County organizations across Iowa found fun ways to celebrate National Pork Month, or #Porktober20, by using pork to bring their communities together. Read about a few:
Audubon County
As she does regularly, Alicia Humphrey, public relations coordinator at Audubon-based AMVC, continued educating area students about the pork industry.
She spoke about pork production and swine industry careers with agriculture students at Southwestern Community College in Creston, and at Harlan Community High School, she shared what pig farms do every day to produce a safe and nutritious pork product.
Also, AMVC and The Bakery on Broadway, Audubon, sponsored a coloring contest that generated about 40 entries. Participants received a prize from AMVC.
“We had a whole wall of entries!” The Bakery wrote on its Facebook page. “THANK YOU to all our pork producers!”
Buchanan County
The Buchanan County Pork Producers partnered with the Buchanan County Farm Bureau and Fareway for Windsor Wednesday during October. At the Fareway meat counter in Independence, shoppers could enter to win a six-pack of Windsor pork chops—aka smoked pork chops—and a pound of thick-cut bacon. A new winner was announced each Wednesday.
Grundy County
Grundy County Pork Producers, with support from the Iowa Pork Producers Association (IPPA) and the Pork Checkoff, donated pork certificates and pork snack sticks to local organizations.
Several nursing care facilities in the county received certificates to purchase pork for staff appreciation meals. Others were given pork sticks for staff to enjoy.
“Care center staff have worked under especially challenging circumstances these past few months,” said Laura Hommel, chairwoman of the Grundy County Pork Producers. “We appreciate the staff’s efforts to care for their residents, several of whom were former pork producers.”
The county group also presented 100 coupons, each worth $5 off of fresh pork, to Operation Threshold, which provides education and services to help people meet their basic needs and become self-sufficient.
The pork coupons will be distributed to families in need of food assistance across Grundy County.
Hamilton County
With help from Stratford Food Center in Stratford, the Hamilton County Pork Producers sponsored a weekly pork trivia contest on Facebook. Followers were quizzed on a pig’s life cycle, the industry’s economic contributions, sustainability on farms, pork nutrition, ideal cooking temperature, and more.
Three winners were announced for each of the four weeks. Prizes included IPPA swag, as well as items provided by Cactus Family Farms.
Jones County
Jones County Pork Producers shared an infographic about pork production in Jones County, compiled as part of the 2020 Iowa Pork Economic Contribution Study. Its followers were then asked to tag and recognize any Jones County pig farmer in the comments section.
“Involved in our group or not, they contribute to these numbers,” the organization wrote. “This year has been a doozy for everyone. We are proud to continue to work hard, work together, and get through these trying times.”
As Halloween approached, members delivered more than 750 pork snack sticks to 25 area businesses, nonprofit groups, community members, and farmers. An accompanying note read: “Trick or treat from the Jones County Pork Producers. Thank you for your support!”
Monticello Community School District, among the recipients, responded with a photo and thanks on its Facebook page: “Our staff will enjoy them tonight during parent/teacher conferences!!”
Sioux County
Sioux County posed a 31-day photo challenge to its Facebook followers. Each day had a unique theme, such as “time your alarm goes off,” “favorite pork recipe,” “selfie in the barn,” and “sunset at the farm.”
Participants were awarded a point for each day they posted a photo, which had to tag the Sioux County Pork Producers, as well as include the hashtags #RealPigFarming and #Porktober. Robert and Cheryl Ten Napel of Ireton, in Sioux County, won the top prize of $60 in Iowa Pork Cash.
In addition, Sioux County helped sponsor the second-annual HOGtoberFest—which combines October Pork Month and the German festival Oktoberfest—at Rolling Hills Country Club, near Hull. County pork producers provided five judges for HOGtoberFest’s rib-cooking competition, as well as pork coupons to purchase the meat from a local grocery store. After the judging, the public could purchase a rib meal.