A Clive woman will be buying pork throughout 2018 after winning the Iowa Pork Producers Association’s Great Pork Giveaway contest. A central Iowa food pantry will benefit as well.

Jan Thorsen was randomly selected to win $250 in “Pork Cash” from IPPA that she’ll be able to use at most any supermarket to purchase ham, chops, roasts and other pork products.

“I am a farm girl and appreciate all the good farm products, and pork is definitely one of them,” Thorsen said. “We enjoy lots of good meals with pork. We love barbecue. Pulled pork in the crock pot is fantastic, bacon and ham too.”

The contest allowed the winner to donate another $250 in pork coupons to a food bank or shelter of their choice and in their name. Thorsen selected the Good Samaritan Food Pantry in Adel and the “Pork Cash” was presented to Thorsen and pantry Manager Celia McCollum today.

Getting the “Pork Cash” comes at a good time for the pantry with the holidays approaching, McCollum said.

“We always buy hams at Christmas, so it’ll work well with needing to buy all of that and then we can just choose to save it for next year at the same time or use it throughout the year, whichever seems best,” she said. “Protein is just part of what you need in a balanced diet and pork is No. 1. People take it when we’ve had it to offer. I think they also appreciate the leanness of pork and the taste.”

Thorsen and her husband, Bruce, both serve as volunteers at the Good Samaritan pantry. When she saw that the winner also could donate “Pork Cash” to an organization that serves food-insecure Iowans, she jumped at the chance.

“We thought of the food pantry immediately and know the great need here,” said Thorsen. “We knew the people would appreciate getting all of this pork that can make so many good meals for them.”

Nearly 375 people responded to an IPPA ad placed in the Local Lineup during National Pork Month in October. Participants were required to visit the Iowa Pork website and correctly answer three questions about pork and the industry from information on the site. Thorsen was one of 209 people who correctly answered each question.

“I’ve been lucky for a while just winning different things here and there,” Thorsen said. “It’s always fun to just put your name in and this one especially meant more.”

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