The past-president of the Iowa Pork Producers Association says the long tradition of the Iowa Pork Queen likely -will- remain in place. Sam Carney, who farms near Adair, says the idea of abolishing the 45-year program was considered by members at the annual convention in Des Moines on Tuesday, and then was shot down. The resolution was on the floor and the delegates ended up not really supporting the idea. Carney says it had been suggested the annual election of a Pork Queen and a Pork Princess who would tour the state to promote pork be replaced by two youth ambassadors, one of each sex.They created a task force to look into the idea then took a straw poll that found a majority of members -do- want to keep the pork queen and pork princess program intact. The queen gets a two-thousand dollar college scholarship for her efforts while the princess gets a one-thousand dollar scholarship. Carney says barring any financial problems due to the legal debate over the pork check-off, it does -not- appear the pork queen program will be dethroned.This year, 17 young women are trying out for the Pork Queen crown. Last year, there were 11 candidates.
Iowa's Radio News Network
