The Iowa Pork Leadership Academy has welcomed 13 members to its 2020 class and one is from Washington County. Matt Romoser of Keota is a member of the 2020 IPLA class. The program develops leadership skills in Iowa’s pork producers and is organized by the Iowa Pork Producers Association. The class has already met with Iowa legislators, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig, and Lt. Governor Adam Gregg. The class’s two upcoming meetings in Washington, D.C., and California will be rescheduled after the COVID-19 pandemic dissipates and travel opportunities return to normal.

Members of the IPLA 2020 class are (listed alphabetically by county): Adams County – Amanda Winslow, Prescott; Allamakee County – Rose Onsgard, Dorchester; Calhoun County – Lance Heuser, Manson; Delaware County – Ben McDonald, Hopkinton; Jackson County – Austin Lane, Prescott; Kossuth County – Cory Thilges, Lone Rock; Linn County – Doug Rice, Mount Vernon; Lyon County – Janae Metzger, Larchwood; Polk County – Garrett Gourley, Des Moines; Story County – Jake Sterle, Ames; Washington County – Matt Romoser, Keota; and Winneshiek County, Jessica Lensing.” Sterle’s spot in the class is made possible by the Al Christian Fellowship for a student attending Iowa State University.