Southeast Pork Alliance formed with six state associations

At its Southeast Summer Conference six state pork organizations announced the formation of the Southwest Pork Alliance (SPA).

Membership for the new group includes the Kentucky Pork Producers Association, Tennessee Pork Producers Association, Mississippi Pork Producers Association, Alabama Pork Producers, Georgia Pork Producers Association and Florida Pork Improvement Group.

“I believe our greatest strength is each other,” said Katie Sherman, chairwoman of the Southeast Pork Alliance. “The Southeast Pork Alliance is about sharing resources, building relationships, and using our collective strengths to bring value back to the producers and state associations we serve while keeping our industry strong for the future.”

Each participating organization would remain an independent state association with its own board of directors, governance/membership and identity.

The alliance would govern a joint council consisting of two representatives from each participating state who were elected by state boards.

“The Southeast Pork Alliance isn’t about building a bigger organization — it’s about building a smarter one. By sharing the talent and expertise of our people across state lines, we’re maximizing human capital, eliminating unnecessary duplication, and delivering greater value to producers,” said Niki Ellis, executive director of the Kentucky Pork Producers Association.

The new alliance pointed out the Southeast remains the fastest-growing region in the United States. Some examples include Tennessee experiencing one of the nation’s fastest population increases in 2025, with the Nashville metro area growing twice as much as the national average. Georgia also added more than 500,000 residents over the past five years and Florida brings an estimated 550 new residents per day, according to information by the Southeast Pork Alliance.

With population growth, the alliance seeks to capitalize by promoting pork to a rapidly expanding consumer base.