Growing up in a family of 10, Hannah Bevins is no stranger to hard work and collaboration. In fact, it’s what she lives for every day. Whether she’s chasing her kids around or leading her team in the barns, it’s obvious she’s all in.
“I watched my dad work his nine-to-five job and then come home and work on our farm until bedtime,” she says. “As they say: ‘The world is run by people who show up.’ I learned at a very young age that you’re going to show up and do your best. My dad always said when one of us was hired, our employer would always get more than what they paid for.”
As the senior supervisor for Tyson Foods’ genetic nucleus farm in Wetumka, Okla., Bevins leads a team of eight staff and oversees 1,300 sows. From breeding and farrowing to selecting replacement gilts for internal replacements and multiplier farms, she sets out to provide the utmost care for the animals and people under her watch every day.
“Hannah truly cares about what she does,” says Kenny Romero, POD business manager for The Pork Group with Tyson Foods. “She is constantly monitoring the welfare and well-being of the animals on the farm. She also does an excellent job letting her team know she cares for them and wants what is best for them as well.”
In Romero’s mind, that’s one of the many reasons Bevins is worthy of being called a barn hero.
Though she admits she feels undeserving of this title, she’s proud of how far she’s come in the pork industry.
“My team and I work very hard to be successful,” Bevins says. “I could go out into my barns and grab eight more barn heroes right now.”
An Unorthodox Journey
Bevins didn’t grow up around pigs, but she did grow up on a hobby farm where she was homeschooled until high school.
“The land was our classroom,” she says. “I’ve had a love for agriculture and the country way of life from the beginning.”
After attending Northeastern Oklahoma A&M, she transferred to Oklahoma State University to obtain a degree in animal science. She intended to find a career in bovine embryo transfer. However, during the summer between her junior and senior year, she interned with Seaboard Foods and uncovered a passion for the pork industry.
“I honestly took that internship just for the credit and notch in the belt,” she says. “But I ended up falling in love with it. After I graduated, I took a job with Seaboard in western Oklahoma for a few years.”
In 2015, she took a few years off to stay home with her young children before returning to the pork industry in 2018 when she discovered an opportunity to work closer to her home for Tyson as an assistant farm manager.
Working up the ranks has helped Bevins in a few ways. Most importantly, it has allowed her to better understand the roles she is training her team to do.
“I have a good perspective of what every job requires,” Bevins explains. “It’s also helped me understand the people better, too, because I know what I expect out of a leader when I’m in those roles.”
Safety First
Joe Locke, Tyson’s director of operations, says Bevin’s leadership impact is noteworthy. He adds that her farm has gone more than two years without losing an employee and 10 years without an injury. That’s partially due to the emphasis her team places on biosecurity and safety.
“Not only are we trying to keep our pigs safe, we’re trying to keep our people safe,” Bevins says. “Having those conversations with team members and making sure that we’re doing things in the safest way possible is important. If we have a big task to do for the day, we’re talking about it beforehand and identifying potential safety issues. We all want to go home in the same condition we got to work in.”
Her crew has been together for a long time. They often joke that they spend more time with each other than they do with their families. She thinks the strength of their team starts with good communication and making sure they are all on the same page and working toward the same goals.
“One of the best things I can do for my team is to help them see the big picture and their role in it,” Bevins says. “Everybody will show up to work for a paycheck, but people will really get passionate for the job if they understand why they are doing what they are doing.”
In addition to good education and proper training, she says it’s important for team members to understand their role and receive credit when they do a good job.
“Make sure they get the pat on the back when deserved so they understand, ‘Hey, this is because of you. We can do what we do because you do what you do,’” she says. “That’s a great way to get people to give it their best on the job.”
Her approach works, Romero says.
“Hannah’s team always responds very well to her and are extremely loyal,” Romero says. “I believe this is because they know she cares for them as people and not just a team member. She’s a great example for young supervisors in our industry.”
What Leads to Success in the Barn?
Being observant is one of the most valuable traits she looks for in a team member. In her mind, that’s not only being very situationally aware but also being able to notice anything that’s out of place.
“When you’re in these barns, the animals aren’t going to verbally tell you if something is wrong,” Bevins says. “But they will give cues, and you have to be able to pick up on those cues the animals are giving you.”
She says being a mom gives her a little leg up in this area.
“That nurturing and caring side is instinctively part of me when I walk into the barn,” Bevins says. “Whether I’m taking care of kids or pigs, it’s the same. I’m making sure that they’re fed, healthy, comfortable and that all of their needs are being met. It’s understanding what they need and prioritizing it.”
The animals come first. Locke says that is one of Bevins’ superpowers. She makes sure the environment of the farm is the best it can be for the animals and people in all aspects, he adds.
“It doesn’t matter if there’s a foot of snow on the ground or not, we’re coming in and we’re checking on our animals,” Bevins says. “It doesn’t matter if it’s Christmas morning, we’re coming in and checking on our animals. From a production standpoint, you’re not going to be successful if you don’t have a herd that’s taken care of. Animal welfare must be at the top of your list.”
Locke also says her leadership extends far beyond her own team and the nucleus farm.
“Hannah is unique because she’s very process-driven, data- and detail-oriented and very outgoing,” Locke says. “Her farm is always at the top, which pushes the envelope in two ways: They show others what is possible and drive genetic change.”
Do Scary Things
There’s no question that Bevins values a hard day’s work. She thinks raising pigs and guiding her team every day is a rewarding way to live. She’s recently joined the Oklahoma Pork Council as a board member to give back to the industry.
“I consider myself very fortunate to be a part of this industry,” she says. “Every person you meet in the pork industry has an amazing story to tell, and they’re such good people. I’m honored to be a part of it.”
But for those who may need a little more convincing, she offers up this advice: Don’t be scared to do something scary.
“That sounds dumb, but if an opportunity presents itself, put yourself out there and take it,” Bevins says. “You don’t know what you don’t know, but sometimes you stumble across something while you’re just expecting to check a box and put it on the resume. Then, before you know it, it ends up being your path. Be willing to take the jump even when it scares you.”
With fewer people growing up on a farm, let alone a swine farm, the unknown is a definite factor working against young people discovering careers in the pork industry.
“We live in a world where comfort is king. Everybody wants to be comfortable,” Bevins adds. “It may be uncomfortable to try something new, but from my perspective, this industry allows me to put my strengths and passions to work in a way that brings meaning to my life every day.”
