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2011 IowaPork Congress

BanquetIowa Events Center

Grand Ballroom

Wednesday, January 25, 2012 6 p.m.

2012

IowaPork Congress

Banquet

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2012 Iowa Pork Congress Banquet

Welcome Leon Sheets, 2011 IPPA President

InvocationDerek Brown, 2011 Iowa Premier Pork Youth Ambassador

2011 Iowa Environmental Steward AwardLeon Sheets, 2011 IPPA President

2011 Master Pork Producer, Master Seedstock Dr. Jim McKean, Iowa State University

2011 Pork All AmericanDr. Jim McKean, Iowa State University

2011 Honorary Master Pork Producer AwardLeon Sheets, 2011 IPPA President

Introduction of 2012 Iowa Pork Queen and Premier Pork Youth Ambassador ContestantsAmy Vossberg, IPPA Youth Committee

Farewell from 2011 Iowa Pork Youth RepresentativesCheyenne McNichols, 2011 Iowa Pork QueenChelsey Branderhorst, 2011 Iowa Pork PrincessDerek Brown, 2011 Iowa Premier Pork Youth Ambassador

Announcement of 2012 Iowa Pork Youth RepresentativesAmy Vossberg, IPPA Youth Committee

President’s Dessert ReceptionYou are invited to the President’s Dessert Reception presented by Pfizer Animal Health in the pre-function area just outside the grand ballroom.

Awardee Information – Table of Contents

Environmental Steward Award . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Master Pork Producers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-14

Master Seedstock Producer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15

Pork All-American . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16

Honorary Master Pork Producers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17-18

Pork Youth Ambassador Candidates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19

Pork Queen Candidates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20-21

Outgoing Royalty Farewell Address . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22-27

THANK YOU!

Thank you for attending the 2012 Iowa Pork Congress Awards Banquet.

Additional information and press releases regarding awardees are available at www.iowaporkcongress.org. We also invite you to view more photos of this year’s producer award recipients at the President’s Dessert Reception, on plasma screens in the pre-function area and Pork Plaza at the Iowa Pork Congress tradeshow in Hy-Vee Hall.

For additional information regarding Iowa Pork Producers Association award programs, please visit www.iowapork.org or contact IPPA by calling (800) 372-7675.

We look forward to seeing you in 2013 with another outstanding class of award recipients!

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2011 Iowa Master Pork Producers

The Master Pork Producer program began in 1942 through the efforts of Herb Plambeck, WHO Radio, Elvin Quaife, Iowa State College Extension, and Wilbur Plager, Iowa Swine Producers Association, to stimulate pork and lard production to assist the winning of World War II.

The initial program standards stressed the total number of pigs per farm and weaned per litter. In the late 1960s to early 1970s, the industry made a transition from pasture systems to climate-controlled facilities that encouraged year-round production. Most producers were farrow-to-finish operations or raised/purchased feeder pigs with production on a single site. During this period, program standards emphasized production records, the production of “high lean” pork, knowledge of all production stages, and emerging pork industry issues.

In the late 1980s the industry changed again moving to specialization of management, labor and financial components, multi-site production, purchased labor and new ownership and contract configurations for pigs and production facilities. This task specialization has transformed the Iowa pork industry and enabled many new pork production relationships to develop.

You will experience this diversity in this year’s Master Pork Producer class. Production efficiency, expertise in their segments of the production cycle and an understanding of current industry issues - including quality assurance, animal identification and animal welfare - are the current program standards for successful candidates.

This 70th class of awardees is joining the best and most accomplished Iowa pork producers of the past seven decades. Iowa State University and the Iowa Pork Producers Association sponsor this important award to demonstrate the varied character and breadth of Iowa pork production.

We invite you to read more about the 2011 Iowa Master Pork Producers.

2011 Iowa Environmental Steward Award

Ryan & Lana ReedOttumwa, Wapello County

The Reeds manage a tunnel ventilated, 4,800-head, feeder-to-finish farm north of Ottumwa, where Ryan was born and raised. They feed roughly 12,000 hogs annually at this site for Cargill Pork, LLC.

They worked with the Coalition to Support Iowa’s Farmers for site modeling to determine potential impacts on surrounding neighbors when building in 2007.

They worked with the Green Farmstead Partner program to plant a 1,200 tree buffer around the facility. This buffer provides a method to reduce odor and particulate matter exiting the farm, provides a home to wildlife and greatly adds to the aesthetics of the operation. The tree buffer also is enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program.

Ryan and Lana host an annual, July 4, picnic each year to communicate with neighbors and talk about life on the farm. They are PQA Plus-certified and have completed the PQA Plus site-assessment.

Manure is injected as specified in a manure management plan with the Iowa DNR. A nitrogen stabilizer is used to preserve nutrients and assist in maintaining water quality. Ryan also is a certified commercial applicator and notes the application fee for manure application is a big help to the farm’s bottom line.

Mortalities on the farm are disposed through an on-farm compost facility. This aids in preservation of biosecurity on the farm.

The Reeds are consistently evaluating new environmental technologies. As president of Tri-Family Farms, LLC, Ryan works with two other local farm families to study alternative energy sources for the hog barns. Reeds hope to incorporate more of these technologies in the future.

Ryan and Lana live on the farm with their three children, Conner, Kylee Jo and Colt Ryan. They represent the sixth generation of Reeds to continue the farming tradition in Wapello County.

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2011 Iowa Master Pork Producer

Bernard and David Arnts Alta, Buena Vista County – District 1

Bernard and David Arnts operate a coordinated 250-sow farrow-to-finish system on two locations. They have been raising pigs for 24 years.

Breeding is completed on one site with confirmed pregnant females moved to the appropriate location for farrowing. The Arnts use 56 stalls for farrowing, split between sites. A total of 64 females are bred every 42 days to fill the stalls.

Bernard and David raise their own gilts in an on-site gilt developer.

The Arnts wean at approximately 21 days of age, followed by placement in conventional nurseries on both sites. Finishing is in a variety of structures, including a curtain barn built in 2009, an older monoslope building and outside lots. Farrowing, nurseries and finishing are operated in an all-in-all-out manner.

Bernard and David are PQA Plus- and TQA-certified. Based on their PQA Plus assessment, they have modified their emergency generator back-up plan and are pleased with the results. They apply manure on 1,000 corn and soybean acres, which are part of their family business.

Bernard and David are active in the Buena Vista County Pork Producers Association. Bernard is a member of the Alta Community Education Foundation. David is a township trustee.

Bernard and his wife, Peg, and David and his wife, Cheryl, are active in church, school and community activities. Peg and Cheryl are both preschool teachers. Bernard and Peg have four children. David and Cheryl have five children.

2011 Iowa Master Pork Producer

Ben and Janelle Johnson Ireton, Plymouth County – District 1

Ben and Janelle Johnson are part-owners and operators of two 2,400-head wean-to-finish buildings.

The buildings were constructed in 2006 in anticipation of Ben’s return from college. Ben has raised pigs for five years since graduating from South Dakota State University, but he raised pigs in hoop barns and conventional nurseries while in high school.

Since his return to the farm, Ben has contract finished for Wakefield Pork and is responsible for the daily management and labor. Ben expresses satisfaction with his tunnel-ventilated buildings because they provide more environmental control and better pig performance throughout the year.

Feed is supplied by a local mill to the integrator’s requirements.

Ben is PQA Plus- and TQA-certified and this site has been PQA Plus-assessed.

Ben spreads manure on adjacent crop ground utilizing a manure management plan. He also provides custom manure hauling in the area. Ben shares cropping equipment and labor with an uncle for his 550 acres of row crops.

Ben and Janelle live on a Century Farm festooned with a barn quilt that sports his college colors, as well as those of his two siblings.

Ben and Janelle are both active in the Iowa Farm Bureau. They currently are on the Young Farmer Advisory Committee and have been recognized as emerging young farm leaders. Ben is active in the Plymouth County Pork Producers Association and participates in grilling and other activities. Janelle is office manager for Plymouth County Extension.

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2011 Iowa Master Pork Producer

Joel and Faye Kooima Rock Valley, Sioux County – District 1

Joel and Faye Kooima are owners of a 130-sow farrow-to-finish operation, predominately on the home site. They have been raising pigs for 40 years and started production at this location from scratch.

Over-run production is sold as feeder pigs in the area. Sow herd replacements are a mixture of home-raised and purchased stock. All are gestated in stalls. Farrowing is in multiple rooms, but 35 sows are weaned

as a group every 45 days to enable all-in-all-out production in the nursery and grow-finish barns.

The Kooimas wean at approximately 21 days. Pigs are moved to the on-site Double-L nurseries, then to the finishers.

Joel and Faye also partner with several of their sons on contract finishers in the area. They are very aware of biosecurity concerns and manage their operation to minimize visitors and other risks.

Joel is PQA Plus- and TQA-certified and his sites have been PQA Plus-assessed. He applies all manure from this site and receives manure from the partner units to fertilize their crop ground. They farm about 700 acres, equally split between corn and soybeans, and are pleased with the value of the manure the hogs produce for the crops. The Kooimas have no other livestock.

They are active in church and community activities and are long-time members of the Sioux County Pork Producers Association. Joel and Faye have four adult sons and seven grandchildren living in the area.

2011 Iowa Master Pork Producer

Steve and LaVonne Flygstad Ellsworth, Hamilton County - District 2

Steve and LaVonne Flygstad are a husband and wife team that has been raising pigs for 37 years.

From 1975 until the mid-1980s, they pasture farrowed, but then transitioned into a contract grower relationship with Murphy-Brown (MB).

Prior to 2004 they operated Envirotech Power washing and Ag Services to assist

contract growers with cleaning and sanitation.

In 2004, with the encouragement of MB staff, they leased 20 barns from MB and assumed management of another 24 finishing barns. They have purchased 10 barns and manage the other 29 for a variety of owners, both local and distant. In 2006, all sites were converted to wean-to-finish.

Steve and LaVonne now operate 39 barns in central Iowa with their daughter, Lisa, and two employees. LaVonne and Lisa start each group while Steve is responsible for finishing and building maintenance. They all assist with receiving weaned pigs and market swine load-outs.

Steve, LaVonne and all employees are PQA Plus-certified. All the production sites are PQA Plus-assessed and have manure management plans. Manure is applied on adjacent land or sold by the building owners.

The Flygstads are active in local church and civic duties, but are most happy being spectators at their grandchildren’s sporting and other events. They have been hosts to a variety of foreign and supplier visitors who want to understand modern U.S. pork production. They produce no crops or other livestock.

Steve and LaVonne have two adult children and three grandchildren.

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2011 Iowa Master Pork Producer

Tom Nicolaus Whittemore, Kossuth County – District 3

Tom Nicolaus has raised swine for 30 years with the last six in Iowa.

Tom brought his teenage son to Iowa from Ohio, where he custom-farmed 400 acres for 15 owners and was an over-the-road trucker, after his wife passed suddenly. He currently provides labor and management services for a contract nursery and for grower-finishers to Whittemore Feeds.

Tom is using older facilities that he refurbished and were on the site when purchased. Nursery pigs are grown for eight weeks and placed with other local operations for finishing. Grow-finish areas within the main building are operated separately, with pigs moved into finishing.

All grow-finish pigs are floor-fed by feed drops 11 times daily. Tom varies the amount of feed dropped based on daily consumption observations. He likes the feed drops because it helps keep the solid floor portions clean. He also has an older monoslope finisher with a traditional feeding system and outside lots for overflow production.

Tom is PQA Plus-certified and the site has been PQA Plus-assessed.

He applies the manure from this site for fertilizer value according to an approved manure management plan. He also does custom manure application. Tom produces 400 acres of row crops, equally split between corn and soybeans.

Tom and his son, who is an Iowa State student, live on the farm. Tom is active in the county pork producer organization and assists with FFA.

2011 Iowa Master Pork Producer

Dallas Muhlenbruch Dows, Franklin County – District 3

Dallas has been raising swine for more than 34 years, starting with a traditional farrow-finish business. For the past 13-plus years, he has contracted with Murphy-Brown, LLC (MB) to finish pigs.

Dallas owns and operates a 4,000-head wean-to-finish site described as one of the most productive in the MB district. This site was converted from a traditional finisher to a wean-finish

configuration. Dallas keeps very detailed production and health records to assist in management and to meet MB record requirements.

Dallas and his son, Tyler, are PQA Plus-certified and the production site has been PQA Plus-assessed. They are not TQA-certified because they do not deliver pigs, but rely on the certified truckers supplied by MB.

Feed is delivered as needed and manure is commercially applied to surrounding crop ground using an approved manure management plan. Dallas raises corn and soybeans on 2,000 acres around the production site.

Dallas and his wife, Kim, are active in church and community affairs and take great pride in multi-generational family activities. Dallas has been active in the Iowa Corn and Soybean organizations. He was president of the Iowa Soybean Association and has served on the Franklin County Soil and Water Conservation Board. Dallas is a member of the Farmers Mutual Insurance Board and is a past member of the Farmers Coop Board.

Dallas and Kim have four adult sons and two grandchildren. Their son, Tyler, has recently been added to the family production team.

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2011 Iowa Master Pork Producer

Allen Whiley Iowa Falls, Hardin County – District 3

Allen Whiley is the director of finishing for Iowa Select Farms.

Allen and his management team are responsible for the production at 528 nursery, wean-finish and grow/finish sites throughout Iowa. He oversees 240 employees and 340 contract producers to raise three million market hogs annually.

Whiley has been raising pigs for 30 years in private and corporate venues. He joined Iowa Select Farms in 1993 to oversee sow and nursery production after employment at Central Soya and several Midwestern sow farms. In 2008, Allen became the director of finishing with responsibilities for all production decisions, grower/contractor relations, marketing strategies and capacity utilization. He also manages the Iowa Select Research farm where feed and nutritional research is conducted.

Allen, along with all employees and contractors, has been PQA Plus- and TQA-certified and all sites have been PQA Plus-assessed. The recent introduction of the SelectCare initiative requires all sites to undergo annual PQA Plus assessments, internal animal well-being audits and all are eligible for quarterly third-party audits.

All sites have a nutrient management plan and use commercial applicators to spread the manure. Some manure is sold to local crop producers and is increasingly being widely valued. Whiley produces no crops or other livestock.

Allen and his wife, Kim, have two grown children and one grandson. Both are active in church and civic activities. Allen has previously coached youth sports and is planning to reactivate when his grandson becomes eligible.

2011 Iowa Master Pork Producer

Randy and Deb Cooklin Jefferson, Greene County – District 6

Randy and Deb have been raising pigs for 43 years. In that time they have used open-front buildings, pasture facilities and, more recently, hoop buildings with conventional nurseries. Currently, they are contract feeders on separate sites for two larger producers.

Deb operates a 600-head nursery with six turns annually for a local family operation. Randy manages a 3,300-head wean-to-

finish site purchased in 2009. The Cooklins provide all labor and management for both sites. Randy provides all maintenance needs and, since 2009, has substantially renovated the wean-to-finish site.

Both are very conscious of biosecurity and herd health issues, which are important considerations when managing two flows.

Randy and Deb are PQA Plus- and TQA-certified and their sites have been PQA Plus-assessed.

Feed is delivered by each contractor and manure is commercially applied to their 500 acres of crop ground. The wean-to-finish site is managed for “all natural” production, which restricts when pigs can be medicated and increases record-keeping pressures.

The Cooklins also manage a cow-calf herd.

Both are active in church and local activities and have served as 4-H leaders for more than 25 years. Randy and Deb are active in both the Greene County Pork Producer and Cattlemen’s associations. Randy has been on the local cattlemen’s board for more than 20 years and has served as county fair beef superintendent for several years.

Randy and Deb have three adult children and two grandchildren.

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2011 Iowa Master Pork Producer

David and Kim Friese Washington, Washington County – District 8

David and Kim Friese operate a 550-head nursery and 1,100-head finisher. David has been raising pigs for 21 years.

They have an ownership share in Walnut Meadows Sow Center that supplies 550 weaned pigs every nine weeks. Pigs are placed in a nursery built in the 1990s. Pigs are moved across the road to a curtain-sided grow-finish building that has two 550-head rooms.

David built 1,100 and 1,200-head finishers down the road, which he leases to a local producer. He grinds all feed for the nursery and the finisher. Market hogs are sold to Excel in Ottumwa.

David provides labor and management for this operation. He is PQA Plus-certified and the sites have been PQA Plus-assessed. Manure is spread on crop ground by a custom applicator using an umbilical system. David and Kim have 750 acres of crop ground but no other livestock.

The Frieses are active in church and school activities and serve on the Washington School Advisory Committee and as volunteer classroom aides. David, a fire and rescue volunteer, helps with fire safety demonstrations for schoolchildren. He is active at the Washington County swine fair and helps grill for county pork functions.

David and Kim have three sons. David’s brother, Dennis, became a Master Pork Producer in 1999, and his niece, Natalie Friese, was the Iowa Pork Queen in 2009.

2011 Iowa Master Seedstock Producer

Robert Behnkendorf Algona, Kossuth County

Bob Behnkendorf has raised purebred swine for 35 years under a variety of arrangements.

He and his brother, Dennis, operated the original Behnkendorf Brothers herd from 1962 until 1967. Dispersal was required due to completion of college and pending military obligations.

In 1982, Bob guided his sons into production of the Spots breed. They expanded to include Hampshire and Chester White breeds and operated until 1997. In the interim, they graduated from Iowa State University and moved onto other careers. In 1997, Bob took over and maintained the Spots and Black Poland China breeds with a few Hampshires.

Throughout the 1980s and ‘90s, Bob was a Hormel hog buyer and later became the Kossuth County Extension Education Director.

Behnkendorf rents several production facilities outside Algona. He sells purebred breeding stock and cross-breds for show pigs. He markets custom butchering through a local locker plant. His true loves are the purebred pigs and teaching those around him about his breeds.

Bob and wife, Pat, are PQA Plus-certified. They have no crop production or other livestock. Bob is current president of the Iowa Purebred Swine Council and has taken an active role in enhancing that organization.

Bob has been an Iowa State Fair exhibitor since 1982 and has won numerous Premier Exhibitor Awards. He had a reserve champion Spot in the 2011 Iowa State Fair. He also is a member of the Iowa 4-H Hall of Fame.

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2011 Iowa Pork All-American

Dan and Rachel Berdo Washington, Washington County

Dan and Rachel Berdo are the 2011 Pork All-American awardees. They own and manage a 700-sow farrow-to-finish operation with Dan’s father, John.

Dan and Rachel strive to maintain maximum productivity. There are seven rooms of stalls with continuous farrowing. They wean every two weeks at two sites. Weaned pigs are sent to an off-site nursery to improve health and performance.

The Berdos constructed a 1,200-head finisher in 2010, but most of the grower pigs are placed with local contract finishers. Breeding is on one site with sows moved prior to farrowing.

Dan and two employees working with pigs are PQA Plus- and TQA-certified and all sites are PQA Plus-assessed. Dan spreads the manure for his sites on 415 crop land acres and on contractor land with contract sites. Rachel works to keep books both for their operation and for her parents, Jerome and Heidi Vittetoe, 1991 Pork All-Americans.

The Berdos have an agreement with contractors to purchase corn to feed for the operation. All feed is made on the home site in a modern mill and delivered. Dan’s father has a 180-head cow herd and purchases calves to feed out with the offspring.

Both Dan and Rachel are busy with church and school activities, and with the Washington County Pork Producers. Dan is on the Washington State Bank Advisory Committee. Dan and Rachel have four children.

The Honorable Bill Northey – Iowa Secretary of Agriculture

Secretary Northey graduated from Iowa State University in 1981, after which he returned to Spirit Lake to farm with his grandfather.

He was elected Iowa Secretary of Agriculture in 2006 and is currently serving his second term after re-election in 2010. He continues to farm corn and soybeans, in his free time, near Spirit Lake.

Bill’s priorities as secretary of agriculture include advancing opportunities available through renewable

energy, promoting conservation and stewardship and telling the story of Iowa agriculture in Iowa, the U.S. and abroad.

As secretary, Northey has committed to traveling to each of Iowa’s 99 counties every year to hear from farmers and rural residents with a stake in Iowa’s agricultural future.

The secretary has been instrumental in promoting Iowa pork and agricultural products overseas. Over the past year, Northey accompanied IPPA representatives on trade missions to South Korea and Japan to help tell the story of Iowa animal agriculture and build on important existing foreign markets.

Northey also served on the steering committee for the Iowa Agriscope 2030 project.

His open communication style and dedication to Iowa’s agriculture industries has directly benefited pork producers and many others involved in producing food, fuel and fiber across the state of Iowa.

Bill currently resides near Spirit Lake with his wife, Cindy.

2011 Iowa Honorary Master Pork Producer

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2012 Iowa Premier Pork Youth Ambassador Contestants

Zack Lear is the son of Greg and Ann Lear from Spencer in Clay County. Zack is a senior at Clay Central-Everly High School and plans to attend Iowa State University after graduation.

Curtis Rieks is the son of Chris and Carolyn Rieks from Alden in Hardin County. Curtis is a senior at Iowa Falls-Alden High School. After graduation, he plans to attend Hawkeye Community College and major in ag power.

Darren Struthers of Collins in Story County is the son of David Struthers and Becky Taylor. Darren is double-majoring in agricultural systems technology and agronomy at Iowa State University.

Jacob Swanson is a junior at Iowa State University where he is majoring in public service and administration in agriculture. Jacob is the son of Don and Pat Swanson of Ottumwa in Wapello County.

Kyle Larsen is the son of Glen and Brenda Larsen of Clare in Webster County. Kyle is a freshman at Iowa State University majoring in animal science.

Bob Quinn –Farm Broadcaster, WHO Radio

Bob Quinn spends countless hours each year promoting pork and delivering agriculture news across the airways.

Bob has been heavily involved in farm broadcasting for nearly three decades as he started his career with WHO Radio in 1983 after graduating from Iowa State University.

He is the early morning voice for farm programs on WHO radio and teams up with Mark Pearson for The Big Show over the noon hour.

Bob frequently invites IPPA representatives to talk about pork during The Big Show and has hosted numerous remote broadcasts for IPPA, the Coalition to Support Iowa’s Farmers and other pork industry interests. He is a tremendous advocate of the pork industry, featuring numerous pork related guests and topics.

Bob also has delivered the Iowa Pork Royalty portion of the Iowa Pork Congress Banquet program.

Bob lives in West Des Moines with his wife, Ann.

2011 Iowa Honorary Master Pork Producer

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Sterling Schnepf is the daughter of Richard and Sharon Schnepf from Granville in Plymouth County. Sterling is a sophomore at Iowa State University where she is majoring in animal science pre-graduate studies.

Margaret Miller is the county queen for Story County and the daughter of Mark and Cathy Miller of Ames. Maggie is currently a freshman at Iowa State University where she is pursuing a degree in athletic training.

Kayla Romoser of Washington County is the daughter of Bob and Mary Beth Romoser of Keota. Kayla is currently attending Iowa State University where she is majoring in family and consumer science education.

Nichole Licht is the daughter of Scott and Deb Licht from Humboldt and is serving as the Webster County Pork Queen. She is a senior at Manson Northwest Webster High School. After graduation, she plans to attend Iowa State University and pursue a degree in animal science.

Jessi Sorensen of Black Hawk County is the daughter of Harold and Julie Sorensen from Cedar Falls. Jessi is a freshman at Iowa State University majoring in agricultural studies.

Melanie Weber is the daughter of Paul and Susan Weber from Winthrop in Buchanan County. Melanie is a freshman at Kirkwood Community College where she is studying agriculture.

Lindsay Reth is a senior at West Delaware High School and the daughter of Russ and Dianne Reth from Manchester. She is serving as the Delaware County Pork Queen. After high school graduation, Lindsay plans to attend Wartburg College and major in business administration.

Stephanie Boardman of Madison County is the daughter of Robert and Bethene Boardman from Peru. Stephanie is a freshman at the University of Northern Iowa where she is pursuing a double major in marketing & public relations with a minor in Spanish and a certificate in international business.

2012 Iowa Pork Queen Contestants2012 Iowa Pork Queen Contestants

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Farewell from 2011 Iowa Pork Youth Representatives

Farewell from the 2011 Iowa Pork QueenCheyenne McNichols, Greene County

Having the honor and privilege to represent the Iowa pork industry as the 2011 Iowa Pork Queen has been, in my opinion, the most extraordinary experience that I have ever taken part in. My passion in life has always been my animals and this fondness began the foundation of what I see as the key to my future. My favorite aspect of the passion that I hold is spreading the good word of our industry and reaching out to those who have been removed from the farm and don’t understand the “ins and

outs” of our industry and livelihood. I have had a wonderful experience fulfilling my duties as Iowa Pork Queen. I have made many friends, gained a wealth of knowledge and deepened my passion to promote and educate throughout my reign. I attended the World Pork Expo where I helped to hand out pork sandwiches and was able to do a few interviews. It was amazing to have the privilege to speak to so many people who were enthusiastic about pork from around the world. I was honored to attend a few county fairs including the one dearest to me, the Greene County Fair, and passed out ribbons at their swine shows. One of my most favorite things was to watch young people work with and show their 4-H swine projects. It is so amazing to see the excitement and dedication and think back to my own experiences.

I was excited to attend a trip to Washington, D.C., with the Iowa Pork Producers to promote pork at the National BBQ Battle. This experience was one that was fun as well as eye opening. I spent most of my time standing on a cooler in front of a grill with my “honorary announcer,” IPPA President Leon Sheets shouting out the good news of the industry, letting people know about the recipe possibilities on www.porkbeinspired.com and promoting the newly accepted cooking temperature for pork (145 degrees of course!) I did this all while answering consumer questions and handing out free samples, meat thermometers and recipes. This experience really reminded me why I am so passionate about making promotions and education of the swine industry my career of choice. It is so neat to see the “aha” moment when people realize what we do and why we do it.

The state fair was by far my most favorite experience in holding the title. I have always treasured the Iowa State Fair as something I hold near and dear to my heart. With this being said, the honor of representing the Iowa pork industry throughout the fair was an experience which was very special to me and something which I will never forget. Throughout the fair, I had the privilege to work at the Iowa Pork Tent, pass out samples in the Agriculture Building, hand out ribbons at various swine shows, speak to the public about pork production in the Animal Learning Center, be a judge at the annual hog calling contest, and assist in passing out the awards at the Farm Bureau cookout contest. I can’t tell you just how busy it really was, or express in words how much fun I really had, but it was AMAZING! My experiences as Iowa Pork Queen are irreplaceable. I could not be more honored to represent Iowa’s pork producers, and would like to extend a big thank you to each and every person involved in producing the wholesome product which we are blessed with as consumers. Furthermore, I would like to thank the Iowa Pork Producers staff, committees and others who have stood beside me throughout the year, especially Alison, Mary Lea, Joyce, Tyler and Leon! I’d also like to give a special thank you to Chelsey and Derek for sharing my passion and being there throughout the year and also this year’s intern, Miss Jessie, for being my escort, sidekick and state fair room-mate.

Farewell from 2011 Iowa Pork Youth Representatives

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Farewell from the 2011 Iowa Pork PrincessChelsey Branderhorst – Jasper County

Serving as the 2011 Iowa Pork Princess has been an honor and was truly one of my greatest experiences! The experiences would not have been possible without the support from the Iowa Pork Producers, the National Pork Board, the Pork Checkoff, my family and pork producers from not only my county, but the state.

For the past year, I have been proud to represent my county, state and nation for the pork industry as

the Iowa Pork Princess. With this position, I have taken part in numerous pork promotions, both in-state and out, awarded ribbons and trophies to hard working youth at county fairs and the Iowa State Fair, attended many parades and had many other amazing experiences! Here’s a review of my year of being the Iowa Pork Princess:

My first major event was the World Pork Expo. We were able to help wherever we were needed. The three of us served lunch, passed out samples, helped with a PQA certification session and interviewed with several reporters from across the world. It was one of my favorite events because we met so many people that are passionate and involved in many facets of the pork industry.

Time flew and, before I knew it, it was time to hop on a plane and fly to Washington, D.C., for the Safeway BBQ Battle. The memories began as soon as I walked onto the plane, as this was my first time flying! We served pork

samples at the event to anyone who wanted one. This was my favorite part. This promotion was set up so that there was enough time to connect with people on a one-on-one level and tell them about how pork is a versatile product and a little about my story. It was a great experience not only for me, but my parents as well. We had a blast with the “Pork Crew” that we worked with for the weekend.

July seemed to go by in a blink! Between Fareway promotions, county fairs, serving lunch at the Shrine Bowl, serving samples at one of the stops on RAGBRAI and let’s not forget the numerous parades that I was honored to be in.

July came and went and then the Iowa State Fair had arrived. This is my favorite time of year, and this year I was able to experience the fair in a whole new way! During the fair, I took orders at the Pork Tent, served samples in the Agricultural Building and helped out in the Animal Learning Center, where there were many questions and pictures! I also was able to help award ribbons, trophies and banners to many youth. I loved doing this because I was able to reward them for all of their hard work and effort. I also was asked to be in the “Celebrity Cow Milking Contest” and, let me tell you, this was an interesting experience! My teammate was Paul Berge, from Iowa Public Television, and although we didn’t win, he sure made things entertaining!

As our year comes to an end, I want to thank everyone for the opportunity once again! Good luck to the Pork Royalty of 2012, enjoy your reign, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and, as you can tell, it goes by fast!

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Farewell from the 2011 Iowa Premier Pork Youth AmbassadorDerek Brown, Hardin County

It has been an extreme honor and pleasure to serve as the 2011 Iowa Premier Pork Youth Ambassador! Throughout the last year I’ve had the privilege to promote the swine industry and pork production, and it’s been a very rewarding experience. I was able to interact with hundreds of consumers at promotional events, fairs and other occasions. I’ll try to summarize some of my experiences and memories from the past year.

During the summer, the Iowa Pork Producers endorsed pork at several public events around Iowa. Some of these included promotions at events such as the Professional Bull Riding tour, RAGBRAI, the Iowa Games, the Shrine Bowl and the NASCAR Nationwide Series at the Iowa

Speedway. At these events, we handed out pork samples, coupons and recipes to consumers. At one event, I was helping grill pork burgers and the grill kept flaring up. At one point I was standing too close and the grill flared up and singed my eye lashes and some of my hair!

In June, Chelsey, Cheyenne, and I attended two days of media training before helping at the World Pork Expo. Ambassadors from several other states also came to the training session and it was fun getting to meet other young adults who were involved in and passionate about the swine industry. Later in the week we attended the World Pork Expo and helped serve the free lunch that occurred each day. Also, one night during the week, we attended Pork Night at the I-Cubs baseball game. I got to participate in a radio interview and we were allowed onto the field before the game started.

At the end of June we got to fly out to Washington, D.C., for the Safeway BBQ Battle. We handed out samples for two days and served thousands of people. I was amazed that some consumers had never heard of a pork burger before! During our free time, we were able to tour the city, visit the memorials and explore some of the Smithsonian museums. The entire trip was a new experience, a lot of fun and it

made me appreciate Iowa’s culture and lifestyle a little more!

Finally, in August, we got to help out at the Iowa State Fair. This entailed some long but fun days serving samples, taking orders and conversing with fairgoers. Personally, I enjoyed watching the hog shows while handing out ribbons. However, it was also fun to sit in the Animal Learning Center and talk to people about pigs and pork production. It was always interesting to visit with fairgoers or people at other promotions, because many people didn’t know much about raising pigs. They were always surprised at how fast pigs grew or how many pigs were born in a litter.

There were many people that made these activities possible and helped make this a fun year. I especially want to thank the Iowa Pork Producers Association and specifically thank Alison Swanson and Mary Lea Hampton for keeping us organized throughout the year. The entire year was a fun and rewarding experience!

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