WASHINGTON – Don Paulson, a pork producer from Bloomington, Minn., was posthumously inducted into the Hall of Fame of the National Pork Producers Council for his contributions to the US pork industry. The induction was held during NPPC’s National Pork Industry Forum in Orlando, Fla.

“Don was a man of great humility, an energetic and enthusiastic motivator of people and a true champion for the US pork industry,” said Randy Spronk, NPPC president and pork producer from Edgerton, Minn. “His leadership and mentoring of people for an improved pork industry in Minnesota and around the country was invaluable. NPPC is pleased to induct him into its Hall of Fame.”

Paulson was a pioneer of the industry's grassroots organizing, according to NPPC. He developed a vibrant and successful state organization for pork producers in Minnesota, and he devoted his time to uniting producers and the pork industry to increase demand for US pork.

Paulson was raised on a diversified farm in south central Minnesota. He was a vocational agriculture teacher and a Future Farmers of America adviser. He helped establish the Minnesota Pork Producers Association, was its first executive director and helped other states establish pork producer organizations.

As head of the Minnesota association, Paulson oversaw the founding of county pork producer groups and spearheaded steady growth in membership in local and state organizations. During the Voluntary Pork Checkoff program, Paulson’s leadership guided Minnesota to the ranks of top states in producer participation in the program.