Local pork producer will speak to Lions Club

South Dakota pork production takes center stage on Thursday, May 18, during a regularly scheduled meeting of the Vermillion Lions Club. Steve Rommereim of Rommereim Farms near Alcester will address the group at 6 p.m. at the Silver Dollar Restaurant located at 1216 E. Cherry Street in Vermillion.

Ttitled "The Pork Industry: More Than Just the Other White Meat," the speech by Rommereim will showcase the industry's rural economic impact plus on-going programs to enhance the nutritional quality of pork, to protect the environment and to treat livestock humanely. Due to new technologies and management systems, U.S. pork producers have trimmed pork's fat content 31 percent since 1983.

"Like other industries facing strong competitive pressures," Rommereim said, "we're working to constantly improve our ability to provide tasty, affordable and nutritious pork products in a responsible manner. I'd like

to thank the Vermillion Lions Club for giving me an opportunity to discuss how pork producers are providing quality pork products, benefiting the local economy and being responsible neighbors."

Rommereim is one of 68,000 U.S. pork producers. He said the typical size sow

operation can generate $27,000 in property taxes, $65,000 in state taxes, 21 jobs, and support another 19 indirect local jobs.