(Des Moines) — This is an Iowa Pork Congress Report. Following a year off due to the COVID-19 virus, the annual indoor trade show with its educational seminars is back. The Iowa Pork Congress got started on Wednesday, and will continue through Thursday. It is being held at Hy-Vee Hall as part of the Iowa Events Center in Des Moines. The trade show, according to Iowa Pork Producers Association’s Director of Communications, Dal Grooms, is one of the largest to focus solely on pork production.
In addition to the popular trade show, the Iowa Pork Congress features producer educational seminars that address issues within the pork industry. Grooms highlights the various seminars featured during this year’s Iowa Pork Congress.
Wednesday’s key-note address will be presented by Vance Crowe with the title, “The Stories We Tell Ourselves.” Crowe is a communications consultant, and his focus is to help groups and organizations realize why the general public doesn’t agree with their perspective. He offers new ways to communicate effectively, resolve disagreements, and build rapport with critics and stakeholders. To do this, Crowe says pig farmers should know the stories of pork’s past in order to leave inspired and have an understanding of the key inner workings of storytelling.
Perhaps one of the more popular sessions scheduled for Wednesday is a panel discussion focusing on California’s Proposition 12. National Pork Producers Council staff will give updates on the legal actions and status of activities around California’s Prop 12.
Grooms says for those people not familiar with California Proposition 12, it basically reads that each animal needs to have at least 25 square feet of space. Animal producers that fail to meet the California standards are not allowed to market their animals to the California consumer.
Be sure to keep listening for additional Iowa Pork Congress reports from Des Moines. For KLEM news, I’m Dennis Morrice.
Iowa Pork Congress Report#2
(Des Moines) — This is an Iowa Pork Congress Report. Nine young women and men are competing for three positions on the 2022 Iowa Pork Producers Association (IPPA) Youth Leadership Team. The competition is Jan. 25 and 26 in Des Moines. Winners will be named at an evening banquet Jan. 26.
The Youth Leadership Team is designed for those who are passionate about the pork industry.
Contestants are seniors in high school or college students up to age 21 as of Jan. 1. Candidates will be judged on their knowledge about pork and pig production as shown in a speech presentation, personal interview, media interview, experience, and written test about the topics.
The female contestant with the highest score will be crowned Iowa Pork Queen, and receives a $4,000 scholarship, plaque, crown and sash. Two other applicants will become Iowa Pork Ambassadors; they each receive a $4,000 scholarship and plaque. All three will assist with state pork promotional and educational activities throughout 2022.
Listed alphabetically by county, contestants and their hometowns are:
- Buchanan — Kirby Cook, Winthrop
- Clinton — Brooklyn Kucera, Bryant
- Delaware — Gracee Brooks, Manchester
- Emmet — Hallie Ayers, Estherville
- Emmet — Lynzie Burton, Estherville
- Harrison —Zoe Reffitt, Dunlap
- Plymouth — Kiley Allan, Le Mars
- Story — Jackson Sterle, Roland
- Warren — Maggie Staudacher, Indianola
Current members of the Youth Leadership Team are Leah Marek, Riverside; Paige Dagel, Sanborn; and Reagan Gibson, Panora. In a future Iowa Pork Congress Report, we will visit with Plymouth County’s Pork Ambassador candidate, Kiley Allan of Le Mars.
Be sure to keep listening for additional Iowa Pork Congress Reports. For KLEM radio, I’m Dennis Morrice.
Iowa Pork Congress Report
(Des Moines) — This is an Iowa Pork Congress report. Plymouth County Pork Producers were well represented and recognized for their many achievements during the Iowa Pork Congress. Aside from the fact that Kiley Allan of Le Mars was awarded the title of Iowa Pork Queen, and Matt and Angie Schnepf were honored as “All American Pork Producers”, Plymouth County Pork Producers Association took home many other honors and accolades. Linda Schroeder of Remsen was recently elected as a director of the Iowa Pork Producers Association, representing not only Plymouth County, but all pork producers in northwest Iowa. Schroeder tells of some of the other recognition for the county pork organization’s achievements.
Schroeder says the “Adopt A Pig” participants through the exercise, were able to learn about the various pork meat cuts. She says the students were able to see where pork chops are derived from the loin, and ham comes from the backside of the pig, and bacon is derived from the belly. Schroeder says its always important to share the pork story, especially with today’s youth. Schroeder talks about some of the other ways Plymouth County Pork Producers were recognized at the recent Iowa Pork Congress.
Schroeder has now assumed the duties of a board director with the Iowa Pork Producers Association. She explains her reasons for wanting to become a leader within the state’s pork industry.
Schroeder says she and her husband, Dean, are fully certified through the pork organization for the Pork Quality Assurance and Transport Quality Assurance certification programs. She says it is important for both the producer and consumer to know the background of pork products.
Be sure to listen for additional special reports from the Iowa Pork Congress.
Iowa Pork Congress Report
(Des Moines) — A Goldfield, Iowa pork producer has been elected to serve as the new president of the Iowa Pork Producers Association. Kevin Rasmussen, along with his family, finish 8,000 head of hogs per year and grow about 1,100 acres of corn and soybeans. Rasmussen talks about a strategic plan that has been presented to the nation’s pork producers, calling for more of a stream-lined approach when dealing with pork-related issues.
The newly elected pork producer’s association president offers an explanation for the proposed reduction of check-off dollars.
Rasmussen says the Iowa pork voting delegates voted to approve the measure to reduce the amount of money collected through the mandatory check-off program. He says it will now appear before the nation’s pork producers voting delegates during the National Pork Forum scheduled for March.
Rasmussen says a discussion point brought up by pork producers is if the mandatory rate from the pork check-off is reduced, will there be enough funding for research, promotion, education, and market development projects?
Be sure to keep listening to KLEM radio for additional Iowa Pork Congress Reports.
Iowa Pork Congress Report
(Des Moines) — This is an Iowa Pork Congress report. Because of the COVID virus outbreak, pork producers have witnessed a bottle neck in marketing. Disruption caused several processing plants to operate at less than full capacity. Dr. Steve Meyer is an agricultural economist and talks about the recent trends, as well as the outlook for pork prices.
Meyer says the industry is still suffering somewhat from the COVID virus, and the omicron variant. He says weekly hog processing numbers are down.
Meyer says the pork industry has been blessed to have strong exports. He believes the export trend may pickup somewhat. Meyer says, overall exports of U-S pork products remains promising.
Meyer says consumption of pork products is looked to pick up within the next few months.
