Pork Congress 2012 - Iowa Pork Producers Association
Pork Congress 2012 - Iowa Pork Producers Association
Pork Congress 2012 - Iowa Pork Producers Association
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<strong>2012</strong> <strong>Iowa</strong> <strong>Pork</strong> <strong>Congress</strong> Re-Cap<br />
<strong>Iowa</strong> Purebred Swine Council selects its top<br />
seedstock producer for 2011<br />
The <strong>Iowa</strong> Purebred Swine Council has named its Master Seedstock Award winner for 2011.<br />
Robert Behnkendorf of Algona was presented with the award at the 40th annual <strong>Iowa</strong> <strong>Pork</strong> <strong>Congress</strong> Banquet in Des<br />
Moines Jan. 25.<br />
The <strong>Iowa</strong> Purebred Swine Council has sponsored the Master Seedstock Award since 1958. Its purpose is to recognize significant<br />
contributions to the <strong>Iowa</strong> and national purebred industries and for evidence of genetic improvements within their selected breeds<br />
for the benefit of <strong>Iowa</strong>, the nation and, in many cases, internationally.<br />
Behnkendorf has raised purebred swine for 35 years<br />
under a variety of arrangements. He and his brother,<br />
Dennis, operated the original Behnkendorf Brothers herd<br />
from 1962 until 1967. Dispersal was required due to<br />
completion of college and pending military obligations.<br />
In 1982, Bob guided his sons into production of the Spots<br />
breed. They expanded to include Hampshire and Chester<br />
White breeds and operated until 1997. In the interim, they<br />
graduated from <strong>Iowa</strong> State University and moved onto<br />
other careers. In 1997, Bob took over and maintained<br />
the Spots and Black Poland China breeds with a few<br />
Hampshires.<br />
Throughout the 1980s and ‘90s, Bob was a Hormel hog<br />
buyer and later became the Kossuth County Extension<br />
education director.<br />
Behnkendorf rents several production facilities outside<br />
Algona. He sells purebred breeding stock and crossbreds<br />
for show pigs. He markets custom butchering through a<br />
local locker plant. His true loves are the purebred pigs and<br />
teaching those around him about his breeds.<br />
Bob and wife, Pat, are PQA Plus-certified. They have no<br />
crop production or other livestock. Bob is current president<br />
of the <strong>Iowa</strong> Purebred Swine Council and has taken an<br />
active role in enhancing that organization.<br />
Behnkendorf has been an <strong>Iowa</strong> State Fair exhibitor since 1982 and has won numerous Premier Exhibitor Awards. He had a reserve<br />
champion Spot in the 2011 <strong>Iowa</strong> State Fair. He also is a member of the <strong>Iowa</strong> 4-H Hall of Fame.<br />
March <strong>2012</strong><br />
31