October was chosen as National Pork Month because traditionally, October was the month in which most hogs were marketed. The top five pork producing states in the U.S. are Iowa, Minnesota, North Carolina, Illinois and Indiana.
Pork is an ancient food source for humans. Wild pigs were hunted until pigs were domesticated in China around 4900 BCE and in Europe by 1500 BCE. Pork is eaten nearly everywhere in the world except in the Middle East, where Jewish kosher and Islamic halal dietary restrictions forbid eating pork. Globally, pork is the second most popular meat behind poultry. Hogs provide not only nutritious food but are the source of nearly 20 drugs and pharmaceuticals, including insulin, heart valves, and skin for burn victims.
Here are some fun facts about hogs:
- Pork is a versatile meat. It can be marinated, roasted, pan fried, stir fried, grilled, boiled, baked and barbequed.
- The word barbeque is a corruption of the French Caribbean phrase “de barbe et queue” meaning from beard tail.
- America’s preferred cut of pork is the chop.
- The average American eats approximately 1 pound of bacon annually.
- According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (2017) it is not the U.S., but Serbia who is the largest consumer of pork, followed by the European Union and China.
- Food folklore from many places suggest that New Year celebrations should include pork, or pork and sauerkraut to ensure good luck and prosperity in the coming year.
Dated 1950, this photograph taken in Miner County shows Clair Lambert with a Spotted sow and piglets. Spotted swine are large with black spots on a white body, some of characteristics of their breed are their feed efficiency, rate of gain and carcass quality. Commercial producers appreciate Spotted females for their productivity, docility, and durability.
E. Clair Lamber was born April 25, 1929. He graduated from Fedora High School and attended South Dakota State University for three years before returning to the family farm. As a young farmer, Clair raised purebred Hampshire swine and sheep while building a diversified crop and livestock operation. Clair and his wife built up their farm operation with purebred Shorthorn cattle, purebred and crossbred Spotted swine, and commercial Holstein milk cows.
Throughout his life Clair was involved in 4-H. He devoted 80 years to the South Dakota 4-H program where he was a 4-H leader and attended 77 State Fairs as a youth exhibitor, 4-H leader, and/or judge. In 2001, he was selected as South Dakota Eminent Farmer. This amazing farmer and 4-H supporter died Jan. 18, 2021.