Kiley Allan, Le Mars; Kirby Cook, Winthrop; and Maggie Staudacher, Indianola, are members of the 2022 Iowa Pork Youth Leadership Team. They were selected from the nine young Iowans who competed for the honor the last week of January.
The Iowa Pork Producers Association (IPPA) sponsors the contest, which includes interviews, speech presentations, and knowledge of pork and pig production. Their previous community involvement and experience are also considered. The top female contestant is crowned pork queen, and the top remaining contestants, male or female, are named youth ambassadors.
Allan, a freshman at Iowa State University, will reign as the 2022 Iowa Pork Queen. Cook and Staudacher are Pork Ambassadors. Each receives a $4,000 scholarship and plaque noting their award. According to their predecessors, the most valuable things they will gain are the many growth and leadership opportunities provided by these positions. Over the next year, the IPPA Youth Leadership Team will participate in public activities promoting pork and pig production, from county activities around Iowa to the Iowa State Fair and World Pork Expo.
Kiley Allan
Kiley Allan is the daughter of Mark and Alise Allan of Le Mars in Plymouth County. She is a freshman at Iowa State University in Ames, where she is majoring in agricultural communications and animal science. She is seeking a career that involves closing the information gap between the farm and consumers, to prevent misconceptions about the pork industry and agriculture.
Kirby Cook
Kirby Cook is the son of Aaron and Trish Cook of Winthrop in Buchanan County. He is a senior at East Buchanan High School in Winthrop. He plans to pursue a degree in agricultural studies at Iowa State University in Ames, and eventually return to his family’s farm for a career in hog and grain farming.
Maggie Staudacher
Maggie Staudacher is the daughter of Mike and Rene Staudacher of Indianola in Warren County. She is a sophomore studying animal science at Iowa State University in Ames, with plans to go on to veterinary school and become a large-animal veterinarian.