Pork Congress 2012 - Iowa Pork Producers Association

2012 Iowa Pork Congress Re-Cap
Hog Wild, Belle Ringer Awards Presented
The Iowa Pork Producers Association named its 2012
state Hog Wild and Belle Ringer Award winners during the
IPPA Annual Meeting Luncheon in Des Moines Jan. 24.
These awards are presented each year by the IPPA
Promotions Committee to individuals who commit time
and effort to introducing consumers to new pork products,
educating restaurants and retailers about pork, and
assisting with county and state promotions.
Gary Helmrichs received the state Hog Wild Award and
Jean Palmer was presented with the state Belle Ringer
Award. Both are from Manchester in Delaware County.
County Fair Board. Otis also packs and delivers pork
weekly for Delaware County Meats.
Prior to receiving the state award, Helmrichs, David
Sullivan of Cherokee County and Phillip McKenna of Tama
County were named district Hog Wild Award winners.
For someone who has never served on the county Board
or raised hogs, Jean Palmer has certainly outdone
herself in Iowa pork promotion.
Nancy McDonald accepts the award for Jean Palmer from
2011 Iowa Premier Pork Youth Ambassador Derek Brown.
State Hog Wild Award recipient Gary “Otis” Helmrichs
with 2011 Iowa Pork Princess Chelsey Branderhorst.
Helmrichs has been an active member of the Delaware
County Pork Producers for 35 years and promotes pork
wherever he goes. He has served on the county board for
four years. Gary, or “Otis” as he’s known to most, has
worked at several county swine weigh-ins, swine shows
and livestock sales.
For more than 30 years, he has been a member of the
Delaware County Pork Grill Team. He has served on the
Iowa State Fair Pork Tent Committee since 1981. Otis has
grilled and served pork at the Delaware County 4-H
Food Stand and livestock auction for 25 years. He also
supports the annual 4-H pie auction fundraiser, making a
great “Hog Pan Cherry Pie.”
Otis is active in church activities and helps with many 4-H
activities. He has served for 13 years on the Delaware
Jean and her husband, Roger, were asked by her brother
to help grill at a promotional event years ago and she
is still helping today. When people see the Delaware
County Grill Team, Jean is there — whether it’s at the IPPA
4th of July and Labor Day Fareway promotions, the Iowa
Pork Tent, Bumper Brigade in Iowa City or the annual
Coggon Harvest Home.
For the past 20 years, Jean also has helped grill for the
4-H Food Stand at the Delaware County Fair and the 4-H
sale auction. She has volunteered for many years at the
county pork barbecue.
Jean is active with her church and helps with the Knights
of Columbus in her community of Manchester. When not
promoting pork, the Palmers attend activities that involve
her grown adult children and grandchildren.
Palmer and Amy Vossberg of Bremer County received
district Belle Ringer awards.
42 March 2012