WSF Hall of Fame Award

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

2024 Hall of Fame AWard

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, 2024.

Sorry. This form is no longer available.

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.