WPA Farmer Resources

WSF Hall of Fame Award

Photo Courtesy of the National Pork Board, Des Moines, Iowa.

2024 Hall of Fame Recipient: Mickey Gilster

This year’s Hall of Fame inductee was Mike “Mickey” Gilster of Bangor, WI. Mike is a long-time exhibitor and supporter at the Wisconsin State Fair. Mike started his herd with a Duroc sow when he was 9 years old, began showing at the Wisconsin state fair when he was 13, and has now developed a very successful Chester White breeding program that has earned many accolades and recognition across the country. He sells boars, bred gilts, open gilts, and high-quality show pigs to families and kids across the Midwest. Mike’s passion and commitment to helping young people get involved in pork production is evident to all who know him.

Nomination form:

Each year, the Wisconsin Pork Association recognizes an outstanding individual at the Wisconsin State Fair to receive the Hall of Fame award. The recipient of this award has demonstrated a long-time commitment to the open and junior swine shows at the Wisconsin State Fair and has developed and sustained a quality breeding program.

All nominations must be submitted by June 1st, 2025.

Past Hall of Fame Recipients:

1992 – John Wollin, Lake Mills
1993 – James Walsh, Beloit
1994 – Lyle Nelson, Oregon
1995 – Don Lang, Beloit
1996 – Gerald McElroy, Pardeeville
1997 – Earl Skalitzky, Waterloo
1998 – Bob Grenawalt, Beloit
1999 – LaVern & Marilyn Weller, Dwight, Illinois
2000 – Schuster Brothers, Berlin
2001 – Ralph Wilson, Burlington
2002 – James Furlong, Jr., Watertown
2003 – William Schomberg, La Crosse
2004 – Mike & Donna Lindow, Chili
2005 – Wayne Fowler, Cuba City
2006 – George Holst, Trevor
2007 – Francis Fahey, Belleville
2008 – David Gill, Platteville
2009 – Gary Brewer, Albany
2010 – Paul George, Evansville
2011 – Alan Butts, Evansville
2012 – Erv Nuttleman, Bangor
2013 – Roger Guse, Whitehall
2014 – Dennis Jeffers, Poplar Grove, IL
2015 – Bill Clothier, Clinton
2016 – Charles Schmaling Family, Delavan
2017 – Hilman Schroeder, Sauk City
2018 – Thomas Knauer, Avalon
2019 – Gary & Diann Skalitzky, Waterloo
2020 – WSF Cancelled
2021 – Todd Brewer, Albany
2022 – Bob Ellingson, Poplar Grove, IL
2023 – Tom Walsh, Beloit
2024 – Mike “Mickey” Gilster, Bangor

If you have questions or need more information, please contact the Wisconsin Pork Association via email at wppa@wppa.org or call 608-723-7551.