Objective: To provide a carefully selected group of industry participants with advanced public-policy training that will prepare, motivate and engage pork producer leaders to represent the U.S. pork industry’s public-policy initiatives at the state and national levels.

Training: Three intense training sessions will take place in coordination with the fall and spring NPPC Legislative Seminars,and as one stand alone training session in the winter. Each session will highlight key components of the NPPC public policy initiatives and provide participants with a chance to experience various components of the public policy process from legislative, trade and regulatory perspectives. In addition, various interactive exercises and additional social and educational opportunities will make them comfortable being in and moving around Washington, D.C.

Intended Outcomes: When participants complete all three sessions they will be able to serve as NPPC spokespersons on public policy issues because they will possess key skills related to public policy leadership as listed below:

1. Identify public policy issues important to the pork industry.
2.  Understand the role constituents play in shaping public policy.
3.  Understand and appreciate the influences they have as pork producers in  shaping public policy at the state and national levels.
4. Understand the legislative and regulatory processes and the points in each process where it’s possible to influence the outcome.
5. Understand the role of lobbyists, activists and PACs in the policy-making process.
6. Understand how to develop and deliver messages to policy-makers, opinion leaders and the media.
7. Understand how to work with the media to effectively deliver a message.
8. Effectively make a phone call, write a letter or make a personal visit to a policy-maker at the state or national level to influence public policy.

Getting Involved: Pork producers are nominated for PPLI. NPPC works closely with State Executives and Field Representatives to identify key individuals. Each year about 15-20 are selected to participate in the program. If you are interested in attending PPLI and becoming a pork industry leader, contact your State Executive or Bryan Humphreys at humphreysb@nppc.org.