Today we would like to take a few moments to salute television’s biggest fan of bacon and everything else pork, Homer J. Simpson.

Ok, so he doesn’t know that pork comes from pigs, but he sure has eaten a lot of it and is quite possibly responsible for keeping all of Springfield’s invisible hog farmers afloat. And since so many pork lovers tune in to watch their kindred spirit, we’re pretty sure Homer’s eating habits are the reason for the show’s success.

Since Homer doesn’t know the most basic thing about pigs and pork (one becomes the other) we’re guessing he’s not up on other facts of modern hog farming either. Like how pigs are raised in state of the art barns that provide a stable climate year round and protection from predators and disease, or that they eat feed that has been specially formulated to meet their needs at every stage of growth. He probably also missed the memo announcing that pork is leaner than ever and that pork tenderloin is just as lean as skinless chicken breast. But we can forgive him for not knowing all that as long as he remembers farmers are doing what’s best and keeps right on eating pork!

So, Homer keep baconing up your sausage, ordering your smiley-face breakfasts with bacon noses, bacon hair, bacon mustaches, five o’clock shadows made of bacon bits and bacon bodies, and enjoying the wonderful, magical animal that gives you pork, bacon and ham, and we’ll keep watching your show for another 20 years.

Today is the most important day of the year. It is a day to stay home from work. It is a day of celebrating with family and friends. It is bigger than Thanksgiving and Christmas and New Year’s and the Fourth of July combined. It is a day to honor the reason there can be delicious bacon and pork chops and swine inspired doo-dads and even a nation of Porktastic. My fellow Porktasticans prepare yourselves because today is National Pig Day.

My friends, we will be grilling, baking and slow roasting all of our favorite forms of pork throughout the day, not to mention watching our favorite famous pigs like Babe, Porky, Gordy and Miss Piggy. So come party with us! We’ll be easy to spot since we’ll be the ones decked out head-to-toe in true pig style – nose, ears and of course curly-q tail.

But, if for some crazy reason your boss won’t let you off to celebrate this holiday of holidays, we have a few ideas to help you take the party to work with you:

1. Choose your favorite pig tie or jewelry to commemorate the day.
2. Hang a string of pig lights around your office or cubicle.
3. Grill up some pork loin chops and bring enough to share with your coworkers, remembering they want to be home celebrating just as much as you.
4. Get a pig piñata filled with bacon candy.
5. Wear your favorite pig inspired tee underneath a button-up dress shirt. When everyone complains about missing Pig Day rip your top shirt off like Clark Kent and set up a completely awesome celebration of pigs and pork.

Have a Porktastic day holiday and be sure to tell us how you celebrated National Pig Day by emailing stories or pics of your celebration to Mr.Oinkers@gmail.com.

Hoagie, sub, grinder, zep, po’boy, torpedo… whatever it’s hailed by, Number Four on our Porktastic Nine is sure to delight even the most finicky of eaters.  Even though your child turns their nose up to anything that’s not mac’n’cheese; this recipe may even interest them and it’s so easy that they can help.  Lo and behold the beginning of a Porktastic family meal!

Italian Pork Hoagie

• 4 boneless pork loin chops, cut into thin strips
• ¼ cup reduced- fat Italian dressing
• ¼ cup pizza sauce
• 4 ½ ounce slices mozzarella cheese
• 4 hot dog buns

Cooking Directions- serves 4

In a heavy plastic bag, combine pork strips and dressing; refrigerate several hours or overnight.  Discard marinade.  Heat a 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium-high heat; add pork strips to the pan stirring frequently, for 8 minutes or until pork strips are lightly browned.  Divide pork strips into 4 equal portions and place on bottom halves of buns.  Spoon on 1 tablespoon of pizza sauce for each sandwich.  Top with slice of mozzarella cheese.  Bake in a 350° F oven for 5 minutes, or until cheese melts and bun is lightly toasted.

We would like to take a few moments to salute the men and women on the front lines of pork production, the Hog Farmer!

They are up early rain, snow, or shine to make sure their animals have clean, fresh feed and water and are relaxing under the perfect temperature.  Available 24/7, they are often woken up in the middle of the night (while dreaming of dancing pork chops) to their cell phone ringing because an alarm has gone off.  The building has dropped in temperature or lost electricity and called your phone, so you put on your boots and save the day.

We honor your expertise and dedication with each piece of succulent bacon, savory pork chops, or saucy ribs we consume.  So we thank you for making everyday Porktastic and raise our pork high in salute to you, the Hog Farmer!