Jan. 26, 2012
Contact:
Tyler Bettin, Producer Education Director
(800) 372-7675,
For Immediate Release!
Iowa Purebred Swine Council selects its top seedstock producer for 2011
(CLIVE, Iowa) — The Iowa Purebred Swine Council has named its Master Seedstock Award winner for 2011.
Robert Behnkendorf of Algona was presented with the award at the 40th annual Iowa Pork Congress Banquet in Des Moines last night.
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 crossbreds 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.
Behnkendorf 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.
The Iowa Purebred Swine Council has sponsored the Master Seedstock Award since 1958. Its purpose is to recognize significant contributions to the Iowa and national purebred industries and for evidence of genetic improvements within their selected breeds for the benefit of Iowa, the nation and, in many cases, internationally.
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