Braving Tuesday afternoon’s rain, motorists lined W. Third Street from Willis Avenue to Harold Bailey Way in order to receive free frozen pork loins in a gesture of gratitude from the Iowa Pork Producers Association and Tyson Foods Inc.
The pork loin giveaway was “our way of saying ‘Thank you’ for supporting Iowa pig farmers and employees at pork processing facilities the past two years, as they’ve worked through several adjustments caused by COVID-19 on pork supply chains,” said a Pork Producers spokesperson.
Preceding the pork handout was a ceremony in the Spring Valley Ballroom of the Hotel Pattee, where a donation of more than 2,000 pork meals was made to the Perry Food Pantry. Pork thank-you baskets were also given to the Perry Police Department and Perry Volunteer Fire Department, and pork coupons and recipes were distributed to Perry-area grocers to share with customers.
Swine veterinarian Dr. Tom Burkgren of Perry was master of ceremonies, and remarks were delivered by Perry Mayor John Andorf, Churdan pig farmer Connor Juergensen, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig, Perry Economic Development Inc. President Matt McDevitt, Tyson Fresh Meats Perry Plant Manager Dan Richardson, Tyson Foods Inc. Senior Manager for Procurement Seth Fevold and Perry Emergency Food Pantry Site Manager Lou Hoger.
Other pork dignitaries attending the event included Iowa Pork Producers CEO Pat McGonegel, 2022 Iowa Pork Queen Kiley Allan, 2022 Iowa Pork Ambassador Maggie Staudacher and 2022 Iowa Pork Youth Team member Kirby Cook.
Similar “Thank you” celebrations are planned for other Iowa pork-processing centers, including Eagle Grove, Denison, Marshalltown, Ottumwa, Sioux City, Storm Lake and Waterloo.
