PORK MONTH: H-M-S alum reflects on time with IPPA

If Paige Dagel could do it again, she probably would.

The rural Sanborn native recently wrapped up a year of service with the Iowa Pork Producers Association (IPPA) Youth Leadership Team. She spent 2021 traveling across Iowa promoting pork to consumers, building relationships with producers and closing the gap between farm and fork for youth.

Though she ceded her seat during the 2022 Iowa Pork Congress, she said she would never forget the memories gained from the experience. Included below, Dagel shares her takeaways from her year of service.

Explain what the role of the leadership team is and what you guys did.

The IPPA Youth Leadership Team is a team of three individuals that are selected to represent Iowa Pork for a one-year term. The contest takes place at the Iowa Pork Congress in Des Moines every year. Contestants participate in interviews and communications exercises and are judged on their skills and overall industry knowledge. The youth team travels to various state promotional and educational activities.

What was your favorite part of being on the leadership team?

My favorite part about serving as Ambassador was being able to build relationships with producers. Many producers welcomed me to their family farms and showed me how they raised pigs. I saw different operations from farrow to wean, hoop buildings and finishing buildings. Although every farm raises pigs differently, all producers have the same goal: to produce health and safety for consumers.

What were your expectations going into your tenure? Did your experience match those expectations, exceed them, or fall short?

As a member of the youth team, I was required to serve 100 hours attending events. Iowa Pork had an outline of events for the youth team to attend things like the Iowa Pork Congress, World Pork Expo, Swine Spectacular and the Iowa State Fair. Throughout the year, I served over 220 hours. I took every opportunity given to me and even created my own.

This is where my experience exceeded my expectations. I visited 14 high school FFA chapters speaking about pig production and pork. I visited local libraries for story time and read books about pig farms. I attended multiple county fairs and local parades. I attended county banquets and built strong relationships with producers in northwest Iowa. These are just a few of the highlights of my year as the Iowa Pork Ambassador.

Did anything during your tenure on the team surprise you?

Growing up on a small wean-to-finish farm in northwest Iowa, I had no clue how large the industry was. From breeding to pig nutrition to meat processing, there is a job for everyone in the pork industry.

How did your time growing up on a farm and being involved in 4-H and FFA impact your role on the leadership team?

Growing up on my family farm north of Sanborn instilled a strong work ethic and a love of pigs in me at a young age. That love for pigs soon turned into a burning passion for the pork industry. In my years in 4-H and FFA, I participated in many leadership and public speaking events that prepared me to be a strong candidate for the youth team.

What takeaways did you have from your tenure and how will you use the experience moving forward?

I learned a lot during my year as ambassador. Networking played a large part in my success and is a skill I use daily. I immersed myself in different parts of pork production, which made me a well-rounded individual. The combination of these two takeaways landed me a communications internship at Seaboard Triumph Foods, a pork processing plant in Sioux City.

Give us an update on your life in general – school, work, personal life, future plans, etc.

I am currently a junior at Briar Cliff University studying Business and Marketing. I still make lots of time in between studying to go home and help my family on the farm with pigs and rabbits. I am going on year three of owning Dagel Rabbitry and selling rabbits across the nation to 4-H and FFA members.