Illinois Pork Producers Association Donates Over 100,000 Pounds of Pork in 2024

As part of Pork Power: Partnering to Fight Hunger in Illinois campaign, the Illinois Pork Producers Association (IPPA) has donated over 1 MILLION POUNDS of pork to food banks since 2008.

By donating today to the Midwest Food Bank the IPPA is now closer to its goal of 100,000 pounds available for families throughout Illinois. Farmers and partnering commodity groups have worked together to donate to the program year-round to help feed those in need.

This afternoon, IPPA President, Cheryl Walsh, was joined by commodity partners IL Corn and IL Soybean, Illinois State Football Coach Brock Spack and Linebacker Tye Niekamp, as well as Midwest Illinois Food Bank to donate over 5,000 pounds of pork processed by Steidinger Foods.

This Program Could not be Possible Without our Commodity Partners!

"We value the partnerships that we have with each one of these great associations and we know that this event is largely attainable due to their steadfast support." said Cheryl Walsh IPPA President. "We thank them for their generosity and, for those able to be here today, we thank you for joining us."

"This program holds deep personal significance for me and IL Corn because it highlights the meaningful role we play in providing protein to families in need throughout Illinois," said Cassie Dumoulin, IL Corn Director and hog farmer from Hampshire, Illinois. "As a hog farmer, I know how essential corn is in providing the nutrition our livestock need to thrive, and in turn, how those hogs help feed families in our communities. I'm especially thankful for the partnerships driving this effort because we achieve so much more when we unite behind a shared mission."

Towards the end of each calendar year, IPPA turns the remaining funds into ground pork and divides it among the regional food banks in the state. Steidinger Foods delivered over 5,000 pounds of ground pork to the Midwest Food Bank, and another 420 pounds was added to the donation from the Illinios State University Redbirds "Points for Protein" campaign. Each time the ISU Redbirds scored a home touchdown, 20 pounds of pork was donated to the Midwest Food Bank.

Thank you to our generous sponsors:

Illinois Corn Growers Association
Illinois Soybean Association
The Illinois Meat Processors Association

Food banks that received pork donations in 2024:

Central Illinois Food Bank
St. Louis Area Food Bank
Northern Illinois Food Bank
Midwest Food Bank
Greater Chicago Food Depository
Peoria Area Food Bank
River Bend Food Bank
Tri-State Food Bank
Eastern Illinois Food Bank

IPPA encourages pig farmers to participate in the program by covering processing fees of their donated pigs. Farmers can go to ilpork.com to learn more about the donation process. This program would not be possible without the help of our commodity partners, local packers and processors across the state, and those who purchased a themed t-shirt that profited the program.

< Older Post

Newer Post >

The sun is setting behind the capitol building in washington d.c.

Budget Reconciliation Bill Passes Congress

By Lyndi Allen • July 3, 2025

Illinois corn farmers will be impacted by many provisions in the Budget Reconciliation Bill that passed in both chambers this week.

Importance of Trade Series: Ethanol

By Lyndi Allen • July 3, 2025

Trade plays a critical role in driving demand for U.S. corn—not only as grain or feed, but also as fuel.

Corn: More American Than Apple Pie

By Lindsay Croke • June 30, 2025

When we think of Independence Day traditions, sweet corn on the cob is as iconic as fireworks and often even more central to the celebration. According to Instacart, purchases of sweet corn surge by 380% over the annual average heading into July 4th, outranking other grilling staples like baby back ribs and burgers. But corn's role in your Fourth of July celebration goes far beyond your plate. In Illinois alone, 8,300 acres of sweet corn are harvested annually, averaging 155 cwt per acre. That’s more than 128 million pounds of locally grown sweetness fueling summer cookouts across the state. And while sweet corn makes a big impression on the grill, most of Illinois’ corn crop isn’t sweet corn - it’s field corn. Less than 1% of the state’s crop is sweet corn, while the rest is used in products that are often invisible to consumers but vital to everyday life: fuel, packaging, fireworks, and even spirits.