The South Dakota Pork Producers Council honored Jim Anderson of Dell Rapids the Dedicated and Distinguished Service Award at the Council’s Awards Luncheon on Jan. 10.

“The Dedicated and Distinguished Service Award recognizes an individual who provides outstanding and dedicated service to South Dakota’s pork industry; and Jim certainly has demonstrated this type of service. We are proud to honor him with this award,” said Laron Krause of Clear Lake.

Krause is a SDPPC executive board member and association services and membership committee chairman.

Anderson started his career in the pork industry about 34 years ago. Following graduation from college, he spent time serving with the U.S. Air Force in Japan and Crete, two years teaching in St. Ansgar, Iowa, and 15 years with Vigortone Ag Products in Iowa. In 1993, he joined AL Laboratories as an Account Manager, (later becoming Alpharma Animal Health) and moved to South Dakota. After being with Alpharma for 18 years, the company was sold to Pfizer and he is currently a Senior Account Manager on the Pfizer Pork Team.

During his 19 years in South Dakota, Jim has been a member of the S.D. Master Pork Producers and has served on several committees as well as president of the group for two terms. He was actively involved in the Master Pork selection process and the S.D. Pork Chop Open. Anderson has also served two terms on the S.D. Pork Producers Executive Board as the Allied Industry member. Anderson has supported the S.D. Taste of Elegance for the past 19 years, the West River Taste of Elegance, and on three occasions, supported the California Taste of Elegance along with the S.D. Pork Producers. Anderson has also been involved with pork product promotions in South Dakota and Florida in conjunction with the S.D. Pork Producers. Anderson has grilled pork loins as fund raising projects for the Dell Rapids Public High School, and on occasion, helped state and county pork producers at the State Fair, local fairs and Dakota Fest by helping in their food booths.

Anderson and his wife Marcy have three children. Marcy is a teacher at Dell Rapids School District. Their oldest son, Kyle currently lives in Sioux Falls with his wife Jamy and three children Lincoln, Tace and Tenley. Karsten Anderson, the middle child, currently lives in Mankato, Minn. and is in a graduate program at Mankato State University. Anderson’s daughter Kiira is a senior at the University of Iowa.