How Jaelyn Hesseltine became a pork board leader, in just three years

WASHINGTON - Jaelyn Hesseltine was more than a little surprised by one email ahead of the 2024 Iowa Pork Congress in January. The massive trade show in Des Moines includes a luncheon that recognizes producers from across the state.

She had submitted an application for the Belle Ringer Award, at the insistence of fellow members of the Washington County Pork Producers. Hesseltine only did so begrudgingly, not expecting anything to come of it.

The email, to her shock, said she’d won.

“To be honest, I asked one of the other board members (if) a member from every county wins,” Hesseltine said. “I was not expecting it. At first I was like, ‘Are they sure?’ But I was very happy, and proud to be selected, I was thankful to be accepted by Iowa Pork for that award.”

The Belle Ringer Award honors women in the hog industry who play a “key role” in their respective pork producer organizations, according to the Iowa Pork Producers Association.

Hesseltine more than qualifies for the honor. With three years under her belt as a Washington County Pork Board member, she’s already served as its vice president, then president, and now the treasurer.

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In that time, she’s also planned the county group’s annual banquet and presentation, organized volunteers for the Iowa Pork Tent at the 2023 state fair, taken huge strides to digitize the board’s meeting notes, and modernized much of its social media presence.

“I like to see people satisfied and loving what we’re doing in our industry,” Hesseltine said. “It’s a lot, but it keeps me on my toes, for sure.”

Perhaps especially impressive is that Hesseltine won the award without being a “pork producer,” at least not in the traditional sense. While her husband works with hogs, she has an office job, working in accounting at Eichelberger Farms. Add that to the fact that, at 29, she’s younger than most ag industry.

When the going gets rough and the meetings, events and occasional travel across the state get overwhelming, Hesseltine said she was in it for the people she worked with. She describes the Washington County Pork Producers as less of an organization, and more of a family.

“I think anybody would do anything for anybody,” she said. “We all work together.”

Despite the challenging workload, Hesseltine said supporting the pork producers was worth the effort. Between her work ethic and her dedication to the county group, she was a natural fit for its leadership roles.

“I think that it’s important in any industry to be on top of things, I’ve always been somebody that’s organized, I’ve always been somebody that’s tried to be a leader,” she said. “A lot of people don’t know ins and outs of pork, or pig farmers in general. So it’s nice to share things and promote things … I find joy in doing things like that.”

Comments: Kalen.McCain@southeastiowaunion.com