When the University of Iowa and Illinois Fighting Illini men’s basketball teams meet in Champaign-Urbana on Thursday, there will be a lot more riding on the outcome than the first Big Ten Conference victory for one of the teams. It also will help the food insecure in one of the two states.

The Iowa Pork Producers Association and the Illinois Pork Producers Association have engaged in a friendly Pork Power Challenge for the matchup of winless teams in another effort on the part of the two state’s pig farmers to support their communities.

Should Illinois capture its first conference victory, Iowa Pork will donate $1,000 to the Eastern Illinois Foodbank. If Iowa wins its first Big Ten game, Illinois Pork will donate $1,000 to the HACAP Food Reservoir (Hawkeye Area Community Action Program) that serves east central Iowa.

The Illinois Pork Producers also will be sponsoring activities during the game.

-30-