The smell of hogs wafted through the air on Tuesday morning inside the Crane Pavilion at the Mower County Fairgrounds. In the middle of the arena stood Austin local Stan Rasmussen, an organizer and frequent swine judge for the National Barrow Show. Crowds of people shuffled in to the stands to watch the breeding stock sales, which was set to start at 9 a.m.

Before the sales began, an announcer said special awards would be given out to individuals who had put in service to the National Barrow Show. Rasmussen knew the awards ceremony was taking place, but the last name he expected to hear was his own.

When the recipient of the National Barrow Show Distinguished Service Award was announced, that’s exactly what he heard. A look of
surprise covered his face as he came up to accept the award amid applause.

“This is quite a shock,” he told the audience. “I was not expecting this at all.”

And it indeed was a shock. Everyone had kept the award a secret from Rasmussen, including his wife, Joann.

Originally from Iowa, Rasmussen first got involved with the National Barrow Show as a judge in 1967. He became more active in the National Barrow Show while working in hog procurement, then as a manager at the Austin Plant, for Hormel Foods.

After retiring from Hormel Foods, Rasmussen joined the National Barrow Show Committee and was key in organizing and supervising the event in Austin. He also put in many hours of labor in making sure the barns were set up for the show.

Despite having done this for 50 years, Rasmussen aims to continue working with the National Barrow Show.

“I plan to continue as long as I’m in good health,” he said. “I want to keep going.”

Dr. Tom Baas of Iowa State University was also inducted into the National Barrow Show Hall of Fame during the ceremony.