As CEO of NPPC, Neil Dierks guided the
organization’s steady growth, expanding its resources for revenue while
establishing it as a highly effective and influential national advocacy
organization. Rich Degner, IPPA’s former CEO, says: “When the National Pork
Producers Council was reorganizing and the volunteer leaders were giving
consideration to the qualities the new CEO should possess, in my opinion, there
was only one person in the United States who possessed the humility, leadership
qualities, and presence necessary at that time. It was Neil Dierks.”
Dierks continued as that stalwart
advocate for pork producers until his retirement in December 2021.
Sam Carney, a past NPPC president from
Iowa, most admires that Dierks “would sit back and listen to everyone’s
thoughts. When we finished talking, he would speak, and everyone listened. And
when he got done, everyone realized he was right. His advice and counsel were
unbelievable.”
Regardless of
the challenge—potential regulatory restrictions, trade barriers, or producer
profitability—Dierks’ No. 1 concern has always been what’s best for producers.
When describing Dierks, another Iowan who served as an NPPC president, Howard
Hill, used the following words: "integrity, honesty, intelligence,
dedication, and leadership." Hill said, “I believe every NPPC board member and
officer appreciated his ability to deal with and help solve the numerous
challenges confronting our industry.”