Barn Heroes
Sponsored by United Animal Health
The Individuals Who Keep U.S. Swine Farms Running
When you think about top swine producers across the U.S., you likely picture faces, names or even farm logos of some of the best in the industry. Barn Heroes goes inside those barns to find the faces we don’t know and to tell the story of how their everyday efforts help make the entire farm successful.
After a devastating windstorm leveled his finishing barns in 2013, Kameron Donaldson leveraged community support and a data-driven partnership with Dykhuis Farms to secure a future for the next generation.
As senior supervisor for Tyson Foods’ genetic nucleus farm, this barn hero proves that showing up and stepping up are the foundation for success as a leader. Here’s how Hannah Bevins retains employees and improves efficiency in the herd.
After multiple doctor visits, tests with no answers and excruciating pain, sow farm manager Jennifer Romero knew something was wrong. A trip to the emergency room followed by hospital admission finally resulted in a diagnosis.
Courtney Case says her first priority is caring for the sows, but building a positive culture for her team is a close second. Here’s how it’s helped change one sow farm.
For Lance Dunbar, there are many similarities between his career as director of production for Professional Swine Management and his role as a firefighter. It all comes down to doing the right thing even when it’s hard.
For Rolling Meadows Farms owner Andy White, the sixth generation to run the family farm, there’s no question Jaime Sanchez is a barn hero in his eyes. Here’s why.
Authority. Respect. Admiration. Street cred. Call it what you want, but when it comes to leadership in the pork industry, there is nothing like having been there and done that. It’s one of the great stories about working in animal agriculture.
Putting sow health and sow happiness above all else is priority one, according to Summer Doty, one of our featured Barn Heroes. She shares more on AgriTalk about her experience as a farrowing barn manager.
The breathtaking views of Guanajuato, Mexico, weren’t easy to leave behind, but she knew her children deserved better than what she could provide them there. So, she took a chance on a new life. This happened next.
We are fighting many battles now in the pork industry. From disease to animal rights extremists to misconceptions of what it’s like to work on a pig farm, I’m reminded of how much the people on the front line matter.
Summer Doty hasn’t saved anyone from a burning building or led an army into battle. She hasn’t jumped into the path of an oncoming train. Still, the work she does at Islercrest Farms is proof not all heroes wear capes.