Urbandale, IA, September 8, 2021— Iowa Poultry Association (IPA) has announced a recipient of their Honorary Member Award, ahead of the annual Fall Festival and Annual Meeting. The Honorary award will be presented to Mike Meissen, of Ankeny, Iowa. Honorees will be recognized at the annual awards banquet of the 51st Annual Fall Festival and Annual Meeting, September 15th, 2021, at the Ron Pearson Center in West Des Moines.

“From my first day with Iowa Poultry Association, Mike was a go-to source for me. Mike knew the industry and many of the key people in it. Mike played an important role in the development of the egg industry in Iowa and has been a friend of Iowa Poultry Association,” said Kevin Stiles, Executive Director of IPA.

An only child on a small farm raising livestock near New Hampton Iowa, Meissen’s childhood dream was to find someone to settle down with and have many kids. He graduated from Allison Bristow High School, in Butler County Iowa, and worked for White Farm Equipment, then spent nine and a half years at John Deere, in Waterloo. In 1985, he joined the staff of the Butler County REC, where his boss tagged him for a project focusing on economic development. In 1986, Jack Bailey called Meissen and taught him the ins-and-outs of economic development and business. Meissen shared sitting next to Neil Boomsma on his way to his first poultry show was one of the best moments of his economic development career, another was being asked to take care of Agribusiness for all of Iowa’s Rural Electric Cooperatives out of Des Moines– and being able to move his family to Ankeny, and of course, a highlight was convincing Iowa Poultry Association to host a clay shoot.

His childhood dream of a large family was fulfilled when he married Beth in 1977, and they had four children, Luke, Zack, Kate and Sam, and have been blessed with 6 grandchildren. They were married for 43 ½ years before Beth passed in December of 2020.

During his career, Meissen enjoyed talking to lenders, supervisors, and insurance companies, explaining the economic impact of eggs on Iowa, as well as sitting around the table with farm neighbors of potential farm sites. “Tell the right story. Tell the accurate story,” he said.

Meissen added, “Being chosen for this award is an honor that I hold in high regard. I’d like to thank the Iowa Poultry Association Board of Directors, members, and staff. Every trade show or meeting to promote Iowa agriculture has been great. It’s been a great life for me. I’ve had so much fun, and had the best job in the world.”

Join us in West Des Moines, Iowa as we honor Mike Meissen. 

About the Iowa Poultry Association. The Iowa Poultry Association’s mission is to actively raise confidence in the poultry community through leadership, support, advocacy, and education.