Jan. 24, 2018

Contact:

Drew Mogler, Producer Education Director

(800) 372-7675,

For Immediate Release!

IPPA announces 2017Master Pork Producers, Master Pork Partners

(CLIVE, Iowa) — The 2017 class of Master Pork Producers and Master Pork Partners has been announced by the Iowa Pork Producers Association.

Thirteen producers and pork production company employees were honored tonight at the 46thannual Iowa Pork Congress Banquet in Des Moines.

IPPA’s 76thclass of Master Pork Producers features nineIowa hog farmers who wereselected and recognized by their peers for excellence in pork production.A slide show highlighting each new Master Pork Producer’s operation was shown and the coveted brass belt buckle, emblematic of the award, and a certificate of achievement were presented to each producer.

The 2017 Master Pork Producers are:

  • Ross and Amber Kooiker, George, Lyon Co.
  • Stephen Schroeder, Remsen, Plymouth Co.
  • Aaron and Alyce Nieland, Breda, Sac Co.
  • Tyler and Jessica Kannegieter, Aurelia, Cherokee Co.
  • Stuart Swanson, Galt, Wright Co.
  • Mark Dolan, Masonville, Buchanan Co.
  • Jon, Becky, Adam and Tony Ries, Manchester, Delaware Co.
  • Jeff and Nancy Lucas, New Vienna, Dubuque
  • Ralph and Becky Dorale, Charter Oak, Crawford Co.
  • Dan Gent, Wellman, Washington Co.

IPPA started the Master Pork Producer Award program in 1942 and has now named 1,475 Iowa pig farmers as Master Pork Producers.

IPPA created the Master Pork Partner Award in 2014 torecognize pork production company employees who don’t have active daily roles at a specific production site, but have demonstrated positive impacts in their production systems and a commitment to the pork industry’s We Care ethical principles.

The 2017 Master Pork Partners are:

  • Master Pork Partner – Chad Berentschot, Inwood, Lyon Co.
  • Master Pork Partner – Paul Mossner, Manchester, Buchanan Co.
  • Master Pork Partner – John Esler, Alta, Buena Vista Co.

Nominated by their peers and neighbors, all of the award winners are recognized for their expertise in their segments of the production cycle and understanding of current industry issues, quality assurance, animal identification and well-being, and their production efficiency.

The Iowa pork industry features considerable diversity and specialization and the 2016class of Master Pork Producers and Pork Partners is representative of the wide variety of systems in operation today.Production diversity helps maintain the strength of the industry and enables Iowa producers to compete successfully in the domestic and international commodity and niche markets.

The Iowa Pork Producers Association and Iowa State University co-sponsor the Master Pork Producer program to demonstrate the character and breadth of Iowa pork production.

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