Courtney Knupp wears a small silver pig on a delicate chain around her neck.

Knupp, freshman in agricultural business, joined the long line of Iowa pork royalty when she was crowned 2004 Iowa Pork Queen at the annual Iowa Pork Congress in Des Moines on Jan. 28.

“A lot of people joke about it, but it’s actually a serious job,” she said. “I hope I can do the title justice.”

As Iowa Pork Queen, Knupp is responsible for representing state pork producers and the Iowa Pork Producers Association by giving speeches, attending grill-outs, starring in parades and promoting pork products all over the state.

“It’s nice to have proper representation for the pork producers of Iowa because they work really hard,” she said. “It’s really an important industry to Iowa’s economy.”

Knupp donned her crown and genuine pigskin “Iowa Pork Queen” sash Saturday in her most recent public appearance, handing out pork samples at the Waterloo Home Show. She then drove nearly two hours to her hometown of Washington to speak at the county pork banquet.

“I had a crevice in my head from wearing the crown so long,” she said.

Knupp’s dedication to all things pork can be connected back to the farm she grew up on. For 19 years, she was surrounded by hogs.

She said her family raises 4,000 pigs under contract from feeder to finish. This means they receive the pigs when they are weaned and care for them until they are ready for slaughter.

When she was nine years old, Knupp began showing swine with 4-H and FFA. Her involvement in these organizations and with the Washington County pork producers throughout the years sparked her interest in competing for the title of 2002 Washington County Pork Princess, which she won.

“When I was growing up, I always looked up to the county pork queen and county fair queen. I thought they were so awesome,” she said. “We had a common interest, and they really serve a great purpose.”

The very next year she came back to win the title of 2003 Washington County Pork Queen and the 2003 Washington County Fair Queen title.

She was then eligible, as a county pork queen, to vie for the title of Iowa Pork Queen.

“There were lots of qualified women competing for the title from all over the state,” she said. “It was kind of nerve-wracking; I definitely did not know the answers to all of their questions.”

Knupp prevailed, however, winning the title as well as the $2,000 college scholarship that came with it.

“The Iowa pork queens were always women I looked up to, so to be one it’s really a dream come true,” she said. “I know that sounds corny, but it’s really something I’m proud of.”

Just because Knupp represents the pork industry doesn’t mean she believes pork is superior to beef.

“I’m an equal-opportunity species supporter,” she said. “I love a good prime rib just as much as I love an Iowa chop.”

Her respect extends to vegetarians and others who choose not to eat pork or other meats.

“I just want people to understand and respect the industry even if they don’t eat meat. I really respect everyone’s opinion and everyone’s right to have an opinion,” she said. “It’s not my job to influence or sway people’s opinions, but I just want to educate them.”

Approximately one-third of all Iowa pork queens, 15 total, have attended Iowa State, including 2002 queen Dawn Kruger, junior in family and consumer sciences education, and 2001 queen Laura Dierickx, senior in agricultural education.

Knupp said only 30 counties in Iowa currently have pork queen contests, but not every county pork queen goes to the state contest because being state queen is an intense time commitment.

Ohio is the only other state in the nation that still holds an annual state pork queen competition.

“A lot of people have stereotypes about pork queens,” she said. “I could tell anybody a bunch of facts about what I do, but if I can actually demonstrate to people the importance of the work a queen does, I might be able to change that.”