The 2023 Iowa Pork Youth Leadership Team, named at the 2023 Iowa Pork Congress, includes, from left, Elle Ploeger, Pierson; Ali Wadle, Milo; and Josh Wiley, Walker.

The 2024 Iowa Pork Youth Leadership Team competition will be held during the Iowa Pork Congress—at the Iowa Events Center in Des Moines in January 2024.

Contestants will participate in interviewing and communications exercises and be judged on their skills, poise, presentation and overall pork industry and agriculture knowledge.

Please select the links below for additional information.

Contest Requirements

Contest Rules & Guidelines

Financial Obligations

Judging Point System

Scholarships and Prizes

Any questions should be directed to Hannah Spurr at (800) 372-7675 or hspurr@iowapork.org.

 

History of the Iowa Pork Youth Leadership Team

Caleb Hogan and Abby Bean, of the 2020 Iowa Pork Youth Leadership Team, sell Pork Chops on a Stick™ at Iowa Pork’s Chop Shop trailer during the 2020 Fair Special Edition in Des Moines in August 2020.

The Iowa Pork Producers Association has invited the state’s youth to participate in an annual contest to represent the association and the industry as ambassadors for nearly 60 years.

The first Iowa Pork Queen was selected in 1960. The contest runner up became the Iowa Pork Princess.

IPPA added another contest in 2006 when it began selecting a Premier Pork Youth Ambassador.

IPPA now selects a queen and two ambassadors.

The youth team will attend and assist with various events, in-state and out-of-state pork promotions and educational activities during a year-long reign. Events include the Iowa State Fair and World Pork Expo.