In agriculture, strong partnerships are built for the long term. They are rooted in trust, shared values and a commitment to helping rural communities and the producers who live there thrive.
For Compeer Financial, supporting agriculture means more than providing financing. It means understanding the people and businesses behind the operation and helping them pursue opportunities for growth and sustainability. With the cooperative model, when our member-owners succeed, Compeer as a whole succeeds as well.
That commitment is reflected in Compeer Financial’s partnerships with Von Holten Farms, Paragon Pork, Professional Swine Management, and Calihan Processing Cooperative.
Each operation plays a different role in the pork industry. Together, they demonstrate the strength of a connected supply chain and the importance of investing in the people and businesses that keep it moving forward.
Supporting Generations on the Farm
For Mark and Sheryl Von Holten of VonHolten Farms in Lyndon, Illinois, pork production is a way of life.
Mark grew up on the farm where he and Sheryl continue to operate today and have been raising hogs for several decades. Throughout their careers, the Von Holtens have witnessed significant changes in the swine industry. They’ve continually adapted their operation as the industry has evolved.
The Von Holtens currently have ownership in Paragon Pork Sow Unit and also finish out market hogs.
Their commitment extends beyond their own farm. Mark and Sheryl have served on both local and state pork producer boards, helping promote the industry and educate consumers about the healthy, great-tasting pork produced by America’s farmers.
Mark and Sheryl, along with their children Blake and Staci, have built a multigenerational family operation dedicated to agriculture and pork production.
Their story reflects the resilience and dedication of family farmers. It also shows the importance of having financial partners who understand that agriculture is both a business and a way of life.
Investing in Growth at Paragon Pork
The future of swine production also depends on investments that help farms become more efficient, productive and sustainable.
Paragon Pork’s sow farm in Chana, Illinois, is undergoing a facility expansion financed by Compeer Financial., Professional Swine Management is providing consulting and management services for the project.
The project brings together financial resources and production expertise to support continued growth. It represents an investment in the farm’s future and its ability to meet the demands of a changing swine industry.
For Compeer Financial, financing projects like this is about more than funding a facility. It is about helping producers make strategic investments that strengthen their operations and contribute to the long-term vitality of the rural communities they call home.
Helping Family Farms Remain Part of the Food Supply Chain
Professional Swine Management, LLC (PSM) provides management services to family-owned swine production facilities within the Carthage System. These include breed-to-wean and wean-to-finish operations.
Its focus encompasses every phase of swine production, including breeding, gestation, farrowing, nursery and finishing.
At the heart of PSM’s work is a commitment to helping family farmers remain an important part of the nation’s food supply chain.
By providing resources, expertise and management services, PSM helps farm families improve production, improve productivity and pursue profitability. The company’s work is built around three key pillars: health, science and production.
That approach supports healthy pigs, efficient operations and environmentally sound production practices while helping producers remain sustainable for future generations.
PSM’s team brings together people from a variety of backgrounds and disciplines.
They’re united by a family-oriented culture and a commitment to helping producers compete in an increasingly complex global marketplace.
Their work demonstrates how expertise and collaboration can help family farms continue to play a vital role in producing high-quality, affordable protein.
Compeer Financial’s partnership with PSM supports that mission and helps strengthen the network of farms and businesses connected through the Carthage System.
Producers Taking the Lead at Calihan Processing Cooperative
The importance of a strong pork supply chain extends beyond the farm. Processing infrastructure is equally critical, and Calihan Processing Cooperative represents an innovative producer-led approach to strengthening that part of the industry.
Calihan Processing Cooperative successfully acquired Calihan Pork Processors, a division of American Foods Group. The acquisition established a foundation for a cooperative owned and governed by swine producers.
Professional Swine Management helped bring the cooperative together and now manages its operations. This positions Calihan to pursue further integration and long-term success while keeping producers at the center of its mission.
“This acquisition is a milestone not only for Calihan Processing Cooperative, but for the entire producer community,” said Ted Ufkes, CEO of Professional Swine Management. “We are proud to support a model that puts producers in the driver’s seat, ensuring that operational excellence and long-term sustainability are at the forefront of cull sow processing.”
The cooperative is governed by a board of directors made up of swine producers, many of whom are Compeer clients. They are committed to creating a more resilient and transparent supply chain. More than 30 producers came together to make the acquisition possible.
Today, Calihan has the capacity to process about 700 sows per day and supplies some of the leading fresh sausage makers in the United States.
Continued investments in its plant and people have dramatically increased efficiency and will continue to support improvements moving forward.
Partnerships That Strengthens the Entire Industry
These businesses demonstrate the many connections that make the pork industry strong. From a multigenerational family farm to an expanding sow operation, each plays an important role. So do the swine management organization and producer-led processing cooperative that support the broader industry.
Compeer Financial is proud to support these operations and partner with producers who share a commitment to the industry’s future.
That interconnected approach reflects what partnership in agriculture is all about.
Farmers need reliable markets and production expertise. Management organizations need resources to support producers. Processing facilities need investment and a strong producer base. And rural communities depend on these businesses to create economic opportunity and remain vibrant.
By working alongside clients like the Von Holtens, Paragon Pork, PSM and Calihan Processing Cooperative, Compeer Financial is helping turn opportunities into investments and investments into a stronger agricultural future.
The pork industry will continue to evolve. Producers and businesses will face new challenges, technologies and market demands. But with strong partnerships, a shared commitment to innovation and a focus on long-term sustainability, the people who make up the industry can continue moving forward together.
For Compeer Financial, that is the value of partnership: supporting the people behind agriculture today while helping build a stronger food system and rural communities for generations to come.
Looking for a Financial Partner Who Understand the Swine Industry? Explore Compeer Financial’s swine industry resources or connect with a swine lending specialist to discuss your goals.
