Eleven outstanding pork producers and their operations were honored at the Iowa Pork Congress for their innovation, quality, efficiency and production records. Nominated by their neighbors and peers, these outstanding pork producers received one of the top honors from the IPPA.

The individuals honored are involved in various pork production operations from all sectors of the industry. All 2004 Master Pork Producers are PQA (Pork Quality Assured) certified and committed to providing quality pork products.

Coordinated by the IPPA and Iowa State University Extension, the Master Pork Producer program began in 1942 at the start of World War II and has continued since. The original purpose of the program was to increase pork production in Iowa during the war.

C. Dale and Nancy Boelman
Clarksville, Butler County

Dale and Nancy own and operate two 1200 head nursery barns, contracting 14,000 feeder pigs sold to another producer. Both share the responsibility of daily care of the animals and manure management, including soil testing, manure nutrient testing and application. They also have a composting system in place for mortality disposal.

Both are Pork Quality Assurance certified. They also grow 295 acres of corn and 239 acres of soybeans as part of their farm business.

Dale and Nancy are active members of their community. Dale has served on the church board for eight year and both have served as 4-H leaders for ten years. Dale and Nancy are members of the Butler County Pork Producers and have served on the board for nine years. Dale held the position of IPPA District Director for four years and served on the IPPA Finance, Promotion, Pork Tent and currently, Iowa Pork Congress Committees.

Dale and Nancy have three children, Jennifer, 33, Christine, 31 and Joshua, 27.

Duane and Dale Busch
Tripoli, Bremer County

Duane and Dale Busch own and operate a wean-to-finish swine farm near Tripoli, where they marketed 9000 head in 2004. Duane and Dale are brothers and have been in partnership for 14 years. The also raise 400 acres of corn and 350 acres of soybeans.

Both are Pork Quality Assurance certified and are members of the Bremer County Pork Producers.

Duane and his wife, Tammy have three children, Ryan, Andrew and Brandon. Duane is a deacon at St. John's Church, where Dale is also a member.

Harold Dekkers
Hawarden, Sioux County

Harold is the president and co-owner of a 2600 sow, breed-to-wean operation in Hawarden. In 2004, Harold managed 5800 litters with an average of nine pigs weaned per litter. In addition, he managed the finishing of 11,000 hogs last year.

In addition to the hog operation, he farms 220 acres of row crops, equally split between corn and soybeans.

He is a member of the Sioux County Pork Producers, has served on the Unity Christian School Board and is a volunteer Little League baseball coach. In addition, Harold donates pork to the homeless shelter in Sioux Falls and is involved in numerous mission projects and goodwill activities.

Harold and his wife, Pam, are the parents of grown children, Matthew, James, Jonathon, Steven and Mary.

Kevin and Linda Gent
Wellman, Washington County

Kevin and Linda manage a finishing farm in rural Wellman, where they market approximately 7000 head between two sites. They are also part owners of a 2400 sow, farrow-to-feeder pig operation. Kevin has been a pork producer for 35 years.

Kevin is Pork Quality Assurance certified and both are members of the Washington County Pork Producers, where Kevin has served as a board member. Kevin is an active Knights of Columbus member and has participated in numerous fundraising events for the local school. He has also served as President of Wellman Feeder Pig.

Kevin and Linda have four children, Patrick, 15, Kelsey, 14, Tara, 12 and Jared, 10.

Kevin and Kendra Gilbert
Ionia, Chickasaw County

Kevin and Kendra manage a farrow-to-feeder pig operation in rural Ionia. Last year, the Gilberts farrowed 710 litters, weaning 9.4 pigs per litter. The feeder pigs are sold privately for finishing. The farm is a closed herd, having all the replacements populated from within the herd.

Kevin, Kendra and their son, Troy, supply all the labor and management for the farm. All are Pork Quality Assurance certified and the farm is certified through the National Pork Board's Environmental Assurance Program. Kevin and Kendra have been pork producers for 16 year and their farming operation also consists of 525 acres of corn and 450 acres of soybeans.

Both are active members of the Chickasaw County Pork Producers, with Kevin and Kendra serving in numerous board positions. Kevin is also a member of the IPPA's Public Relations Committee and both are members of the Iowa Farm Bureau Speaker Corp. Kevin and Kendra are active with their church, community and local 4-H club.

Kevin and Kendra have three children, Troy, 23, Tiffany, 21 and Tara, 19.

Mac Luna
Emmetsburg, Palo Alto County

Mac is the general manager for a 1200 sow, breed through nursery farm near Cylinder. Mac began managing the breeding programs in 1996 and under his direction, the farm was awarded "best pigs weaned per sow" within their system in 1997. Mac then moved to farrowing manager where the pigs weaned per litter average jumped to 9.6 pigs and was maintained at this level for three years.

Mac is originally from Honduras, Central America, where he studied agronomy and worked for the Honduran Department of Natural Resources. In 1987, he completed his degree in veterinary medicine and then worked for a veterinary practice in Sioux Center, Iowa.

Mac also assists ISU Extension and the Iowa Lakes Community College by teaching pork production courses in Spanish. In March, Mac will participate in a similar national distance learning effort with the University of Nebraska and the National Pork Board.

Mac and his wife, Pam, also a veterinarian, have two children, Liana, 15 and Wesley, 13. Mac and his family reside in Emmetsburg. The couple met in Honduras while she was volunteering for the Peace Corp.

Eugene Moody
Maxwell, Story County

Eugene manages a finishing farm in rural Maxwell, where he markets nearly 900 pigs per year. In addition, his farming operation includes 155 acres of corn and 135 acres of soybeans.

Eugene has been a pork producer for 44 years, beginning in 1960 when he started raising purebred Chester White breeding stock. In 1990, he ended his breeding herd program and began finishing pigs, which he continues today.

Eugene is Pork Quality Assurance certified and is a member of the Story County Pork Producers. He is also very active in his community, church and school, and has served as a 4-H leader and swine superintendent in Story County for nearly 15 years.

Eugene and his wife, Ruth, have four grown children, David, Diana, Darcy and Dan.

Douglas Reck
Winthrop, Buchanan County

Douglas manages a wean-to-finish farm near Winthrop, where last year he marketed 3111 head. Douglas has been a pork producer for 27 years and has managed all the farming operations, including feed grinding and marketing. His farm also includes 240 acres of corn and 180 acres of soybeans.

Douglas is Pork Quality Assurance certified and is a member of the Buchanan County Pork Producers, where he has served in several leadership capacities. He is an active member of his community, serving as a basketball coach at East Buchanan and is also a member of the school's booster club, as well as the Winthrop Community Club.

Douglas and his wife, Lu Ann, have three children, Benjamin, 27, Randal, 23 and Nathan, 20.

David Rochleau
Whittemore, Kossuth County

David is owner and operator of a wean-to-finish swine farm near rural Whittemore. He marketed 5000 hogs in 2004 and the farm business includes a computerized feed mill, as well as 150 acres of corn and 150 acres of soybeans.

David is Pork Quality Assurance certified. He is a member of the Kossuth County Pork Producers where he has served as a board member. David is also a board member of the local Kiwanis Club and is president of Whittemore Betterment.

David has four children, Tyler, 9, Robin, 8, Megan, 7 and Blake, 6.

Joel and Bryce Van Gilst
Oskaloosa, Mahaska County

Joel and Bryce manage a 1500 sow, farrow-to-finish swine farm in rural Oskaloosa. Last year, the farm farrowed 3223 litters weaning 8.9 pigs per litter and marketed approximately 25,000 pigs. Joel and Bryce have been pork producers for over 20 years and also farm 750 acres of corn and 750 acres of soybeans.

Joel, older brother to Bryce, serves as the business manager of the farm and also manages a couple of the finishers. Bryce fills the role of operations manager and is responsible for the employees and also runs the feed mill.

Both are Pork Quality Assurance certified and members of the Mahaska County Pork Producers. Joel is a past president of the Iowa Pork Producers Association and has served in numerous positions on the county, state and national level. Bryce is a board member of the Mahaska County Pork Producers and is also active in the Mahaska County Farm Bureau. Both brothers are active members of the their church and community.

Joel and his wife, Lisa have four children, Katelyn, 11, Cory, 8, Ryan, 5 and Trent, 4 months. Bryce is single.

Mike and Sarah Ver Steeg
Inwood, Lyon County

Mike and Sarah own and operate a 900 sow farrow-to-wean operation near Inwood. In 2004, the Ver Steegs farrowed 1958 litters with 9.1 pigs weaned per sow. All weaned pigs from the farm are sold to and finished by Gene Ver Steeg, Mike's father.

The Ver Steegs also farm 160 acres of corn and 160 acres of soybeans.

Both are Pork Quality Assurance Certified and are members of the Lyon County Pork Producers. The Ver Steegs have held numerous positions within their church, including treasurer, board member, Sunday school superintendent and youth sponsor.

Mike is a member of the Inwood Kiwanis Club and is the president of the Lyon County Farm Bureau.

Mike and Sarah have three children, Cody, 8, Evan, 5 and Ella, 1.