State Pork Industry Groups Provide Updates, Highlight Members
Iowa Shines Spotlights on County Pork Producer Groups
Iowa counties with organized and active local pork groups were recognized for their 2020 efforts to grow membership and increase local activities.
Iowa Pork Producers Association (IPPA) membership in 2020 was stable at more than 4,500 members, according to an IPPA release. In addition, a new membership group at IPPA, the Iowa Pork Alliance, completed its first year of recruitment at 45 members. The Iowa Pork Alliance is a membership group for allied businesses that have relationships with pig farmers on a regional or statewide basis.
The membership award for most county members went to Washington County, which reported 394 members. This is the 15th consecutive year that the county held that title. The county added 40 new members to its rolls in 2020, also earning it recognition as the county with the most new members.
The organized county with the largest percentage of membership growth was Jefferson. There were 24 other county organizations (not including Washington and Jefferson) that also increased membership over their goal level. Those counties include: Adair, Black Hawk, Bremer, Buchanan, Buena Vista, Calhoun, Cherokee, and Clayton. Also, Dallas, Delaware, Fayette, Greene, Grundy, Hamilton, Hardin, and Howard. Finally, Ida, Lee, Lyon, Plymouth, Poweshiek, Sioux, Tama, and Webster.
In addition to growing membership, IPPA also recognized 19 county pork groups that held events to create an active presence in their communities during 2020. Those top five counties (listed first through fifth) were Lyon, Delaware, Buchanan, Story, and Sioux.
Each year, the IPPA promotion committee selects the top county promotion programs and activities in the state. The 2020 winner was Story County Pork Producers with a program that was put together in just a week to get pork distributed to 2,000 Story County families in need.
IPPA Honors Individuals Recognized as Iowa's Top Pork Promoters
IPPA also named the winners of the State Belle Ringer Award and the Hog Wild Award at the Iowa Pork Congress.
Buchanan County's Kathy Wulfekuhle was named the state winner of the State Belle Ringer Award. She has been involved with everything from promotions and educational programs to industry public relations. Wulfekuhle, of Quasqueton, has a true passion for educating youth and adults about pork production. She and her husband, Al, have opened their farm to tours for grade school students, and have hosted local officials and urban consumers truly interested in learning more about pork production. To continue these educational efforts away from the farm, they also donate pigs for the interactive livestock farming exhibit at the neighboring Delaware County Fair, a press release said. She has served on the Buchanan County Pork Producers Board, and has organized numerous pork promotions as well as the county pork queen contest. At the state level, she has served on the IPPA Youth Committee and has held with activities such as the Iowa Lawn Party during Winefest Des Moines, and the Iowa State Fair farrowing display.
Other county winners of the Belle Ringer award are: Becky Sexton, Rockwell City - Calhoun County; Sharon Koopmann, Manchester - Delaware County; and Sterling Meyer, Le Mars - Plymouth County.
Three men from across Iowa were nominated for the top Hog Wild Award. Ben Johnson of Plymouth County was named the state winner. Johnson, of Ireton, has served the Plymouth County Pork Producers board of directors for 14 years. He coordinates October Pork Month promotions, and also promotes pork in projects with the Le Mars Chamber of Commerce and the Plymouth County Fair. That means new residents to the county have been greeted with pork coupons, and many other county residents have seen him grilling pork at the fair and golf outings, or through his involvement with the Dine at the County Line event that brings together farmers and consumers in Woodbury and Plymouth counties, a press release said. Johnson also assisted with projects educating students about pork production. Local students may recognize him from swine production videos produced by the Siouxland Ag in the Classroom program.
Other county winners of the Hog Wild award are: Sean Dolan, Masonville - Buchanan County; and Jim Salow, Earlville - Delaware County.
2021 Keystone Pork Expo Announces New Date and Location
The Pennsylvania Pork Producers Council (PPPC), along with event co-host PennAg Industries Association, shared that the popular Keystone Pork Expo will take place on June 23 at a new location, Lebanon Valley Expo Center. This move provides additional time for ongoing COVID-19 response efforts to take shape and keeps the health and safety of all those in attendance a top priority, a press release said.
“As we know all too well, COVID-19 has had other plans for many events over the last year and continues to impact those in 2021, including the Expo. We regularly talk about how Pennsylvania agriculture is ‘different,’ but who knew just how different things would be for our industry only a few short weeks after last year’s Expo, as the virus quickly spread across the state and country?” said PPPC Executive Director Jessica Darr.
Attendees can count on all the same great features expected from what’s quickly becoming Pennsylvania’s premier animal ag expo – quality educational sessions, outstanding keynote speakers, a robust trade show with a variety of vendors offering innovative and top of the line products and more, the release said.
Pre-registration will be strongly encouraged for the breakout sessions and lunch to allow for better preparation of meeting materials and food, and to accommodate any needed health and safety precautions. Registration is expected to open in early March with more details released.
Minnesota Pork Producers Association Names New Board
John Anderson, Belgrade; Bill Drager, Mapleton; Todd Marotz, Sleepy Eye; and Mike Mouw, Leota were elected to the Minnesota Pork Producers Association (MPPA) Board during the virtual annual meeting.
“It is an honor to represent my fellow pig farmers as president," Anderson said in a release. "During this next three-year term, I look forward to networking with state producers, interacting with consumers, working closely with legislators, and providing sound science-based information to assist our regulatory community."
MPPA board members are elected to three-year terms and work on behalf of Minnesota’s pig farmers to bring visionary leadership for its members by influencing public policy on a local, state and national level.
Other board members include Vince Baack, Jackson; Amon Baer, Lake Park; Adam Barka, Sleepy Eye; Shelly Schell, Altura; and Daryl Timmerman, North Mankato. In addition, Minnesota representatives serving on the National Pork Producers Council board include Lori Stevermer of Easton and Terry Wolters of Pipestone.
Probst Named 2020 Illinois Pork Ambassador
Each year the Illinois Pork Producers Association awards a summer internship. Rachel Probst has been selected as the next Illinois Pork Ambassador.
Probst is currently a junior studying agriculture education at Illinois State University. She previously earned her associate’s degree from Lake Land Community College. Rachel was raised on a feeder-to-finish hog and grain farm near Wheeler, Ill.
"I’m excited to see where this summer takes me and the people I will meet along the way. As an agriculture education student, I strive to effectively educate the public and youth about the pork industry,” Probst said in a release. “Although this internship may look a little different, I have learned how to be flexible which is critical in the agriculture industry."
Probst will hold the title of ambassador through the 2022 IL Pork Expo and will intern in the IPPA office this coming summer. She will travel throughout the state presenting at Summer Agriculture Institutes and will manage the Birthing Center at the Illinois State Fair.
