IL Corn extends our congratulations to Jason Propst, the newly elected president of the Illinois Pork Producers Association. We value our relationship with swine farmers in Illinois, as they are our top livestock customer of corn in-state. Jason was elected by IPPA at their annual meeting on January 31 during the 2017 Illinois Pork Expo. It was then that Jason Propst took over the role as the new President of the IPPA. Other officers elected at the meeting include Mike Haag for President-Elect, Pam Janssen for Vice President/Treasurer, and Dale Weitekamp as Secretary.

“Being president of IPPA provides me the opportunity to give back to the industry that has provided me with a career and opportunities for me to grow as a person.” says Propst.

Rural Cumberland County, near Neoga, is where Jason and his wife Jen reside. Jen is an Adapted PE teacher for the Eastern Illinois Area Special Education cooperative and they have two children, Matt (9) and Hannah (7).

Jason attended the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and earned a degree in animal science with a management emphasis. He is still putting that degree to use today as a production manager for TLS Farmer Network, LLC where he manages their wean-to-finish pig flow and as a swine enterprise specialist for FS Total Livestock Services.

Jason is beginning his seventh year on the IPPA board of directors. During that time, he has worked his way through the executive officer ranks to become president and has served on various committees including expo, production tech/research, education and youth, and state fair. Not only is Jason involved at the state level, but he has put a lot of time in at the local and national levels. Nationally he is an Operation Main Street speaker, LEADR participant, SIP member, Pork Leadership Institute participant, gone on Legislative Action Conference trips to Washington D.C., and served as a Pork Forum Delegate.

Locally, Jason has devoted time to the Cumberland County Pork Producers, Pork & Pigskins program, Pork Power, and FS Elevator Harvest cookouts. He also is a member of the Cumberland County Farm Bureau and the First Baptist Church in Effingham.

“During my year as president I would like to reenergize our current members after the downturn in markets and increase membership by showing producers how IPPA can benefit them,” says Propst. “Also, we need to continue to educate pork producers on market opportunities and work with our processing and retail partners to get product moving.”