Biography

Esther Ver Meer farmed with her family near Leighton, Iowa during her school years. She graduated from high school and married Owen Ver Meer in 1965. They began raising hogs as soon as they married, Esther Ver Meer doing most of the farrowing (care of newborn hogs). They raised three children on their 475 acre, 100 hog farm. She joined the Farm Bureau, but became more active in the Iowa Porkettes, the women's auxiliary of the Iowa Pork Producers Council. She held several positions as officer in the Mahaska County Porkettes and later served as treasurer of the Iowa Porkettes. She organized political action committees to monitor agricultural bills in the state legislature. In 1991, the Iowa Pork Congress appointed her Iowa Porkette of the Year.

In 1992, the United States Department of Agriculture appointed Ver Meer to a three-year term on the National Pork Board, a group that disbursed advertising funds collected from pork sales. She was one of the first women on the board. She was reappointed in 1995 and become vice president of the board in 1996 and president the following year.

Ver Meer has been active in her church and has played the organ for many years. Recently, she has found great satisfaction in working with the terminally ill.

Found in 1 Collection or Record: