Lions Roar

THE LIONS ROAR REINCARNATED

Edited by Mark Ripplinger

Photos by Don Wood & Mark Ripplinger

June 23, 2008

Lions President Mark Miller

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE (June 23rd)

Fellow Lions, we are fast approaching our Sturgis Falls Pancake

Breakfast, it's this Sunday. Lion Hagarty has put out a press release that we will donate the proceeds to flood relief in Northern Cedar Falls. So, we could have a larger turnout for our event than last year. We will be sending out a reminder email this week and also ask for a show of hands today for when you can come and serve pancakes. Lets also spread the word about our pancakes and make this one of the best ever!

We Serve ……… Mark Miller

TODAY’S MEETING (June 23rd)

Cedar Falls Flood Update

COMING ATTRACTIONS

June 30th … Rita Congdon, Cedar Falls Historical Society

July 7th … Installation of New Officers and Annual Awards

July 14th … Deb Umbdenstock, UNI Gallagher-Bluedorn Artist Series

July 21st … Dave Stoakes - CF Schools Superintendent - Elementary Boundary Changes

BIRTHDAYS ANNIVERSARIES

Ron King – June 25th Gary & Karla Voss – June 23rd

Perry Krieger – June 28th Dan & Connie Conrad – June 25th

Pete Downs – June 29th

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Reminders, Sturgis Falls Pancake’s are this Sunday, June 29th at the Community Center. Please plan to work your scheduled hours.

Congratulations to Lisa and Marc Hoodjer. They are the proud parents of Carlie Mae, who was born on June 2nd. Baby and parents are doing well.

LAST MEETING (June 16th)

Todd Wiley, National Pork Board spoke to the club about the Pork Industry and changes that have occurred in the past number of years. Todd indicates that the pork industry started making changes 20 years ago due to slumping sales, where they saw a decrease of 24% of the purchase of pork products. This decline was due to the public becoming more health conscious in the mid 1980’s. In the past 20 years, the pork industry has developed standards to make pigs leaner through different methods and technology. Lean pigs are more difficult to raise and require more climate-controlled facilities than in the past. To accomplish this, high tech hog confinement facilities were developed. These new methods of developing pork have increased demand by 31%. Pork-loving Americans aren’t the only driving force behind increased meat production. With worries over avian influenza and embargoes on U.S. beef, pork exports are up and expected to increase to 2.2 billion pounds in 2008. The combination of these two animal health events has made pork a very attractive substitute to international customers. Although U.S. beef is making a comeback in Asia, pork’s rising popularity overseas is expected to continue as countries affected by bird flu are likely to substitute pork for poultry. That’s the good news. The downside is that increased prices for corn and soybean meal have pork producers looking at “best a break-even proposition” in 2008. Just like every other livestock producer, hog farmers have to deal with increased corn and soybean meal prices due to increased biofuels production. Feed cost will play a bigger role in profitability than sale price for many hog producers. Corn prices are expected to remain strong over the next few years as more corn goes into ethanol production. For 45 consecutive months, U.S. hog producers saw profits. That came to an end when feed prices jumped and hog prices dropped.