-Farm News photo by Darcy Dougherty Maulsby
Trish Cook, who is the first woman to serve as Iowa Pork Producers Association's president, noted that leadership in agriculture always depends on teamwork, whether that’s on the farm or on trade missions. When she spoke at the Webster County Pork Producers' banquet in Fort Dodge recently, she shared highlights from a February 2023 ag mission trip where she and fellow Iowans traveled to South Korea and Japan.

It’s one thing to say pork producers are committed to a sustainable, socially responsible, globally competitive pork industry. It’s another to put these ideals into action. When the Webster County Pork Producers (WCPP) get together, it’s clear they walk the talk.

“We’re proud to serve our local communities,” said Gregg Hora, a long-time member of the WCPP, who welcome members and guests to the WCPP’s banquet in March in Fort Dodge. “We’re excited about programs like Pork in the Pantry and Bacon Buddies.”

The Pork in the Pantry program provides funding to county pork organizations so they can donate pork to local food pantries. The Iowa Pork Producers Association (IPPA) reimburses participating counties up to $1,000 for pork products that are donated to local food pantries. This spring, the Webster County Pork Producers donated pork to the Salvation Army in Fort Dodge, the Lord’s Cupboard Community Pantry in Fort Dodge and the Community Pantry in Gowrie.

Banquet attendees also received an update on Bacon Buddies. These unique livestock shows are designed to give youth and adults with disabilities the opportunity to work with a pig in the show ring at the county fair or state fair.

Bacon Buddies connects participants with 4-H and FFA mentors to show livestock at the fair. Bacon Buddies participants get the opportunity to show a pig, talk with a livestock judge in the show ring, and relish the thrill of earning a prize for their efforts.

-Submitted photo The Webster County Pork Producers recently donated to The Salvation Army in Fort Dodge. At center, Duane Stanek hands pork donations to Salvation Army Capt. Linda McCormick, along with Fort Dodge councilman Kim Alstott, right. Pictured in back, from left, are Webster County Pork Producer board members Tom Compart, Dewayne Newell, Nathan Fevold, Larry Aliger and Gregg Hora.

The Iowa Pork Producers Association hosted the first Bacon Buddies event in Iowa at the 2019 Iowa State Fair. To encourage more Bacon Buddies shows in 2023 at the county level, IPPA has established “Bucks for Bacon Buddies.” The organization will provide up to $500 for groups that plan and host these events. The money can be used for event signage, T-shirts, awards, advertising and more.

“Bacon Buddies gives all the athletes the same feeling of confidence and accomplishment that the FFA and 4-H livestock exhibitors feel,” said Joyce Hoppes, consumer information director for IPPA. “It’s a great experience for everyone involved.”

Promoting pork

around the globe

The WCPP also supports other unique ways to get more people connected to the pork industry. When the group hosted their March banquet at Willow Ridge Golf Course & Restaurant, for example, culinary students from Iowa Central Community College in Fort Dodge helped prepare and serve the meal, which showcased pork.

-Submitted photo
The Webster County Pork Producers recently donated pork to the Community Pantry in Gowrie. Representing the Gowrie pantry in front, from left, are: Crystal Wilks, Kim Klingson, Lacey Spece, and Barb Langner. Representing the Pork Producers are, in back, from left, board members Tom Compart, Dewayne Newell, Duane Stanek, Nathan Fevold, Larry Aliger and Gregg Hora.

Banquet guests also learned more about the world’s growing appetite for U.S. pork, thanks to guest speaker Trish Cook, a pig farmer from Buchanan County in northeast Iowa. In February 2023, Cook traveled with Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig as part of a 16-member trade mission delegation to Japan and Korea. The group focused on the needs of the food and ag industries in those nations.

In 2022, Iowa companies exported $1.8 billion in goods to Japan and $886 million to South Korea, according to the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS). Japan is Iowa’s third largest export destination and the second-leading export market for pork and beef products, Cook noted. Iowa companies exported $551 million in meat products to Japan in 2022. In addition, Japan is the second largest destination for Iowa corn. In 2022, Japan imported $500 million in Iowa corn.

“Trade matters to Iowa,” said Cook, who serves as IPPA president. “Iowa is a proven, consistent, reliable supplier of products to our trading partners around the world. When we go on trade missions to nations like Japan and South Korea, we work to build new relationships, strengthen existing friendships, and create more consumer demand for Iowa-grown meat, grain and agricultural products.”

South Korea is the fourth largest destination for Iowa pork and beef ($348 million) and sixth largest destination for Iowa corn ($87 million), according to IDALS. South Korea is also Iowa’s second largest international market for ethanol ($71.2 million). There is significant potential for growth of biofuel exports to both Japan and South Korea, according to IDALS.

Cook and her fellow Iowans traveled to Tokyo, Japan, and Seoul, South Korea, to participate in trade policy discussions, grain and protein import information sessions with leading organizations in the two Asian nations, and meetings with ag industry representatives to discuss business development opportunities. In addition, the delegation celebrated “Iowa Agriculture & BBQ Day” in Tokyo by presenting a proclamation (signed by Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds to commemorate the day) to Japanese ag industry leaders.

-Submitted photo
The Webster County Pork Producers recently donated pork to The Lord's Cupboard in Fort Dodge. Receiving the donation for the Lord's Cupboard is Melanie Fierke, center. Also in the photo, from left, are board members Tom Compart, Dewayne Newell, Duane Stanek, Nathan Fevold, Larry Aliger and Gregg Hora.

These types of discussions slowed dramatically in the last few years, as the COVID-19 pandemic halted ag mission trips. It’s good to be able to reconnect with potential buyers around the world, said Cook, whose family farms near Winthrop, Iowa, where they run a farrow-to-finish swine operation and grow corn and soybeans. During the past few years, consumer habits in Asian markets have changed, she added.

“Meal-ready kits are becoming much more popular, especially with the younger generation. We gathered some very good information about food trends and consumer shopping habits in the countries we visited.”

Members of the Iowa trade mission reported that consumers in Japan and South Korea appear more willing to pay more for premium quality products — and this trend continues to grow. This knowledge can help U.S. pork suppliers better determine what meat cuts they can supply to these Asian markets in the future. “This can create big opportunities for the pork industry,” Cook said. “We want to keep learning about foreign markets so we can find ways to supply what these customers are looking for.”

Cook, who is the first woman to serve as IPPA’s president, noted that leadership in agriculture always depends on teamwork, whether that’s on the farm or on trade missions like the one to Japan and South Korea. “The things that are important to me are the things that are important to other pork producers, too. I look forward to representing all of Iowa’s pork producers as we address the challenges and opportunities ahead.”