SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — The South Dakota Pork Producers Council (SDPPC) honored Roberta Rasmussen from Viborg, South Dakota with the Dedicated and Distinguished Service Award at the Master Pork Producers Banquet that was held on Wednesday, January 10, 2018. “The Dedicated and Distinguished Service Award recognizes an individual who provides outstanding and dedicated service to South Dakota’s pork industry; and Roberta certainly has demonstrated this type of service to our industry. We are proud to honor her with this award,” commented SDPPC Executive Board member and association services and membership committee chairman, Mark Fuoss of Armour.
In 1959, she married Curtis O. Rasmussen and her journey began with working on the farm, raising 4 incredible children to become good citizens and great pork producers with a lot of help from friends and family.
She has always been involved in the community and church activities including the Viborg Pork Show in the very beginning. It ran for 28 years and she was the chair for 1 year and treasure for several years. She served as the State Porkette President and went to schools to promote pork and put on pig skin style shows and cooking demonstrations. She served on the State Porcine Burn fund with Art Ramse was the chair of the committee and Doyce Friedow was Executive Secretary. Robertta traveled to Minnesota to talk about the program.
Roberta enjoyed being on the public policy board for many years (12) which in turn put her on the board of the South Dakota Non-paint source task force representing the pork industry in a pro-actine role in environment and water issues. South Dakota was the leading state in receiving 319 funding from EPA.
In 1991, she served in the South Dakota State Senate for 3 terms. She served on the senate Agriculture Committee and Judiciary. She had the opportunity to chair the Ag Committee.
Since her retirement she stays active in running the Viborg Community food pantry, being the Director of the Danish Museum in Viborg and working in the Turner County & SDPPC pork food booths, SDPPC information booth and serving sandwiches at grocery store promotions. You will still find her promoting the BEST meat product in this country! Her passion for the pork industry is strong and she love to tell you about it.
Curtis and Roberta have 3 sons; Chris, Robert and Alan living on the family farms and daughter Julie who owns a furniture store in Sioux Falls. They have 10 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren.
The South Dakota Pork Producers Council (SDPPC) was created in 1954 to responsibly serve, support and enhance the success of the South Dakota pork production industry. Along with managing industry issues and improving the image of the pork industry, the South Dakota Pork Producers Council works to insure a safe, wholesome product for the consumer’s confident consumption.
South Dakota’s pork producers have 170,000 sows and they produce 339,000 farrowings per year. South Dakota is ranked #11 in pork production and ranks #2 in pigs per sow. South Dakota ranks 9th nationally in number of pigs born in the state. South Dakota’s pork industry contributes $2.1 billion overall economic impact of SD’s Swine Industry. Also, South Dakota pork industry contributes $17.4 million in total tax revenue.
— South Dakota Pork Producers Council
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