The Iowa Pork Producers Association (IPPA) recognized outstanding county-level leadership and community engagement during the Iowa Pork Congress, held in late January. The annual awards program highlights how local pork organizations across the state are advancing pork production, promotion, education, and community service.
County Outreach Award Winners
The County Outreach Award honors innovative promotional and educational efforts that strengthen connections between pork producers and their communities. This year’s recognized programs demonstrated creativity, collaboration, and meaningful local impact.
Clay County
Clay County showcased pork by partnering with 10 local restaurants and promoting featured pork menu items through Facebook. The effort included table tents and recipe cards to educate consumers, reaching more than 2,300 online viewers in October. The group plans to expand the program next year with incentives encouraging customers to choose pork dishes.
Chickasaw County
Chickasaw County hosts “Grilling for a Cause,” an annual downtown event where local producers and volunteers serve pork tenderloin meals to the community. Proceeds support local facilities and nonprofits, including this year’s contribution to the Chickasaw Event Center’s building improvement fund. The group also supports the county fair’s 4-H BBQ fundraiser, with proceeds benefiting the Chickasaw County 4-H program.
Jones County
Through a partnership with HACAP and the Great Jones County Fair livestock auction, Jones County created a market option for fair pig buyers while donating fresh, locally processed pork to families in need. In 2025, the program provided 28 pigs and nearly 5,000 pounds of pork across eastern Iowa, demonstrating how youth livestock projects can serve the broader community.
Tama County
Tama County partnered with ISU Extension Outreach, Dr. Amy Powell, and the Iowa Pork Queen to host a sustainability-focused educational program for 4-H swine exhibitors. The session explored how pig farming fits into the carbon cycle, with exhibitors calculating their own emissions and participating in a Q&A during the fair. Each year, the county introduces a new educational initiative for fair exhibitors.
Plymouth County
Plymouth County honored the 185th Guard troops in Sioux City ahead of their deployment by grilling and serving pork chops on base. Many of the service members are connected to agriculture, making the event especially meaningful. The county also hosted adopt-a-pig participants at the new veterinary clinic in Le Mars, offering students hands-on learning about animal care and veterinary careers.
Lyon County
Lyon County continued its restaurant partnership program by offering $2-off coupons for pork meals of $5 or more at local restaurants. Now in its second year, the initiative promotes pork consumption while supporting local businesses.
Each winning program received $250, while five additional nominated programs earned $100 awards.
County Involvement Award Winners
The IPPA Membership and Leadership Committee also recognized counties that maintain an active presence through ongoing pork promotion and community engagement. Counties earn points through participation, promotion, and locally driven events.
Top Five Counties Recognized
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Plymouth County
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Delaware County
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Lyon County
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Buchanan County
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Washington County
Counties earning more than 2,000 points received $1,000, while additional counties surpassing the threshold earned $500.
Additional Recognitions
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Washington County was honored as the county with the largest IPPA membership.
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50 counties were recognized for participation in the Pork in the Pantry Program, supporting pork donations to local food pantries.
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39 counties were acknowledged for hosting Bacon Buddies shows, connecting youth and communities with pork production.
High-resolution images of award recipients are available through IPPA.
This Swine Web report highlights the grassroots leadership driving Iowa’s pork industry forward—one county, one community, and one program at a time.
