Determan Inducted Into NPPC Hall of Fame

ATLANTA, March 2, 2017 – Barb Determan, a pork producer from Early, Iowa, today was inducted into the Hall of Fame of the National Pork Producers Council for her perseverance and leadership of and dedication to the U.S. pork industry at NPPC’s annual business meeting – the National Pork Industry Forum – held here.

Determan, who grew up on a diversified farm in west central Illinois, is president, owner and strategist of Heartland Marketing Group. She and husband Steve also raise hogs.

Serving as NPPC president from March 2001 to March 2002, Determan oversaw the court-ordered split of the Pork Checkoff Program from NPPC that paved the way for the council to reestablish itself to provide the legislative, regulatory and trade advocacy necessary for the industry to achieve success.

In addition to leading the board of directors, she served as the de facto CEO of the reconstituted NPPC – most of the organization’s staff were running the checkoff, which then fell to the newly established National Pork Board. Three months after being elevated to president, Determan had to weather the cancellation of NPPC’s World Pork Expo because of the worldwide scare of Foot-and-Mouth Disease, then she guided the organization through the dark days after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on America.

Since those tumultuous times, Determan has dedicated much of her time and effort to promoting and serving American agriculture generally and the U.S. pork industry specifically. She served on the Iowa 4-H Foundation board of directors, including as chairwoman in 2012, and recently was nominated by Iowa Governor Terry Branstad to serve on the Iowa Great Places Advisory Board. She also was elected to the U.S. Animal Health Association board. She has been a volunteer committee member for NPPC for the past 20 years and for the National Pork Board for nearly 15 years.

“As president of NPPC, Barb guided the organization through a period of great turmoil, and since that time, she’s dedicated herself to promoting and helping our industry,” said newly-elected NPPC President Ken Maschhoff, a pork producer from Carlyle, Ill. “For her can-do spirit and innumerable contributions to the U.S. pork industry, we are extremely pleased to induct Barb Determan into the NPPC Hall of Fame.”

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NPPC is the global voice for the U.S. pork industry, protecting the livelihoods of America’s 60,000 pork producers, who abide by ethical principles in caring for their animals, in protecting the environment and public health and in providing safe, wholesome, nutritious pork products to consumers worldwide.