Rob: Well to spend thirty years in an occupation is a milestone, but to do the
same job day in and day out is something special.
In an Oklahoma profile, we meet a gentleman who has helped an Oklahoma
industry grow, and expand into a worldwide leader.
Brian: So what does it take to not only be a leader in an industry, but
also help create the standard?
Lonnie Hoelscher: He is a committed person.
He doesn't waiver.
He has some values that he expects to pass on to others, and there is no
waiver in him.
Brian: Lonnie Hoelscher, president of the Oklahoma Pork Council, giving
accolades of his former boss, Kim Brock.
Hoelscher: I can't think of many that has had the impact on, especially
young people, that has gone out, many of which has gone out and served in
the industry, not necessarily just here in Oklahoma, but throughout
the entire country.
The impact he has had in people's lives, I think that alone is worthy.
Brian: And he has been doing it for almost 30 years.
Brock is the swine herd manager at Oklahoma State University, which was his
first job after graduating with a bachelor of science
in animal science from OSU.
Kim Brock: I started the job as swine herd manager
in June 1, or July 1, of 1979.
Brian: And has stayed there ever since.
Brock was an active livestock judger and had aspirations of coaching
his own team, something he fulfilled shortly after taking the job.
Brock: In 1981, just two years after I was hired, I got a chance to coach the
judging team here at Oklahoma State.
And it was fun, and yet I was about the same age as the students on the team
which, I was just 2 years older than them, on the average; but it was great.
It gave me a chance to satisfy that need to coach.
Brian: That year he took the team to a national championship, and when
asked to coach again 10 years later, in '91, he won again.
Brock has judged in over 30 states, but it is
only a small part of his legacy.
Over the years, Brock has seen substantial changes in the industry and has
been influential when it came time to create a standard, for both show
and commercial arenas.
Brock: Today, we have arrived at a time where a good practical complete
hog is what I am looking for in the show ring, other judges are looking
for, in the show ring, that the packer accepts as a good, well-rounded,
non-extreme market hog, especially as we emphasize pork quality.
Brian: Under Brock's care, OSU's purebred swine program has become a
leader in the industry, winning top honors at national shows and
currently holding the record for the highest priced breeding pig
at 70,000 dollars.
Brock: When we go to these national competitions with our livestock, many times
we are the only college or university represented.
So we think it's very meaningful to our tradition, our livestock
judging team tradition, our meats judging team tradition, our tradition
of raising the best purebred livestock possible, and that's one
of the things that has kept me very interested in my job.
Brian: All the while maintaining OSU's mission of conducting research, at
the newly built swine research and education center.
Brock: A lot of research work in the nutrition area with Dr. Carter, and we're
hoping, we're hoping, that the bio systems of Ag engineering department,
also is excited, once we get a problem or two solved with our waste
management system, excited about doing a lot of research in that area.
Brian: Influential in creating the National Junior Swine Association,
Brock knows the importance of educating tomorrow's leaders, and it is
something Hoelscher feels is one of his greatest gifts.
Hoelscher: I think the one thing that Kim instilled in me most, is the desire
to make a difference through the people you come in contact with.
Brock: One of the goals that I have always had, is that when we have a
student work for us, that we want to make them more ready for their first job
once they graduate from college, and to set the standard high, to
challenge them to work for themselves, not for their employer, to challenge
them to take pride in what they do.
Brian: Making Brock not only a leader in the swine industry, but also
a leader of men.