Pork producers enjoy banquet

By Linda Wenger

02/23/2009

	Iowa Pork Princess Jessie Droppert of Hudson (left) and Washington County Pork Queen Natalie Friese (right), also Iowa Pork Queen, enjoy a turn at the wheel of a 2009 Pork Racing simulator that was displayed at the Washington County Pork Producers 2009 M Members of the No. 1 county in the nation for Pork Producer membership enjoyed their 2009 Membership Banquet, Saturday night, at the Riverside Casino. More than 140 people attended the Washington County Pork Producers event, which included a cocktail hour and a buffet dinner featuring pork loin, twice baked potatoes, pasta primavera, salad and a choice of desserts.       Two members spoke briefly about the challenges pork producers will face in the future - retired Iowa Representative Sandra Greiner and her son, Iowa Pork Producer District Director Shaun Greiner.       Mike Berdo, the 2008-09 president, introduced Sandra Greiner. He told the crowd that Greiner is most proud of the bills that never saw the light of day while she was a member of the Iowa Legislature. She served in the House and Senate for a total of 16 years.       "We are in the midst of change and we're going to have to adapt," Sandra Greiner said.        Shaun Greiner told his fellow members, "Things are not going to get easier for us down the road."        Shaun spoke briefly about meat packing plants that are going to require hog producers to become Pork Quality Assurance Plus (PQA) and Transportation Quality Assurance (TQA) certified. He suggested that pork producers complete site inspections soon in order to qualify as PQA and TQA producers before the end of the year.       According to Shaun, Washington County Pork Producers has more than 200 members, making the county No. 1 in Iowa and the nation.        For the full story, see the Feb. 23 edition of The Washington Evening Journal Source