Illinois Farmers Build Opportunity For Next Generation to Raise Pigs

The Olson family of Elkhart, Ill, can't wait to fill their new finishing barn.

For Blane and Kristi Olson of Elkhart, Ill., the decision to build a 2,400-head finishing barn was not so much about their livelihood but more about ensuring opportunities for their children in the future.

A look at the Olson family's new finishing barn outside of Elkhart, Ill.

“We like to do things as a family, and we've done that for a long time. This barn is an opportunity for us to grow and expand our operation for the next generation, so that these kids have an opportunity to come back and be a part of what we're doing,” Blane said during the ribbon-cutting ceremony hosted by the Illinois Pork Producers Association on Aug. 23.

The Olson family has been raising hogs for more than 50 years. Blane’s parents, John and Ann, and grandparents Dave (deceased) and Lois, have worked hard to build a legacy in agriculture for future generations.

“We wouldn't be here today to be a part of this farming operation without their efforts,” Blane said.

Three generations of the Olson family, from l to r, Luke, John and Blane Olson.

He’s excited to watch things grow and improve around the farm, too.

“I think there are times that my family may walk away from me shaking their head and throwing their hands in the air like, ‘What are we doing next?’ We always have new ideas and things that we want to do. I think that's how it works generationally on a farm,” he added.

A Boost to the Economy
He’s not the only one who’s excited to see the barn completed. Neighbor and friend Michelle Entwistle, a grower accounting liaison with Bayer Crop Science, said it’s a great opportunity for farmers and local businesses, too.

“I think of it as an economic booster. I have younger kids, the same age as the Olson family. I brought my 12-year-old out here so he could see the building and open his eyes to an opportunity for a future career path. In addition, my husband is a grain farmer, so it creates potential for local crops to go back into these buildings,” Entwistle said.

Rep. Tim Butler (R-Ill.) said the building represents so much more than 2,400 pigs.

Rep. Tim Butler (R-Ill.) thanks the Olson family for investing in Illinois agriculture.

“It represents jobs, development (for) everybody that went into building this and everyone that’s going to be part of it going forward,” Butler said.

New buildings provide new opportunities to be a voice for agriculture. Nic Anderson of the Illinois Livestock Development Group said he hopes people can share some key takeaways about the economic importance of new barns like the Olsons’ when they go back into their communities.

“This barn is going to consume about 40,000 bushels of corn every year. Almost 10,000 bushels of soybeans go into production every year that this barn exists,” Anderson said. “As an agriculture guy, we talk about production and how many pigs are going to go through and how they perform. But from the consumer side, when they drive by, they see a white building and all they see is smell. We’ve got to help them understand the story.”

Anderson said the Olsons’ finishing barn will produce over 300,000 pork chops and over 5 million slices of bacon every year. That’s a big impact for one barn.

Nic Anderson of the Illinois Livestock Development Group encourages crowd to go share what a new barn means to a community.

A Path for Future Generations
It will also make a big impact on the future of the pork industry. Dr. Jay Miller, DVM, with the Maschhoffs said, “This is an absolutely awesome story to watch the generations continue to move on in agriculture, which is a passion of not just mine, but the Maschhoffs family, too.”

At the end of the day, it’s about Braden, Kelten, Luke and Coley – the Olsons’ four children.

Braden, 12, said the barn represents work, family and future in his mind.

“It’s going to take a lot of work to raise all of those pigs,” Braden said. “But work is what we do as a family. My parents chose to build this barn to give us a chance to come home and work on the farm.”

“It's a good opportunity for me to be able to farm someday,” agreed Kelten, 10.

Kids
(l to r) Kelten, Coley, Kristi and Luke Olson at the ribbon-cutting ceremony. Older brother Braden is missing from the photo as he was playing baseball.

Luke, 9, can’t wait to come home and be a pig and grain farmer with his dad and brothers, too.

Coley, 4, isn’t totally sure what she wants to do someday. But she likes the color of the new barn and said she can’t wait to help mom and dad with the pigs.

“It means so much to us as Kristi and I now have the opportunity to raise our kids on this farm and continue to try to build a legacy that's been here for generations,” Blane said. “It's very special to us.”

Inside Olson Barn
A look inside Olson's new finishing barn.