The honor was made on behalf of Iowa’s rural electric cooperatives, municipal utilities and independent telecommunication companies.

Prestage Foods of Iowa is the recipient of the “Outstanding Business of the Year” Iowa Venture Award.

Prestage is nearing completion of its $325 million state-of-the-art pork plant near Eagle Grove.

The 725,000 square-foot facility has been called the most advanced processing facility in the world.

It incorporates design features to limit its environmental footprint and enhance workplace safety and efficiency.

The plant will employ nearly 1,000 workers. Of the estimated 600 million pounds of pork processed per year, 45 percent will go to other facilities for further processing; 25 to 30 percent will be sold in the international marketplace; grocery chains, stores, and meat retailers will sell the remainder.

Prestage was nominated by Prairie Energy Cooperative.

“The Iowa Venture Awards Luncheon provides a forum to celebrate the courage, contribution, innovation, responsibility, and vision of Iowa entrepreneurs,” said IADG President Rand Fisher. “The opportunities provided by Prestage Foods of Iowa goes far beyond the construction and operation of the facility. The impact will extend to farms, other factories and stores, in communities and throughout our state, nation and world.”

Iowa Venture Award recipients include:

• Eagle’s Catch

Ellsworth

• Martin Marietta

Gilmore City

• Nutriom

Panora

• Perry Creek Dairy

Merrill

• Sullivan Supply, Inc.

Dunlap

• Trinity Fabricators, Inc.

New Albin

• Waspy’s Truck Stop

Templeton