The Iowa Pork Producers Association (IPPA) announced their 2015 Youth Leadership Team after two days of intense training and competition at the Iowa Pork Congress Banquet.

Christy Calderwood of Traer was named Iowa Pork Queen. She is the daughter of David and Patty Calderwood and is currently a sophomore at Iowa State University in Ames majoring in Agricultural Studies.

Joining Calderwood on the youth leadership team is Princess Emily Cook, a South Hardin senior who is the daughter of Paul and Charlotte Cook from Hubbard. The third member of the team is Premier Pork Youth Ambassador Alex Conover of Holstein who is the son of Burdette Conover. Alex is a sophomore at ISU studying Animal Science. In addition to earning their respective titles, new team members will receive a $4,000 scholarship from IPPA.

A total of 14 young Iowans competed for the respective titles. All contestants were judged on their overall knowledge of the pork industry and Iowa agriculture, interviewing and communications skills, poise and presentation. The new queen, princess, and youth ambassador will represent the Iowa pork industry throughout the year at various IPPA promotional and educational events around the state, as well as at out-of-state events.

In a recent Iowa Farmer Today article by Gene Lucht, Calderwood is quoted as saying, “I’m very passionate about the industry. I know I’ll be talking to people and having my picture taken, because part of the job is being the face of the pork industry, but I want to take it a step further. I want to reach out to people, to ask what they wantI guess I see it as a chance to help educate both consumers and producers.”

Those conversations have already begun for Calderwood. Just one week after being crowned Iowa Pork Queen, Christy joined Landon Calderwood, Tama County Youth Ambassador, and fellow Tama County producers at the Florida State Fair. During their stay they represented Tama County and the pork industry in the Florida Farm Bureau sponsored AGventure Building. The goal of the building is to educate consumers on where their food comes from. Calderwood states, “There are people who really do think their food just comes from the grocery store.” She says it is not unusual for consumers to ask about cuts of pork, especially bacon. Calderwood adds that consumers will also ask about production methods and animal by products.

The other producers from Tama County that joined the Calderwood duo were Patty Calderwood, Linda Lynn, Gene Seda, Phillip McKenna, and Dennis Geinger. Tama County has a long running partnership with the Florida FFA State Association and Officers. These producers spent their time in Florida giving out over 3,200 samples of pork in the first four days of the ten-day fair, while also talking to consumers about cooking techniques. Tama County is well known for its grilling of great pork entrees and that reputation holds true in Florida as well. While there, the producers helped prepare and sell pork entrees to fair goers and served two banquets. Profits from this venture benefit the Florida State Fair, Florida FFA educational programs, and consumer education at the fair.

As stated in The Iowa Farmer Today article, the next year promises to be a busy one for Calderwood, between her work as Pork Queen, her studies at Iowa State and a summer internship with Murphy Brown LLC. She says her long-term goals are to get a degree and work in an ag-related job for a few years, getting real-life experience. Eventually, though, she would like to return to the family farm. “I love the farm,” she says with a quick smile. “It is the biggest highlight ever. I get giggly just thinking about it.” Calderwood says working with the livestock is fun and she has helped in about every aspect of the family’s pork operation. Her favorite job, however, is to climb into a tractor and spend time in the field. “Harvest is one of my favorite things,” she says. “I could stay in the tractor for hours, watching the crops and rocking out with the stereo turned up.”