Mark your calendar and bring your clubs to the 2011 Lauren Christian Pork Chop Open July 19 at Veenker Memorial Golf Course in Ames, Iowa. It's a fun time and a great event to raise scholarship money for Iowa State University students interested in swine production and careers in agriculture and the pork industry. 

This annual event benefits the Lauren L. Christian Endowment, which provides financial support for outstanding undergraduate and graduate students and continued swine and pork educational opportunities through Iowa State University. Christian was an internationally recognized expert in swine genetics and the first director of the Iowa Pork Industry Center (IPIC) at ISU. An Iowa State faculty member for 33 years, he also was a consultant for private and corporate firms associated with swine production.

The 18-hole best ball tournament begins with a shotgun start at 10 a.m. and includes lunch at the golf course. Following the tournament, players and others are invited to attend a reception, meal and awards program at Moore Memorial Park just to the northwest of Veenker. Winners of the Lauren Christian undergraduate and graduate scholarships for 2011 also will be honored during the program.

Players should register as soon as possible to reserve a spot

The cost of the tournament and associated activities is $85 per person or $340 per four-person team. Those who want to attend only the reception, dinner and auction may register for $25 per person. The golf registration deadline is July 6 or when the field of 32 teams is reached. Those registering for the entire day are asked to indicate whether they plan to stay for the evening meal.

The registration form is available on the IPIC website www.ipic.iastate.edu/events/LCPCObrochure11.pdf. For more information, contact IPIC by email at [email protected] or by phone at 515-294-4103.

According to John Mabry, IPIC director and former student of Christian, the event is a way to bring together those who knew and admired Christian. "Lauren was a great teacher and mentor, and the Lauren Christian Pork Chop Open provides a social occasion for people to remember him and help increase the Lauren Christian endowment fund at Iowa State," says Mabry.