(Le Mars) — During Saturday evening’s Plymouth County Pork Producers annual banquet, the crowning of the new Little Miss Pig Tails and the new Plymouth County Pork Queen was announced. Two girls were named as Little Miss Pig Tails for 2018. They are Breena Sheehan, the daughter of Neil and Krystal Sheehan and Allyana Walrod, the daughter of Bobby and Christy Walrod. This year’s Plymouth County Pork Queen, Isabelle Kessenich, the daughter of Chris and Dawn Kessenich was crowned by the 2017 Iowa Pork Queen Claire Conley of Cherokee County.
Tyson Foods Chef Kang Kuan was the speaker during the banquet. Kuan informed the gathering of more than 200 people, that value can be added to a pork product, simply by making a different cut than what is usually featured. Paul Conner of Tyson Foods assisted Chef Kuan. During his presentation, Chef Kuan showed the banquet attendees some different types of cuts made from the traditional pork loin. Both spoke about how
changing the cuts of pork can add value to the product for a linen table cloth high scale restaurant. Kuan and Connor were very complimentary of the Plymouth County pork producers organization.
Chef Kuan makes his comments about the Plymouth County Pork Producers Association.
Connor serves as the Vice President of Pork Production Planning for Tyson Fresh Meats. He says some of the old attitudes of pork are changing with consumers and food service representatives.
Connor continues to explain his position as how producers and processors have teamed up to improve the consumer’s perception of pork products.
Connor says there has been a tremendous amount of growth within the pork industry within the past ten years. Chef Kuan, a former contestant for the nationally televised “Iron Chef” program says pork can add value, simply by making different cuts from the traditional product. Kuan says a restaurant is
always faced with tight profit margins. He says consumers will respond in a positive way, if they notice something different.
Chef Kuan says there are still ways to improve, since many top restaurants still don’t feature pork as an entree item. He says producers and processors alike may need to change the form in order to change the function.
The Plymouth County Pork Producers also recognized Steve Schroeder of Remsen and Ben and Janelle Johnson of rural Ireton. Schroeder was named a “Master Pork Producer” during the Iowa Pork Congress held in Des Moines in January, and the Johnsons were named “All American Pork Producer”, the highest honor given by the Iowa Pork Producers Association to a pork producer.
