NC Pork Council Tribute to John

I knew it would be an emotional day.  Just seeing all of John's friends and colleagues would bring back so many wonderful memories.  Meals shared, trips taken....all part of the fabric of our life together.

But they wanted to remember John and all he did to promote the industry.

After their remarks on John's contributions, this is what I said:

Good Morning.  On behalf of my family and myself,  I would like to thank you for honoring John’s service and dedication.  I can’t imagine how our life would have been without the pork industry, it truly shaped and colored our lives.

John had a passion for pork and was dedicated to NC State and agriculture and never missed an opportunity to share that love with others.  Be it a pig picking, a BBQ judging contest, a committee meeting, or cooking bacon, "pig candy" as he called it, at the beach, pork and pigs were always at the front of the line in our family.  

"Pigs don’t care if it is Christmas, they still have to be fed," he said.  And he made sure that happened and he was good at it.  

As many of you know, John was also very vocal.  You may not have agreed with him, but you knew where he stood on the issues.

Our oldest daughter, Meredith, pig money sent her to NC State, ECU and Johnson and Wales… is now the executive chef of Eurasia restaurant in Mt. Pleasant, SC, right over the bridge from Charleston.  Pork features prominently in her menu.  If you are ever down that way, please stop in, say hello, and enjoy a wonderful meal.

Lauren, our youngest, pig money sent her to NC School of the Arts,  Appalachian State, UNC-CH, and graduate work at Carnegie Mellon University, in Pittsburgh... GO STEELERS! and she is now an assistant professor at Washington University in St. Louis, MO.  She was just recently chosen as one of nine prominent artists to design large glass panels that will be installed during the upcoming  renovation of the St Louis airport.  So, maybe the next time you are passing through St Louis Lambert Field, you will catch a glimpse of her design, fashioned into glass panels that are being crafted by German glass masters in Munich.

When John passed away last fall, several of his friends suggested a scholarship in his name.  They said there is probably another “young John” out there somewhere that may need a little help with their education.  So in collaboration with the North Carolina Cooperative Extension service, the  John Quincy  Adams V Scholarship Fund is now in place.

We still have a way to go before it is fully funded and I need your help.  If you would like to contribute there is information on your table, or you can contact the Pork Council office and they can help also. 

John never asked anyone to do anything he wouldn’t do himself.  He  never borrowed anything that wasn’t in better shape when it was  returned, and he paid forward.  I hope you can find it in your heart  to help us with this scholarship fund, so John can continue….to pay forward!  Thank you.

NC Commissioner of Agriculture, Steve Troxler

NC Farm Bureau President - Larry Wooten - my breakfast companion

It was a wonderful day but very emotional.  John would have been overwhelmed by the kindness.

PCQ