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Q. How do you think COVID-19 has and will continue to impact the future of the pork industry?
A.
Q. What do you enjoy most about your job?
A. The best part of my job is building long-term relationships with so many great people in our industry. This includes our great dealer partners, producers and industry members that are talented, hardworking and dedicated people. It’s a privilege to work in an industry where you can truly partner with people in their success. I’ve been doing this for over 32 years now. Many of my customers have been with us from the beginning and it’s been so rewarding to continue to work together all these years. This industry is full of bright, talented and ambitious people. Last year, we were reminded that agriculture is essential. Helping farmers feed the world is very satisfying.
Q. Who inspires you?
A. From a professional standpoint, my role models at AP – Al Deutsch and Tom Stuthman – have provided vision, wisdom and leadership that have driven and built our brand all these years. Al retired from his daily responsibilities in 2017 and Tom at the end of 2020, but both are still actively involved and continue to share their knowledge and support.
Q. What will the business look like 20 years from now?
A. Many things will be different, it’s hard to say what all the changes will be. But I’m sure technology will play a major role and will be a big game changer. We’ve come a long way in the 28 years that I have been with AP. There is so much more we can do as far as monitoring and analyzing everything that happens at the farm to deliver better performance than ever before.
Q. Will farms get bigger in the future?
A. You look at China building those mega sow farms right now, but I don’t think that’s the right solution. We’ve actually seen finishing sites get smaller. We thought bigger was better for a while, but from a finishing perspective, that hasn’t been the case. Ownership structure will most likely continue to grow and be more integrated.
Q. What advice do you have for someone who might like to do what you do someday?
A. Prepare yourself for success and never stop learning. I never imagined as a kid on the farm in northwest Iowa that I’d have the opportunities I’ve had in my career. Dream big and don’t be afraid to fail. You should always strive to have a job you enjoy and are good at – then give it all you’ve got. Always do your best. Finally, be a great problem solver. In the sales and management world, you are constantly dealing with challenges put in front of you.
More from Farm Journal’s PORK:
PORK Perspectives: A Minute with Steve Weiss
PORK Perspectives: A Minute with Kerry Keffaber
PORK Perspectives: A Minute with Dari Brown
PORK Perspectives is a recurring column that provides business and leadership strategy tips from some of the pork industry’s finest. Opinions expressed in this column are the opinions of Mark Hayden and do not represent the opinions of Farm Journal’s PORK. Watch for future columns featuring advice and insights from more of the pork industry’s leaders.
