agriculture Ed Schafer appointed 153 pork producers and 8 importers to the Pork Act Delegate Body. Five states did not submit nominees and 3 states submitted only one nominee. Importer representation is based on assessments on imported pork and pork products.