Next-Generation Farmers

From Storm Ruin to 'Barn Hero': How Partnership and Family Fuel This Indiana Pig Farm

Fri, 15 May 2026 13:05:32 GMT

When the barn alarm screeches in the middle of the night, every pig farmer feels an ache deep in his gut. There was no way Kameron Donaldson could have prepared for what he saw back in 2013 when the sheriff deputy drove him up to the site of his new finishing barn.

With power lines snapping like firecrackers on the Fourth of July, he was grateful for the officer who came upon the scene after a devastating windstorm flattened his livelihood. With the patrol car’s lights beaming on the scene, all Donaldson could see were shards of glass, twisted metal and splintered wood.

All he could think was, “This is bad.” His quad buildings were in ruins.

Through the pouring rain and striking lightning, he knew he had to act fast to get the pigs moved to a better location.

“One half of one building was basically gone – no roof or even lumber on one end,” Donaldson recalls. “The other building just collapsed and basically laid down on the gates. The unbelievable part is that, of the 8,000 50-lb. pigs in the buildings, only 20 died during the storm from debris falling on them.”

(Kameron Donaldson)

A Convoy of Support

Overwhelmed doesn’t even begin to describe how Donaldson felt the next morning as the sun rose over the wreckage and revealed the true damage. But he says it wasn’t because of the cleanup and hard decisions ahead. It was because of the convoy of pig farmers, neighbors and friends who showed up with bolt cutters, trailers and food.

As a contract grower for Dykhuis Farms, Donaldson was relieved that his barn supervisor was focused on finding spaces for the pigs so he could concentrate on getting pigs out of the buildings.

“We needed to move approximately 16 semi loads of pigs to new locations until the buildings could be repaired,” he says. “In the building that collapsed, the gates had to be cut because they were pinched by the ceiling that lay on top of them. Men were literally crawling on their hands and knees to move these pigs out of the pens.”

Some people moved debris. Others loaded pigs onto trailers. Some even hooked up the barn watering system to a firetruck so the pigs could drink.

“The support of our community meant so much to our family,” he says. “Everyone understood that this was a serious situation and did anything they could to help.”

The support the Donaldsons received after the storm is unforgettable. He says that is something he appreciates about being a contract grower — knowing you have a support team who is willing to help and solve problems alongside you whatever they may be.

(Kameron Donaldson)

The Power of Partnership

This crisis solidified Donaldson’s trust in Dykhuis Farms and the partnership model he uses today. He knows he is able to do more with the support Dykhuis Farms provides than if he were raising hogs independently.

Growing up on a grain and pig farming operation in Miami County, Ind., Donaldson was no stranger to the challenges of raising livestock. In 1996, his family exited the hog business. A few years later, he married his high school sweetheart, Hayley, who also grew up on a pig farm. It came as no surprise when the young couple decided contract finishing hogs would be a wise way to use some empty barns and bring in a little extra income so they could return to the farm full time.

A friend introduced them to Dykhuis Farms of Holland, Mich., and said they were a great group to work for, Donaldson recalls.

“Once I met the president at the time, Bob Dykhuis, I knew that was the direction I wanted to go,” he says. “They are a faith- and family-based farm operation. They were easy to connect with and that was important to me as I was getting my start. I’ve been with them ever since and never regretted it.”

In addition to great health and technical support, Dykhuis Farms offers an incentive opportunity for growers who maintain a daily log of data and performance records. Examples range from recording barn temperatures to vaccinations to death loss.

“They keep numbers on virtually everything they can keep numbers on,” he says. “When you have a good group, and you’ve done your paperwork, you may receive a certain dollar amount per head bonus.”

One of the advantages of feeding hogs for a company is the number of people you meet along the way, Donaldson says. Whether it’s truck drivers other hog growers, he says it opens up your world to opportunities you never knew were possible.

(Don Green)

That incentive to reach high standards is motivating, he says. It feels good to be affirmed for doing exceptional work in the barn. He focuses attention on indicators of barn performance, including ventilation, feed and water systems, to make sure the pig has the best environment possible.

“I appreciate that they are open about numbers and share those across the company,” Donaldson points out. “It allows you to compare and see where you sit with other growers. That’s important for me to be at the top. If we are a little weak in an area, I focus on that pretty hard.”

The Discipline of Daily Care

Although many things have changed since he started feeding hogs 19 years ago, like technology and finishing weights, the most important things are still the most important things.

“A successful contract grower needs to be observant,” he says. “You need to slow down enough to take a good look at the pigs and observe them. How are they feeling? Good growers can go in a barn and get a sense real quick if something’s off.”

He says it starts with a passion to want the pigs to do well because it’s the right thing to do for the pig. But it also makes his job easier, too.

“Being a contract grower takes a lot of hard work,” Donaldson adds. “Success doesn’t happen overnight. It takes many years of doing the work, day in and day out, before you get your expenses covered. But even when you are starting to make a little money, you must always think about reinvesting because the barn is going to need maintenance.”

The Donaldson farm consists of pigs, corn, soybeans and wheat and is staffed mostly by Donaldson, Hayley and their son, Keagan. They also have two daughters, Kendra and Kayden, who put in hours in the barn when needed. His father, now 68, still works on his own farm every day and helps with the grain side of Donaldson’s farm.

“We load out most of our own pigs ourselves,” Donaldson says. “We have hired help to come in to do the sorting and the washing of the barns, but on the day-to-day chore stuff, it’s myself and family members.”

Working alongside his son, Keegan, on the farm is a privilege, Donaldson says.

(Don Green)

Working with family members means a lot to Donaldson, who views it as a great opportunity to teach his children and pass on values.

“They always say, “A family that prays together stays together.’ But a family that sells pigs together? Now that’s a challenge,” Donaldson laughs. “I’ve learned to be more patient. If our kids see that I can get it done without a forceful nature, and it’s just as effective or even quicker, they may take that approach the next time, too.”

One of his expectations in the barn is observance.

“Use all your senses when you’re in there,” Donaldson says. “Use your eyes to look for potential feeder adjustments, pig problems and things like that. Keep your ears open. Can you hear a pig breathing hard? Use every sense you can to be observant. When you do that, you’ll be able to make sure the pigs are in the best environment for growth possible.”

Securing the Future

Hayley works on the farm with her husband every day. From loading pigs to driving the tractor to handling the farm’s paperwork, Donaldson says she can do it all.

“Working with your spouse can have its challenges, and that’s mostly my fault,” he says. “There’s not much of a buffer zone. If something’s not going well when I come in for lunch, she’s the person who gets an earful.”

(Don Green)

However, their joint desire to see the farm succeed and provide opportunities for future generations to be on the farm aligns their purpose and helps cover the daily stresses of farm life. It’s also why they’ve prioritized succession planning.

“We wanted to have something in place as our operation grew,” he says. “Once we started that process, that encouraged my dad to do the same. My dad thought you had to have every detail worked out. And that’s just not true when it comes to succession planning.”

The first step is starting with something, Donaldson says. He reached out to an attorney who specializes in farm succession plans to help devise a strategy for the future of their farm business.

“Even though we knew our lawyer, she still wanted to spend time talking to us to understand the ‘heartbeat’ of our family,” he says. “She wanted to understand each family member’s role on and off the farm.”

Once his dad realized the process wasn’t that difficult, and he could make changes to the plan along the way, he softened to the idea and went through the process to set up his own trust for his farming operation.

“He has peace now knowing that the land he owns will continue, and whether it’s me or my son, we will rent off of the trust and continue to farm his land,” Donaldson says.

A True Barn Hero

Donaldson’s stewardship of the animals and the environment is noteworthy. His desire to be more efficient and make the pigs’ lives the best possible is one of the reasons why Caton Howard, a fieldman for Dykhuis Farms, calls Donaldson a barn hero.

“Kameron always does things the right way and in a timely manner, which can be a struggle with contract growers,” Howard says. “He cares for the pigs daily like they are his own and keeps his facilities in pristine condition. He also maintains the barns like they are brand new.”

Kameron and Hayley Donaldson wouldn’t be where they are today without the examples their fathers set for them to work hard and prioritize animal care.

(Don Green)

In addition, the family’s decision to do all their own loading is becoming a bit of a rarity, Howard says. He believes this shows their determination to be the best and provide the best care for the pigs.

“I really enjoy working with Kameron and cherish the conversations we have about pigs,” Howard says. “He helps motivate me to always strive to do better every day.”

Jason Klein, manager at Dykhuis Farms, says many obstacles in the pork business can be overcome by simply executing the basics really well day after day. He believes Donaldson represents a guy who does this well.

“Everything on the site works like it’s supposed to, and chores are done every day like they are supposed to be done,” Klein says. “There is never any drama or surprises with Kameron Donaldson. He owns and manages all his responsibilities really well. He takes pride in what he does. It’s obvious every time I talk with him that he’s truly glad to be a farmer.

Donaldson recognizes his success is not his alone, and without his team, including his family and the crew at Dykhuis Farms, he wouldn’t be where he is today. He is proud to be called a barn hero.

“We want to keep doing a good job for Dykhuis Farms and make sure the finished product is in line with what they started,” Donaldson says.

Hayley believes this is possible because of her husband’s superpower – making things happen.

“He’s good at doing a lot of things,” she says. “He pays great attention to detail. If something needs done, we all rally around him and do what he says we need to do.”

This system works well for the Donaldson family.

“It’s a good life,” he says. “Farming is hard to get into, but if you have an opportunity to work with somebody who is already in operation, go for it. There are always farmers looking for people willing to work on a farm, especially on the animal side. I don’t think people realize how many opportunities may be out there with farmers who don’t have a succession plan or children wanting to take over the farming operation. It takes some time to find, but it’s worth it.”

Why Livestock Judging Is the Ultimate Character-Building Sport for Youth

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 20:06:55 GMT

When Grace showed up to livestock judging practice for the first time, I instantly got a good vibe from this freckle-cheeked third grader. She just couldn’t stop smiling.

Later that evening of our first practice of the season, I asked all the juniors (3rd through 8th grade) to write down their goals for the season. The goals ranged from getting a 50 in a contest to a five-point plan for judging success.

But when I got to Grace’s goal, it stopped me in my tracks.

“To be amazing.”

I’ve read through a lot of judging goals over the years, but this was a first. In a world obsessed with winning, Grace reminded me of something even more important.

The Long Game of Livestock Judging

Looking at Grace, I saw the beginning of a journey I am currently watching my own son conclude. As he nears the end of his 4-H judging career, I’ve realized that my husband and I haven’t just been coaching him on how to rank a class of gilts; we’ve been coaching him on how to navigate life.

Maybe I am being overly sentimental as our son nears the end of his 4-H livestock judging experience. As I reflect back, I’m honored by the unique (and sometimes challenging) seat I’ve had to watch his progress. I remind myself that while the wins that can happen in livestock judging sure feel good and keep us going back for more, it’s really about something so much bigger.

Hunter Shike judging at Black Hawk College East Campus Judging Contest

(Faith Lortie)

The Intangible Advantage

It’s easy to pinpoint the skills kids learn from livestock judging such as decision-making, evaluation, attention to detail and critical thinking. But what is even more valuable is how livestock judging helps young people develop a mindset that doesn’t go away when the final card is turned in.

Here are three ways I’ve watched this “sport” build character.

1. Turning Disadvantages into Drive

One of my favorite examples of determination comes from a boy who had no livestock experience before he joined the team. No one could deny he was at a disadvantage because he didn’t have a show pig or a steer in the barn to go look at and study. Everything he was being taught was initially done by watching video classes during practice. I wondered if he would stick with it because he came from a different place than the other judges. I was pleasantly surprised to see how this disadvantage fueled his determination to learn and absorb as much as he could every practice. He’s now in his third year of judging and has been at the top of the pack all season. He reminds me to look at disadvantages as opportunities to grow. Livestock judging is a great equalizer. It doesn’t matter if you have a million-dollar barn or a video screen; it only matters how much you are willing to “see.

2. Balancing Perspective with Belief

I’m a bit of a stickler when it comes to the topic of humility. I find it challenging to build confidence and humility at the same time. But there’s no question that livestock judging teaches it, whether you want to learn it or not. As much as we want kids to walk up to a class or into the reasons room with as much confidence as possible, we also want them to remember judging livestock is subjective. We must be able to consider others’ perspectives and not just center in on our own. I’m grateful for how judging livestock provides a training ground to help students gain open-mindedness and a desire for continual learning. Judging forces a child to stand firm in their conviction while simultaneously acknowledging that an official might see the world differently. When their confidence can lie in their ability to learn versus their ability to always be right, something powerful happens.

3. The Slow Work of Success

The transition between being a junior who places classes and answers questions to being a senior who places classes and talks oral reasons is tough. It’s one thing to answer questions about a class; it’s another to stand in front of an official and present a 1.5-minute case for why you placed the class the way you did. It takes time to hone that skill. I remember how challenging it was for our son to go from winning the state contest as a junior to struggling through his first few contests giving oral reasons. Good placings mattered, but beginning oral reasons scores kept him out of the top group. We had to remind him that becoming skilled in the reasons room simply takes time. Seeing him achieve his goal of winning oral reasons in a contest this past year remind me that good things do come eventually if you allow yourself to be molded and shaped by the less-than-great moments that are sure to happen along the way.

(Faith Lortie)

The livestock industry doesn’t just need more high-point individuals, it needs more people with the mindset that judging builds. To every coach and parent feeling the weight of this task: Keep going. You aren’t just teaching them how to rank livestock. You are building the leaders our industry desperately needs. Focus on the character, and the results will take care of themselves.

I don’t know if “Amazing Grace” will win the state contest this year. But as I watch her smile through every missed placing and every tough set of questions, I realize she’s already achieved her goal. She is amazing—not because of her card, but because of her character. And that is something we need to talk about more often.

From the Front Lines to the Finishing Barn

Fri, 27 Mar 2026 21:15:13 GMT

The world is a small place. For Michael Williford, serving in the U.S. Army taught him that everything is connected in one way or another. He deployed to Iraq three times. He served in Afghanistan, Korea, Belgium, Germany and Kosovo, among others.

While he was serving as a military police officer all over the world, one thing always remained consistent: his wife Andrea was where he called home.

“College wasn’t exactly recruiting me at the time, so joining the Army seemed like a good fit,” says Michael Williford, the son of an Army veteran. “I was one of three in my class who went into the armed forces, but the only one who went into the Army.”

(Provided by Michael Williford)

“While I was in my first Iraq deployment, Andrea bought a house in Texas,” Williford says. “It’s kind of funny. Everybody was teasing me when we were coming home. They were like, ‘Is your wife going to pick you up?’ I said, ‘Well, I hope so, because I don’t know where I live.’”

During these years, Andrea had to make the majority of the decisions for their family. So, when Williford was nearing retirement after 20 years of service, he decided to go wherever she wanted to go.

Answering the Call Home

Andrea’s parents asked the couple to return home to run their family farm in Clinton, Ky. At this point, Williford was far removed from agriculture and admittedly didn’t know anything about farming.

“There was no succession plan in place for the family farm,” Williford says. “They assured me that it was OK that I didn’t know anything about farming and that they would help me learn. And they’d keep the farm growing while I finished up my service.”

To add value and create a “spot” for himself in the operation, he and his wife, Andrea, decided on contract hog production. While he was on a deployment to Afghanistan, Andrea went to the bank, completed archaeological surveys and went to work on how she wanted to create opportunities to grow and diversify their family farm. She called him to tell him the news while he was stationed in South Carolina.

“I told her, ‘You’ve followed me for the last 17 years. I’ll do whatever you want me to do,’” he says. “Andrea said, ‘I’m building the hog barns, and you’re going to take care of them.’”

The bank was also in favor of the contract hog production opportunity.

“In our area, there’s quite a few chicken farms and Tosh Farms was up and coming in Kentucky at the time,” Williford explains. “The contract differences were pretty tremendous. Your paycheck is locked in stone. Your contract terms are a lot better. I had a 10-year contract when we started out, so as long as I did what they told me to do, then we should be in good shape.”

A Soldier’s Eye for Detail

Returning to the family farm required taking some time to stand back and watch, listen and learn, he says.

“I had to figure out where I fit in and what would work best for the farm,” Williford says. “I asked a lot of questions of myself. What can I improve? What can I make better? What do I need to leave alone and not touch on the family farm? There are some things you probably need to let alone for a while.”

(Kentucky Pork Producers Association)

But when it came to the hog operation, he had the opportunity to make it his own and bring some of his military skill set into the mix.

“As a contract grower, the long-term commitment and structure was appealing,” he says. “Tell me what to do, and I’ll make sure it happens. I’ll execute.”

The repetitive nature of the job is perfect for a retired soldier.

“I enjoy walking through the barns, making sure everything is the way it should be,” Williford says. “If something’s out of place, it stands out. That’s where the military training really helped me the most. If one feeder isn’t as full as the one next to it, I notice. Then, I figure out why.”

Managing the Big Picture

Being a contract grower allows him to work with a talented group of experts in swine health, nutrition, production and more. He enjoys being able to focus entirely on animal husbandry and management without the stress of market volatility or feed costs.

His one piece of advice for people considering contract hog production is to be prepared for the management component. From taking care of buildings and equipment to having a plan for the manure, management is a key part of his day.

(Kentucky Pork Producers Association)

“You’ve just got to look at it with eyes wide open to see the big picture of everything going on and have a plan,” Williford says. “You still have to manage it all. When it comes right down to it, every piece of gravel in the parking lot belongs to me. Every two-by-four in the building belongs to me. You have to make it work in order to pay for it.”

The 20-Bushel Benefit

There’s no question the benefits go beyond the paychecks. For the last 40 years, Andrea’s family has always tried to use as much animal manure as possible to fertilize their farm ground. Everyone was happy to get an extra 200 acres of fertilizer every year from our pigs, he points out.

“We can definitely see a huge difference in soil health overall,” Williford says. “I’m not a scientist or anything, but around here, there’s a difference between white dirt and black dirt. We have white dirt here and we have black dirt here. Some of our dirt that was brown is now actually turning black after a few years. We used to forecast that we were going to make 170-bushel corn, and we’ve since upped that to about 190 because of our pig manure.”

At the end of the day, Williford says his passion for farming connects closely to his passion for serving his country.

(Provided by Michael Williford)

“The military is really big on traditions – remembering the past and preserving the heritage and culture of those who came before us in the military,” he says. “Farming is not that much different. People have great pride in being a multigenerational farmer.”

Preserving a farm in the same location for centuries is an incredible feat. It’s important to the Williford family to do the same.

“Long after I’m gone, I hope there’s some descendant of mine who says this is a 300-year farm,” he says.

Discover more about Williford’s experience in the military, his passion for agricultural advocacy, his thoughts on being a dad and his insights on the pork business by watching “The PORK Podcast” on YouTube or by listening to it anywhere podcasts are found.

The Miracle Behind “Eddie”: Pig Breaks World Record Sale Price at $505,000

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 22:09:36 GMT

The barn was quiet at 4:30 a.m. when Brad Mabry walked in to give “Eddie” one last chance. It was the morning of the crossbred barrow show at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo (HLSR). For his 15-year-old son Landry Mabry, a lot of hard work and heart was sitting on the edge of a scale.

The family had tried everything to help their constipated barrow who was eating and drinking, but not giving any weight back. They had walked him for miles and cycled him through the wash rack a dozen times for cool rinses. Desperate, Brad did the only thing he hadn’t tried: he took off his hat, placed a trembling hand on the barrow’s back, and prayed.

“I didn’t pray for a win,” Brad recalls. “I prayed that Landry would get to finish this experience on good terms—not losing him on the scales for being overweight. I just wanted to see Landry and his brother Kenton’s hard work out on the green shavings.”

When he opened his eyes, the “miracle” happened. The barrow finally relieved itself.

“I cried like a baby,” Brad says. “All that worry and anxiousness was immediately gone.”

Hours later, when the judge’s hand slapped Eddie’s back, the roar of the crowd was a blur. For the Mabry family, the grand champion title wasn’t just a win; it was the fulfillment of a prayer. One day later, that moment turned into history when Eddie sold for a world-record price of $505,000.

An Unconventional Champion

Every family who enters a major show in Texas dreams of a moment like that, says his mother, Chyla.

“It’s not something you actually think can happen because it’s so hard,” she adds. “At Houston, 2,200 pigs showed up, and about 40,000 other entries were tagged that didn’t make it there.”

Eddie’s path to the champion drive was anything but traditional. Born July 12, Brad says Eddie “swam upstream” on everything.

“He was too young, too white, and too cheap to ever win a show like Houston, according to the world,” Brad says.

But when Eddie walked into the ring, Judge Andy Rash didn’t hide his emotions well.

“This one gives me goosebumps,” Rash told the crowd. “When he came through the sift pen and I saw his head and his chest and his forearm, I said, ‘Please God, let him have some center body and let his hind leg work – and work in a good way.’ And he just kept getting better.”

Rash went on to say Eddie was a special animal for a lot of reasons.

“If you like skeleton and if you like structure, and you don’t like this one, I’d find something else to do,” he said. “If you like them stout and bold coming and going, here’s one you can sit and talk about. If you want them to look good up front and still have a stout skull, still be fresh in their back and have range of motion, use all the -ests you want, that’s one you can talk about.”

The Scent of Victory

When the grand champion drive rolled around three days later, Landry remembers everything getting strangely quiet as Judges Andy Rash, Alltech U.S. monogastric director, and Brian Arnold, United Animal Health senior product manager-direct fed microbials, looked through the pigs one more time.

“I felt like time stopped when Andy Rash came to shake my hand,” Landry recalls. “I remember the scent of his cologne when he hugged me. My plan was not to cry and be a macho man, but that didn’t happen. Right after I was selected, it was like the sound went back on and it got really loud again. I don’t remember anything I said except thank you.”

After hugging both judges, Landry went over to hug Eddie. Brad says it brought back memories of one of the first county stock shows the boys attended. When Landry was named champion, he hugged the judge, then he hugged his brother who was also showing in the grand drive, and then both boys went to hug their pigs.

“From the time they were little bitty until now as teenagers, our boys have had such a deep respect for their livestock,” Brad says. “They understand the pig’s purpose, but they also want to give dignity to their animals throughout the entire process.”

Learning Who Your Friends Are

As Chyla, an ag teacher, watched her son achieve this dream, she says she was overwhelmed with emotion. While she followed the rules and went the long way around the ring to hug her son, she jokes that Brad jumped the fence and got in trouble trying to get to Landry. The emotions were running high for everyone.

“I can’t even tell you what it was like to be there surrounded by our friends in that moment,” Chyla says. “They were holding our hands, hugging us and truly celebrating the win with us. Multiple show dads were crying with us. One of my best friends was holding my hand so tight – we were wiping our hands because our hands were so sweaty.”

As she thinks back to that moment, the win will always be awesome, but the people by her side will never be forgotten.

“I think it’s a testament to the good part of this business,” Chyla says. “Yes, the trophy is wonderful. But I found out who my friends were this week because they were the ones helping us when we were stressed, holding my hand when I was freaking out, and crying with me when he won.”

Brad grew up showing livestock, but it didn’t prepare him for this moment as a parent.

“I was not prepared for what it felt like to not want anything else,” Brad says. “I know what it feels like to lose, to just want to make the sale, to want to make my ag teacher happy. I used to want so many things. I learned how to handle losing because I did it so much, and I had come to grips that was our norm at the big shows. I was just thankful for the experience my dad created to show at a show like Houston when I was a kid.”

The swine auction committee at Houston is incredible and does an incredible job of gathering support, Landry says. The sale runs so smoothly and everybody wears pink.

It Takes a Little Luck

Hard work alone doesn’t win a show, Chyla says. Everyone who goes to Houston must work very hard to get their pig to that stage.

“You definitely don’t get that bowlegged H trophy in the grand drive at Houston without working your booty off,” Chyla says. “But it takes a lot of luck, and things just have to fall into place.”

The Mabry family believes holding post-game, family “press conferences” where everyone weighs in on what they can do better next time has helped them improve.

For example, this show season, the family agreed to feed fewer barrows so they could give more attention to every barrow. The boys have also continued to take on bigger leadership roles in the barn.

“They execute the job,” Brad says. “They mix our feed and pour the feed. We’ve had errors doing that because they’re kids, and that’s going to happen. We want our kids to be responsible and accountable, and this is a great way to build those skills.”

Judge Arnold says one of the best parts of the livestock experience is seeing how families work together to maximize the potential of their animal for their targeted shows.

“Along the way, these young people will experience many unexpected challenges that they will have to take head on such as health events with their pig,” Arnold says. “All these hours of work lead up to literally seconds in the showring where you are at the mercy of a judge’s opinion. This whole process provides young people with experiences that transcend the showring and can be applied in all areas of life.”

Beyond the Buckle

It’s the people who make the stock show industry great, not the awards, Landry adds.

“Having bigger backdrops is way cooler than bigger buckles,” he points out. “When you graduate, you can’t go win shows anymore. It’s about the people you meet along the way.”

When Landry reflects on his experience at Houston, his mind goes to the people who stepped up to help when Eddie was struggling and the friends who celebrated the win. He thinks about the loyal friendship with breeder Roger Lacy who gave him the opportunity to show Eddie. And most of all, he appreciates how showing livestock brings his family together.

“In life, you will meet role models and examples,” Brad says. “Role models are people to listen to and follow. An example is when someone shows what not to do. I might be a role model in one situation and an example in another one. I tell the boys to be selfish and choose which parts of people they want to learn from. You can’t throw people away because they make mistakes, but that doesn’t mean you have to fan their flame either.”

The Legacy of the Sale

Growing up a low-income student who benefited from scholarships and community support, Brad is incredibly grateful for the HLSR scholarship program. He earned a Houston scholarship that allowed him to attend college.

“When my dad passed away when I was a junior in high school, he made $250 a week,” Brad says. “I had humble parents who loved and supported their kids. I never felt poor, but I knew that I was. Their priorities were always correct, but money wasn’t one of those priorities.”

Brad and Chyla believe strongly in raising their kids to understand that there is a cost to showing livestock and that requires fiscal responsibility and humility.

“I’m not going to lie, my commitment to that was tested as the pig was going from $300,000 to $400,000 to $500,000,” Brad says. “But that’s what I love about Houston – they are 100% transparent on what buyers are getting. There is no illusion that a kid will win $500,000. It’s clearly stated that the kid will win $45,000. I think that’s more than enough.”

The brothers will split the money equally because all their pigs are shared efforts. The money will be invested into college accounts, and they will continue to work to earn scholarship money to help pay for the rest of their college education.

The remaining $460,000 raised from the sale of Eddie will go directly into the HLSR scholarship fund to support inner-city students, 4-H members and FFA members.

Answered Prayers

It’s been less than a week since they left Houston to return home to Crawford, Texas. Brad says it’s still a “windfall of emotion” that he can’t process yet.

“Getting to show was an answer to prayer,” he says. “It wasn’t the banner. It wasn’t the buckle. Getting to walk into that class was so profound. Only a livestock person would think an animal going to the bathroom was a miracle, but it truly was a miracle.”

And Brad made sure to tell everyone he could about it at the show.

“I can surely, with a non-Christian mind, tell you that there was a cool breeze that morning, that the water hit him just right, and those extra five steps got his body back in rhythm,” Brad says. “But the Christian in me doesn’t go down that road at all. It was an amazing answer to prayer that rattled my bones. The banner is going to get all the attention, but my family knows where that attention should go.”

Who Brought Home the Top NPPC Scholarships?

Fri, 20 Mar 2026 20:22:44 GMT

The National Pork Producers Council announced 10 recipients of the 2026 Lois Britt Memorial Pork Industry Scholarship as well as one Neil Dierks Scholarship winner, and four inaugural U.S. Pork Center of Excellence (USPCE) Swine Legacy Scholarship winners during the National Pork Industry Forum in Kansas City, Mo.

“These young leaders represent the very best of our industry’s future,” says Duane Stateler, outgoing NPPC president and Ohio pork producer. “At Forum each year, we are reminded the strength of U.S. pork is not only in our farms and businesses but in the people who are stepping up to serve it. Their work ethic, integrity, and commitment to agriculture give me great confidence in where we are headed. NPPC is proud to support them as they carry this industry forward.”

Sponsored in partnership with CME Group and the National Pork Industry Foundation (NPIF), the scholarships recognize exceptional students preparing for careers in the U.S. pork industry.

“We have proudly supported NPPC and its commitment to the pork industry and its next generation of leaders through the Lois Britt Memorial Pork Industry Scholarship since 1990,” says John Ricci, managing director and global head of agricultural products at CME Group.

(NPPC
)

Lois Britt Memorial Pork Industry Scholarship

The 2026 winners of the $2,500 Lois Britt Memorial Pork Industry Scholarship are:
Trell Amoss — Oklahoma State University
Elizabeth Anderson — Iowa State University
Avah Burke — Pennsylvania State University
Jenna DeRouchey — Iowa State University
Halle Evans — Iowa State University
Georgia Horosky — Wilmington College
Drew Mickey — Kansas State University
Abigail Morse — South Dakota State University
Kylee Reed — Iowa State University
Joshua Wiley — Iowa State University

Sponsored by CME Group and NPIF, the Lois Britt Memorial Pork Industry Scholarship is awarded to undergraduates in a two-year swine program or a four-year college of agriculture program.

(NPPC)

Neil Dierks Scholarship

The 2026 recipient of the $5,000 Neil Dierks Scholarship is Emma Zwart of Iowa State University.

Founded in 2021 and administered by NPIF, the Neil Dierks Scholarship is awarded to current or incoming graduate students in a swine-related program.

(NPPC)

USPCE Swine Legacy Scholarship

New this year, the 2026 recipients of the inaugural $5,000 USPCE Swine Legacy Scholarship are:

Rebecca Brown — The Ohio State University
Jenna DeRouchey — Iowa State University
Kory Storm — South Dakota State University
Trell Amoss — Oklahoma State University

Administered by NPIF, the USPCE Swine Legacy Scholarship was established in 2026 following the decision to sunset the U.S. Pork Center of Excellence after 20 years of service as a public-private partnership supporting the pork industry. Through a competitive proposal process, the organization’s remaining financial assets were granted to NPIF to create an endowed scholarship program. The scholarship supports students pursuing careers in research, education, or veterinary science with a focus on the swine industry, awarding one graduate or professional track student and three undergraduate students each year.

How Blondies Butcher Shop Is Building Trust in Pork One Conversation at a Time

Thu, 19 Mar 2026 13:50:34 GMT

For Lindsey Loken, pork promotion is rooted in everyday connection. It happens across the butcher counter, through hands-on education, on social media and through conversations with customers who are curious, cautious or looking for guidance.

Through her work as founder and owner of Blondies Butcher Shop, Loken has become a trusted and relatable voice for pork, one that meets consumers where they are and invites them to learn without judgment. Loken is the 2026 Minnesota Pork Promoter of the Year , recognized for her ability to connect consumers to pork in a way that is approachable, educational and grounded in trust.

A Background Rooted in Passion and Curiosity

Loken’s passion for animals began at a young age. Growing up on her parents’ hobby farm near Wanamingo, she spent time caring for animals, and rode along with her mother, a veterinary technician, developing an early appreciation for animal health and hands-on care. After high school, she studied animal science and veterinary technology, eventually working as a veterinary technician. She spent time working on a ranch in Montana, further shaping her understanding of agriculture and helping clarify the path she wanted to pursue.

(Minnesota Pork Board)

In addition to her work as a veterinary technician, Loken also served as an emergency medical technician (EMT), a role that further reinforced her commitment to service and her ability to remain steady in high-pressure situations. While the work was rewarding, the demands of emergency response and emergency veterinary care eventually led her to reflect on what she wanted her long-term career to look like.

“I didn’t know exactly what I wanted to do, but I knew I still wanted to work with animals and food in a meaningful way,” she says.

Around that time, her parents mentioned that a local butcher shop back home in Minnesota was for sale. Loken decided to move home and take the leap. She spent time learning butchery skills, asking questions and immersing herself in the craft. In 2014, she officially took over Wanamingo Meats as the fourth owner, a business that would later evolve into Blondies Butcher Shop, a woman-owned, consumer-facing butcher shop in Wanamingo known for its bright pink exterior and welcoming approach.

Today, Loken owns and operates Blondies with a focus on education, transparency and connection. She has created an environment designed to bridge the gap between farmers and consumers, where questions are encouraged and learning happens at the counter. Through in-shop conversations, classes and digital content, Loken works to make butchery approachable, understandable and fun, whether she’s helping customers choose a cut, sharing practical cooking tips, or highlighting the farm-to-table journey behind the meat.

Building Blondies: Education at the Core

Blondies Butcher Shop officially rebranded in 2020, a year that would change the trajectory of the business in unexpected ways. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Loken found herself at the center of a renewed consumer interest in local food, meat sourcing and freezer stocking. What began as a small, value-driven business quickly became a trusted resource for customers seeking reassurance and knowledge during an uncertain time.

“When our family was facing depopulation in 2020, Lindsey stepped up and custom processed hundreds of hogs to help farms like ours provide protein to hungry customers,” says Mike Patterson, a local Kenyon pig farmer. “I will be forever grateful to Lindsey and her team for stepping up when it truly mattered.”

Loken leaned into education, explaining cuts, cooking methods, sourcing practices and how modern meat production works. Rather than overwhelming customers with technical language, she focused on clarity and comfort.

“A lot of people just don’t know,” she says. “And if you remove the intimidation, they’re actually excited to learn.”

Blondies became known not only for high-quality meat, but for its welcoming atmosphere. Customers were encouraged to ask questions, try new cuts, and better understand where their food comes from, including pork.

Promoting Pork Through Everyday Conversations

As a pork promoter, Loken’s strength lies in her ability to translate complex topics into everyday language. Roughly 90 percent of her customers come from urban or suburban backgrounds, many with little direct connection to farming. For Loken, that represents an opportunity.

Through in-store conversations, classes, demonstrations and social media, she helps customers understand pork production, animal care, and the role farmers play in producing safe, wholesome food. She emphasizes that pork doesn’t have to be complicated or intimidating, and that enjoying it doesn’t require expert-level knowledge.

Her approach is intentionally judgment-free.

(Minnesota Pork Board
)

“This is a no-judgment zone,” Loken says. “People just don’t know, and that’s okay.”

By creating a space where curiosity is welcomed, she bridges the gap between farmers and consumers in a way that feels authentic and lasting.

Expanding Pork’s Reach Beyond the Counter

Loken’s influence extends well beyond the walls of Blondies Butcher Shop. Through social media and television appearances, as well as educational content and collaborations with farmers and food professionals, she continues to reach consumers who may never step foot into a butcher shop but are still forming opinions about pork.

Her platforms are intentionally approachable, blending humor, practicality and clear information to demystify meat. Rather than focusing solely on product, Loken emphasizes understanding of how pork fits into everyday meals, how animals are raised, and why production practices matter. That approach has helped make pork feel accessible to a generation of consumers seeking transparency and confidence in their food choices.

“Lindsey has grown her presence on social media by sharing all things meat and consistently promoting pork, while also becoming a trusted voice on local television through cutting and cooking demonstrations,” Patterson says.

Loken also recognizes that promotion is most effective when it reflects real life. She speaks openly about convenience, budgeting and cooking realities, acknowledging that today’s consumers balance busy schedules with a desire to eat well. By meeting those needs honestly, she helps keep pork relevant and relatable.

“Lindsey has an incredible ability to connect with customers and viewers through her online videos,” says Pam Voelkel, director of events and promotions for Minnesota Pork. “She is authentic and genuine, what you see on screen is exactly who she is in person. Unafraid to tackle tough questions, Lindsey approaches conversations about how food is raised with clarity and relatability.”

Through thoughtful engagement and a consistent presence, Loken continues to strengthen trust in pork and reinforce its place at the center of the table.

A Modern Voice for a Changing Audience

Loken is helping redefine what pork promotion looks like for a new generation of consumers. As a woman in the meat industry, she brings both visibility and credibility to a space that has historically been male-dominated, while remaining deeply committed to education and connection.

In addition to her work at Blondies, Loken has also shared her expertise as a guest lecturer with the University of Minnesota, offering students a real-world perspective on meat science, retail education and consumer engagement. Together, these efforts reflect a broader shift within agriculture, where more women are leading, educating and shaping how food is discussed and where expertise, personality and leadership work hand in hand.

Overcoming Challenges with Purpose

Like many small business owners, Loken has navigated significant challenges, from COVID disruptions to the financial realities of being self-employed. She is transparent about the difficulty of building a business where “the heart goes into the work, not the margins.”

Yet she remains motivated by the impact.

“There’s a gut feeling that keeps you going,” she says. “You wake up, your stomach hurts, but you still show up because it matters.”

For Loken, success is measured not only in sales, but in moments of understanding: a customer trying pork they’d previously avoided, a family learning how to cook a new cut, or a conversation that shifts perception.

A Well-Deserved Recognition

Lindsey Loken’s impact as a pork promoter is rooted in trust. She doesn’t rely on slogans or shortcuts. Instead, she builds understanding one conversation at a time through education, transparency and respect.

In an era where consumers are asking more questions than ever, Loken provides thoughtful answers. Through Blondies Butcher Shop, she has created a modern platform for pork promotion that resonates with today’s audience while honoring the work of those who raise pigs.

Swine Veterinary Students Take Home Top Honors from AASV Annual Meeting

Thu, 12 Mar 2026 19:31:12 GMT

The awards and honors were abundantly presented to outstanding students at the American Association of Swine Veterinarians (AASV) Annual Meeting at the AASV Annual Meeting in Las Vegas, Nev.

(AASV)

AASV Foundation Announces Results of First Graduate Student Competition

The AASV Foundation awarded scholarships totaling $5,000 to three graduate students who participated in the Research Topics session. The Research Topics session highlights research projects related to swine health and production, including virology, diagnostics, environment, biosecurity and welfare. For the first time, graduate students presenting in the session competed for scholarships sponsored by Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health.

• $3,000: Katlyn McClellan, South Dakota State University, “Blood hemoglobin as a predictor of removal risk and reproductive performance in prolific sows”

• $1,000: Rafael Medeiros de Avila Melo, University of Minnesota, “Assessing viral environmental contamination in and around mortality handling structures in wean-to-finish farms”

• $1,000: Sara Correia Sequeira, The Ohio State University, “Assessing connectivity and biosecurity compliance of vehicles in a Brazilian swine production system”

Bryn Van Winters of the University of Guelph.

(AASV)

AASV Foundation Announces Student Seminar Awards and Scholarships

The AASV Foundation awarded scholarships totaling $25,000 to 15 veterinary students who participated in the AASV Student Seminar at the Annual Meeting.

Bryn Van Winters, University of Guelph, received the $5,000 scholarship for top student presentation. Sloane’s presentation was titled “Effects of early-life energy supplementation on survival and growth in pre-weaned piglets?” The Zoetis Foundation provided funding for the Top Student Presenter Award.

Elanco Animal Health provides $20,000 in additional funding, enabling the AASV Foundation to award scholarships for 2nd through 15th place. Four veterinary student presenters received $2,500 scholarships: Maeve Powis, University of Guelph; Jacqueline Springer, University of Illinois; Jinnan Xiao, Iowa State University; Emma Zwart, Iowa State University. Five veterinary student presenters received $1,500 scholarships: Ginny Bass, North Carolina State University; Emily Evans-Stevens, Kansas State University; Ben Hollis, Iowa State University; Kara Linder, Colorado State University; Johanna Vandenack, Iowa State University. Those student presenters receiving $500 scholarships were: Sean Dullard, University of Illinois; Lila Minnick, University of Illinois; Rebecca Smith, University of Georgia; Nicole Villalon, Iowa State University; Samantha Wagner, Midwestern University. In addition to the $5,000 Top Student Presenter award, the Zoetis Foundation provided $11,250 in grant funding to support $750 awards for each student selected to participate in the oral session.

(AASV)

AASV Announces Student Poster Competition Awardees

The AASV provided an opportunity for 15 veterinary students to compete for awards in the Veterinary Student Poster Competition. United Animal Health sponsored the competition, offering awards totaling $4000. Additionally, the Zoetis Foundation provided $10,000 in grant funding to support $500 awards for students selected to participate in the poster session.

$500 scholarship: Molly Jones, North Carolina State University – Top student poster titled “The dosing disconnect: Evaluating agreement between two measurement methods of swine water medicator performance”
$400 scholarships: Abigayle Brown, Iowa State University; Heath Keiser, Iowa State University
$300 scholarships: Lindsey Britton, North Carolina State University; Logan Griggs, University of Pennsylvania; Aleah Vetter, University of Minnesota
$200 scholarships: Lee Ammons, Iowa State University; Emma Coursey, University of Illinois; Rachel Kontz, University of Minnesota; Timothy Magdall, University of Minnesota; Ella Moll, Iowa State University; Abbey Pals, Iowa State University; Amanda Pisarczyk, Iowa State University; Seth Reicks, University of Minnesota; Antonio Rodriguez-Torrado, St. Georges University

(AASV)

K-State Student Wins David A. Schoneweis Scholarship

Emily Evans-Stevens, a second-year student at Kansas State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, was awarded the David A. Schoneweis Scholarship. The children of the late Dr. David Schoneweis established a scholarship in his memory to benefit swine-interested students from Kansas State University (KSU) and Oklahoma State University (OSU). The $1,000 scholarship is awarded to a student or students from KSU or OSU who participate in the student oral or poster presentations during the AASV Annual Meeting, based upon a selection rubric prepared with the oversight and approval of the Schoneweis family. Evans-Stevens presented her research, “Evaluation of sanitation procedures in swine nursery facilities utilizing adenosine triphosphate bioluminescence,” during the AASV Student Seminar.

(AASV)

AASV Foundation Awards First Baysinger Scholarships

Yoonsuk Lee and Mary Lisa Kasakamu were the named the first recipients of the AASV Foundation Angela Baysinger Memorial Scholarship. The objective of the Angela Baysinger Memorial Scholarship is to promote the long-term improvement of production animal welfare by supporting experiential learning opportunities for the next generation of animal welfare veterinarians and scientists. This scholarship is awarded annually to a student with a passion for production animal welfare who is currently working or studying in a field of animal welfare science.

Yoonsuk Lee spent seven years as a practicing dairy veterinarian before pursuing his graduate studies in welfare. He is a PhD student majoring animal welfare science at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, where his research focuses on experimental and epidemiological investigations of dairy calf welfare practices, particularly in calf pair housing. Lee’s goal is to contribute to a future in which farm animal welfare practices are supported by robust science and where producers feel confident making decisions that benefit both animal welfare and farm success. He expects this scholarship to support his continued efforts to advance meaningful, practical, and scientifically sound welfare improvements, particularly in the dairy industry, but also to benefit animal agriculture more broadly.

Mary Lisa Kasakamu is pursuing a PhD in animal sciences at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, specializing in animal health, welfare and precision livestock management. She regards precision livestock management as a powerful tool for individual animal care within populations. Her goal is to develop science driven technologies that detect welfare challenges, including thermal stress, lameness, and failure to thrive. Supported by this scholarship, Kasakamu hopes to deepen her expertise, further develop her communication skills, identify adoptable solutions, contribute to meaningful dialogue, and evolve as a spokesperson for animal welfare improvements – just like Dr. Baysinger.

Thunderstruck: Rob Brenneman Brings High-Horsepower Leadership to NPPC

Wed, 11 Mar 2026 14:14:43 GMT

Thunder (ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah). As the familiar AC/DC song roared, Iowa pig farmer Rob Brenneman walked to the stage to share his first comments as National Pork Producers Council’s newest president.

Raising pigs is more than a job to Brenneman. In order to give back to the industry that has done so much for him, he said yes to the opportunity to lead NPPC and help protect opportunities for the next generation of pig farmers.

Connecting Policy to Reality

“NPPC fights battles that producers cannot fight alone,” Brenneman says. “NPPC is the unified voice for pork producers, protecting our freedom to operate. I’m looking forward to getting out and meeting other producers, listening to their ideas, and making something out of their ideas.”

Industry challenges surrounding animal health, overhead costs and consumer trust aren’t going away. Immediate challenges like tariffs, Mexico antidumping/countervailing duty investigations and labor are top of mind, too.

“When real pork producers go to D.C., policymakers listen differently,” Brenneman says. “You can explain how policies affect your day-to-day operations better than anyone. You have the knowledge and experience to help policymakers make informed decisions. Our collective voice protects all pig farmers. We connect the policy to reality.”

For example, during comments by Julie Callahan, chief agricultural negotiator with the Office of the United States Trade Representative, at the National Pork Industry Forum, she shared how important NPPC and pork producers are to their office.

“They call us and ask for input,” Brenneman says. “Being at the table allows us to give the input about what independent producers want. That gives me hope. NPPC gives me hope as an independent producer, that we’ve got a chance. We’ve got to keep our doors open to trade.”

Of course, not all of the work NPPC does makes headlines, he points out. Some of the simpler things, like what NPPC did with labor, didn’t get as much hype.

“I had the opportunity to be in on those meetings with key people in Washington, D.C., and they listened to us, and it helped,” he says. “I don’t think everybody gets that. The TN Visa situation is a big deal, and I don’t think a lot of people understood how some of that gets corrected or incentivized to be better. There are so many unseen things that don’t happen because you’re at the table. Nobody knows they were ever a threat, which means we’re doing our job.”

A Unified Industry

Of all the important messages like this shared at National Pork Industry Forum, Brenneman hopes people hear one important thing: The pork industry is unified.

“We are not fragmented, and we work together as much as we can,” he says.

A self-described “high-horsepower, high-speed guy,” Brenneman will be focused on continuing to encourage unity during his presidency. He also is setting the bar high for staff, producers and the entire industry.

“I have very high expectations,” he says. “I expect things to get done, and I expect delivery. I expect an end to what they’re doing. I think that’s only fair as we work in an industry that has high expectations. It’s my job to provide leadership and coaching to get us there. I want to provide the tools needed to fix what’s broken or improve what’s already going well.”

From a policy standpoint, he hopes to close the chapter on Proposition 12 and prevent a patchwork of state laws in the next year.

He knows the job is going to require a tremendous lift from his entire family and the entire team at Brenneman Pork.

“Without my wife Char by my side, this would never work,” he says. “I’ve got a tremendous team and tremendous family at home who are involved and standing by me to help me succeed at this. We operate by this phrase in our operation: Failure is not an option.”

Brenneman also points out that his wife knows him better than anyone.

“She knows my throttle and my brake,” he says. “She knows what accelerates that, what slows it down and what stops it. Some days, that’s not good for me, but it’s good for everybody else.” Listen to Rob and Char Brenneman on Episode 26 of The PORK Podcast .

A Voice for America’s Pig Farmers

The list of tasks ahead is long. If Brenneman could accomplish just one thing on the list, it would be to encourage more people to support the NPPC and the Strategic Investment Program.

“With that support, we gain advocacy and a voice,” he says.

Brenneman says he’s personally going to give this position everything he can.

“I want to emphasize how hard I am going to work at this to make sure that I do everything I can to make a difference for independent producers in this country,” he says. “Coming from Washington County, Iowa, you realize there are still independent producers out there. I’m in this for all of them, every single one. This is not about me – this is about them.”

Surrounded by hog barns and corn fields, Brenneman knows the fight is worth it.

“We have to revitalize rural America,” he says. “We live in the No. 1 hog county in Iowa, and it shows. That’s why ground is so high – that’s why young farmers are here. They came home to farm because they built a building, they got manure and they got a job, and now they farm. When I drive by farms and see kids on a four-wheeler or see kids showing pigs at the county fair, I’m reminded that they are the future. I do not want that to dry up.”

That’s one of the things NPPC CEO Bryan Humphreys appreciates most about Brenneman – his passion for the future leaders of this industry.

“His love and dedication to not just the industry, but this industry for literally generations to come, is incredible,” Humphreys says. “When Rob Brenneman talks about the pork industry, he doesn’t talk about the pork industry for him or for Char. He talks about it for his kids. He talks about it for his grandkids. He talks about it for his great grandkids. That long-term perspective of business continuity – of what we can do to make agriculture and raising pigs not just a good business, but fun for the next generation – is incredibly valuable.”

Pork (ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah).

The Succession Gap: Why Two-Thirds of Farms Face an Uncertain Future

Tue, 03 Mar 2026 20:18:07 GMT

Farm Journal recently reported that 44 million acres of U.S. farmland are expected to change hands in the coming years - nearly 15% of American cropland by 2030.

That’s a staggering number. But what concerns me most isn’t just the acreage. It’s what that number represents: leadership transition, ownership transition and decision-making transition happening all at once across the country.

When I look at the accompanying data, I see both opportunity and vulnerability.

According to the Farm Journal Seed & Planting Survey and Consolidation Index Predictive Model Analysis, only 34% of growing operations have a formal succession plan. Among benchmark producers, that number drops to 29%. For operations identified as at-risk, just 21% have a documented succession plan in place.

Let that sink in.

Even among farms positioned for growth, two-thirds do not have a formal plan for how leadership and ownership will transition. And nearly four out of five at-risk farms are operating without one.

At the same time, consolidation risk is not limited to smaller operations. Farms under $250,000 in gross income show a 58% consolidation risk. Farms between $250,000 and $500,000 show 48%. But even operations in the $1 million to $2.5 million range carry a 32% risk. And those between $2.5 million and $10 million still sit in a baseline consolidation risk zone of roughly 27–30%.

In other words, income alone does not protect you.

Succession gaps, management transitions and strategic exits are driving consolidation regardless of size.

I’ve spent my career working with agricultural families navigating generational transition, and I can tell you this: consolidation rarely happens overnight. It happens when pressure meets unpreparedness. A health event. A lender conversation. A market downturn. A disagreement that was never resolved. A next generation that was never fully developed or clearly empowered to lead.

Agriculture has always been unpredictable. We all understand that. Weather changes. Markets move. Policies shift. But what feels different right now is how layered the uncertainty has become. Interest rates have restructured balance sheets. Input costs remain volatile. Capital demands continue to rise. Technology expectations are accelerating. And the average age of the American farmer keeps climbing.

Generational turnover is not something we can push off for “someday.” It is happening now.

So, here’s the question I would ask any farm leader reading this: If something unexpected happened tomorrow, would your operation be okay?

Would there be clarity about who makes decisions? Would ownership be clearly defined? Would compensation and reinvestment policies be understood? Would lenders feel confident in your continuity? Would your successors be prepared - not just present - to lead?

If you hesitate in answering that, you are not alone. But hesitation is a signal.

The data in the Farm Journal analysis tells an important story. Growing operations are more likely to try new technology. They are more likely to plan land investment. And they are more likely to have formal succession plans in place. That is not coincidence. It reflects intentional leadership.

The leaders that plan tend to think about the long term - not just the next growing season. They understand their profitability by enterprise. They are disciplined about capital allocation. They define leadership roles. They have hard conversations before circumstances force communication. They build clarity into the business so that transition strengthens it rather than destabilizes it.

Succession planning is often misunderstood.

It is not simply an estate planning document. It is not a will tucked in a drawer. It is not something you address only when someone retires. It is a business discipline.

It requires clarity about management transfer and ownership transfer - and those are not always the same thing. It requires fairness, which is not necessarily equality. It requires governance structure so family conversations don’t become a business crises. It requires intentional development of the next generation so leadership transition feels earned and prepared, not assumed.

And perhaps most importantly, it requires timing.

Consolidation favors clarity. It favors farms that reduce ambiguity before outside forces expose it. It favors operations that are structured - not just successful.

One of the most revealing pieces of the consolidation data is that even higher-income farms carry measurable risk. A $3 million or $5 million operation is not immune. Scale does not eliminate vulnerability if leadership transition is unclear or strategic direction is undefined.

The 44 million acres projected to change hands represent a defining moment for American agriculture. Some families will use this season to strengthen continuity and expand. Others will find themselves reacting - not because they lacked work ethic or competence, but because they delayed putting structure in place.

Planning does not eliminate uncertainty - but it does provide framework and stability.

It allows you to make proactive decisions rather than reactive ones. It gives lenders confidence. It gives the next generation clarity. It protects family relationships. And it preserves optionality.

If your farm is truly okay - strategically aligned, financially transparent, leadership-ready - then planning becomes a growth tool.

If it’s not, planning becomes urgent.

Either way, it matters.

Knowing the data should never create paralysis. Understanding your consolidation risk, your succession gaps and your financial position gives you something incredibly valuable: choice. When your business structure is clear and your succession plan is thoughtful but flexible, you can pivot as markets shift, opportunities emerge or circumstances change. You may not be able to eliminate uncertainty - but you can position yourself to move through it with confidence.

10 Quotable Moments from The PORK Podcast

Tue, 30 Dec 2025 14:41:31 GMT

The conversations that take place on The PORK Podcast are some of the highlights of my year. I don’t take the honesty, vulnerability and wisdom shared for granted. Here are some of my favorites (there were too many to list) in case you missed them.

“If my dad was in a crowded room, he would look around for the person nobody was talking to, the person sitting by themselves. And that’s where he would go sit. He always said, ‘Everybody’s got a story, and most of them are pretty darn good.’” — Scott Hays in Episode 20, “ If the Pigs Do Well, We Do Well ”

“I don’t want my child to go through the same sort of struggles that that I went through. I want to be sure that when he grows up, he is in a world where he can have the freedom to eat whatever he wants to eat, have the freedom to go to a grocery store and have those products available when needed.” — Maria Zieba in Episode 19, “ Fighting for Certainty in Uncertain Times ”

“We don’t give up very easily, and that can cause us to have a blind spot at times. Don’t let the passion and pride that are our biggest strengths turn into a potential weakness by causing that blind spot. We’ve got to know and anticipate that a slight deviation in course is necessary at times to continue to make us sustainable. Fighting that course correction could be somebody’s downfall or take you down a path that that you weren’t expecting or intending.” — Josh Maschhoff in Episode 21, “The Next Generation of the Pork Industry”

“I remember a friend sending me this reminder: If not, he is still good. Sometimes things don’t go how we want, and even if that’s the case, I believe God works all things for his good.” — Maddie Hokanson in Episode 32, “ Focus on Your Why ”

“Don’t be afraid to be the only person like yourself in the room.” — Lori Stevermer in Episode 16, “ Don’t Be Afraid to Be You ”

“If you’ve ever watched Yellowstone, that show creeped me out,” Wiley says. “When I saw the family dynamic portrayed, it made me uncomfortable. We can have our disagreements. But, as a family, you better have each other’s backs out in the community, especially in the business we’re in.” — Todd Wiley in Episode 34, “ Avoid Yellowstone Drama When Transferring the Family Farm ”

“Live in the moment because it goes by incredibly fast. People always say that. But when it’s 100 degrees and you’re 13 years old, you’re probably not thinking about how it’s going to all come to an end someday, so you might take things for granted or not truly appreciate those moments. Take advantage of every moment when you’re at a show.” — Olivia Shike in Episode 27, “ Livestock, Leadership and the Next Generation ”

“I always felt like I had to take calculated risks in judging. I was willing to give up a point here or there to try to score big. I think that it’s probably the entrepreneurial R&D piece of me. I think in life, when you’re chasing greatness, you’ve got to take some calculated risks.” — Doug Hankes in Episode 14, “ Weighing the Odds ”

“Without her, it would have not worked at all.” — Rob Brenneman in Episode 26, “ The Gas Pedal and the Brakes ”

“What are your big things? What is most important for you as a family? Is it winning a banner? Is it developing character? Is it enjoying what you’re doing? I think it looks different for every family, but taking that time to decide what means the most for your family is key to not letting all the other stuff get in the way.” — Emily Spray in Episode 24, “ The Truth About Stock Show Moms ”

You can also subscribe to The PORK Podcast on YouTube or anywhere podcasts are found so you don’t miss an episode!

A Daughter’s Devotion: Chelsea Schminke Grieder’s Unconventional Path Back Home

Fri, 05 Dec 2025 20:46:11 GMT

Chelsea Schminke Grieder takes pride in being the ‘black sheep’ of the family. As the daughter of livestock legends Al and Kandy Schminke, she always wanted to return to their grain and show livestock operation in Van Horne, Iowa , consisting of about 375 wether dam ewes and 25 purebred Chester white sows.

Unlike her brother Cody who took a more traditional path back to their family’s farm, this fourth-generation farmer took a rather unique path into fashion design at Iowa State University first.

“I wanted to create my own way,” Grieder says. “I love design. I love art. I wanted to dip my toes into that passion, but that didn’t change my love for agriculture. I was still showing livestock very competitively and helping on the farm.”

Although she entered the fashion world with a black-and-white mindset, she quickly realized fashion was very subjective.

“After college, I went to work for a really cool company that designs Harley Davidson saddle bags. Never in my life did I think I would work with leather or motorcycles,” she says. “I worked with many brands while I was there from Adidas to Ryka. With each product, I found ways to make it more successful. I discovered ways to save money and hit our target market more. I took a lot of that back to the farm.”

Something Isn’t Right

Newly engaged to Paul, 2016 started off on a high note for Grieder who was in the thick of wedding planning. Her family’s show livestock operation was booming.

But in February, Kandy’s health “got a little funky,” Grieder explains. Sinus infection after sinus infection, something wasn’t right. She even remembers her mom’s nose changing color a little.

“It was so crazy,” she says. “I was trying to balance my job, the wedding and help on the farm. I also wanted to be there for my mom. She was up and down health-wise. She started having random nose bleeds and began seeing all these specialists.”

No one could tell them what was going on with her mom. Grieder vividly remembers going to the hospital for her own appointment in June.

“My mom met me there and I remember she sat down beside me and I said, ‘You smell weird. Did you shower?’” Grieder recalls. “She said ‘Yes, thanks Chelsea.’”

But she couldn’t let it go.

“She’s my mom – you just know how your mom smells, and something wasn’t right,” she says.

A few weeks later, Grieder lost her job.

“I had designed this full line and was ready to go to production with it,” she says. “I had no heads up, nothing. Not to mention I had a wedding in November. I was like, ‘Oh, my God, what do we do?’”

But she never lost faith that God had a plan.

A week later, Grieder was back at the doctor’s office with her mom who had received a GI scope the day before. The doctors wanted to make sure she didn’t have anything going on internally with her gastrointestinal system.

“One of the GI nurses recommended my mom go back to her family doctor for a full blood panel,” Grieder says. “Between that January to July 2016, nobody had pulled blood on her, which was shocking.”

They discovered her hemoglobin was really low – like “go get a blood transfusion now” low.

“My cousin, who worked at the doctor’s office, called us and said, ‘You need to take her to the ER. This is not good.’ At that point, you hear ‘not good’ and want to know exactly how not good,” Grieder says. “She said on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being bad, my mom was a 12.”

Answers at Last

When they arrived at St. Luke’s Hospital in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, they rushed her mom upstairs.

“I remember hitting that kidney floor, and the smell hit me,” she says. “I said, ‘Mom, this is what you smelled like.’”

Her mom’s kidneys were failing.

“We found out she was in renal failure. They said mom should not have walked in – she should have been crawling in,” Grieder says. “But if you know her, she is as tough as nails and stubborn, too. She’s never going to tell you she hurts. She actually judged a livestock show the weekend before her diagnosis in Missouri. Hindsight is 20/20 – she should not have been doing any of those things, but she just had the mentality that you keep going.”

Doctors confirmed two autoimmune diseases were attacking her mom’s kidneys – Wegener’s disease and ANCA .

“ANCA is a very aggressive autoimmune disease,” Grieder explains. “They call it the silent killer for a reason. They gave her three more days if we hadn’t went in there.”

Within 24 hours, she had a stint placed into her heart and was put on dialysis. She needed a kidney transplant.

“The thing people don’t talk about is that you have to be sick enough to go on the kidney transplant list, but you have to be healthy enough to get one,” Grieder says. “We had an uphill battle from there.”

Al and Kandy Schminke

(Schminke Genetics)

No One is Invincible

Their new reality was hard on everyone, especially her dad who was trying to figure out how to manage the day-to-day activities without her by his side.

“She’s his person – he thought she was invincible,” Grieder says. “We all had to realize, ‘Okay, no, she’s not invincible.’”

From July until October, Grieder did not find another job. Instead, she stayed home to help her mom get to the dialysis center every Tuesday and Thursday and pick up her work on the farm.

“There was a reason why I was not supposed to be working at that point,” Grieder adds. “But it was so hard to watch my mom suffer. It was hard to watch her battle this. We eventually were able to do dialysis at home, but it wasn’t easy. She had to be hooked up for 12 hours a day and stay away from dust, fungus, hay, straw, dirt – all the things that are part of farm life.”

She also couldn’t be around her new grandchild as doctors didn’t want her exposed to any extra germs. All of this made planning a November wedding especially challenging. Grieder says she is so grateful for the village of people who supported her family during this time.

“Our wedding was truly a celebration – and not just for us getting married – but for all of the people who helped us.”

Her mom finally got her kidney in January of 2018, about 1.5 years after she went on dialysis. Grieder says her already close relationship with her mom grew so much during this time when their roles switched.

“I remember brushing her hair one day after she had her shower,” Grieder says. “It hit her like a rock. I told her, ‘We’re going to get through this no matter what, that’s what we’re here for.’”

( l to r): Kandy Schminke; Taylor and Cody Schminke; grandkids Evie, Beau, Wade and Savannah; Paul and Chelsea Schminke Grieder; and Al Schminke.

(Provided by Chelsea Schminke Grieder)

How Resiliency Grows

There’s no doubt Grieder has experienced a lot in the past 10 years. She and her husband now have two kids, Savannah, 6, and Beau, 4. She is also serving as the director of junior activities and events for Team Purebred, a national junior livestock organization for kids in the swine industry.

“She’s always looking out for others,” her mom says. “She works hard to make Team Purebred as strong as she can. She really digs in. We all go through ups and downs in life. Everybody has different things going on. I think that’s one strong thing that she does, is that she can handle it.”

Resiliency is important for everyone, but Grieder believes it’s essential for a livestock farming family.

“I think it’s built into you a little bit,” she adds. “You learn a lot from the circle of life on the farm and the ups and downs of showing livestock. I learned that my path isn’t going to be straight in life and no matter what, you have to get out of bed and keep going for the people around you.”

Grieder shares more about their family’s journey as well as her vision for Team Purebred and passion for connecting young people to agriculture on The PORK Podcast. You can watch it here on YouTube or listen anywhere podcasts are found.

Watch more episodes here.

Australian Pig Farmer Embarks on 10,000-Mile Journey to Explore U.S. Pork Industry

Wed, 20 Aug 2025 16:36:36 GMT

Nearly 10,000 miles away, Australian pork producer Shaun Blenkiron decided to check off an item on his bucket list: travel to the United States to see how U.S. pig farms operate and attend the World Pork Expo.

As part of the 2025 Australian Pork Limited Pork Leadership Course (PLC), Blenkiron was one of six applicants chosen out of a pool of 30 pork producers representing pig farms across Australia.

“Back in February, the six of us rolled up to our first session. We had never met each other before and were thrown in the deep end with a course designed to build relationships and find everyone’s strengths and weaknesses,” Blenkiron says. “The connection we formed back then is something we’ll never find again – it was pretty special.”

In addition to this, Australian journalist and celebrity Shelly Horton led the group in a media training session where the delegates were “thrown under the bus” and taught how to answer tough questions on camera, he says.

(Provided by Shaun Blenkiron)

But the best part of the program – the international tour to the U.S. – was an opportunity he will never forget. The group toured through farms in California, Colorado and Iowa.

“It’s been unbelievable,” Blenkiron says. “The agriculture scene here has a great future with the kids coming up in it. That really stood out to me during our tours. There’s a lot of excitement among your younger generation.”

The U.S. Opportunity
From almond farms and buffalo ranches to beef feedlots and catfish farms, the young Australian leaders were exposed to a variety of agricultural pursuits during their tour to the U.S. One of the “wow moments” for Blenkiron was touring Brenneman Farms in Iowa.

(Provided by Shaun Blenkiron)

“The innovation, technology and the tidiness of the place was unbelievable,” he says. “Their willingness to adapt struck me. They are very nice people working at a big scale in pork production. It blew my mind how it was done so efficiently.”

One of the biggest takeaways from his tour in the U.S. was the impressive litter sizes in the U.S.

“U.S. litter size is unbelievably higher than ours,” Blenkiron says. “I think that goes with being so efficient. The Brennemans’ operation is down to the T, and I know they aren’t the only operation like that.”

He says the other big difference between U.S. and Australian pork production is the difference in margin per pig.

“I noticed your margin per pig is not very high compared to ours,” Blenkiron says. “I guess that’s why the U.S. is in such a large scale. If we were making $10 or $15 a head at home, I’d be broke tomorrow.”

Gumshire Pork — Barossa Valley, South Australia

(John Kruger )

Raising Pigs in South Australia
The Blenkiron family operates a multi-generational farm, Gumshire Pork, in South Australia. It consists of a 300-sow purebred Hampshire, Large White and Landrace farrow-to-finish operation and a boar stud.

“We could expand to 500 sows space-wise, but we are sticking to 300 for now, working on adding value, improving what we actually have, particularly with the Hampshire breed,” he says.

Gumshire Pork operates out of straw-based eco shelters in an open housing system. He says the only time pigs are on slats is when they are in the farrowing rooms.

Gumshire Pork — Barossa Valley, South Australia

(Photo: John Krüger)

“In Australia, we’re stall free,” he says. “Our country is also beginning to push for lactating stall free pens as well. Companies at home are innovating things to put in place with the lactating open pens rather than a farrowing crate. I know Europe had pushed it. So that means we have to be on the front foot and ready for it here, too.”

Gumshire Pork markets its own meat label. They supply many butchers in the local area throughout the Barossa Valley, Adelaide Hills and Clare Valley.

“Hampshire pork is going brilliantly,” Blenkiron says. “The demand is massive. We’ve won Champion Pork Product the last two years in a row through the Sydney Fine Foods Awards.”

He says selling private-label pork is a good business now.

“The Australian pork industry is at a high and looking to improve this year,” he adds. “Pork demand is up and consumption in Australia has increased. We’ve got more fresh cuts in our supermarkets compared to the U.S. The selection of fresh cuts seems very limited here in the grocery stores we toured.”

Editor Jennifer Shike caught this picture of the Gumshire Pork label at a winery in the Barossa Valley in 2019.

(Jennifer Shike)

What Health Challenges do Australian Pig Farmers Face?
Although he couldn’t wait to get back to his farm and see his family, Blenkiron’s return took a while as the Australian producers completed a week quarantine off their farms. They bought boots and shoes at Wal-Mart and left them in the U.S. to avoid bringing back any disease, Blenkiron says.

“We don’t have problems with diseases like porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) in Australia,” he says. “The clothes we took to pig farms were all thrown out. We never touched a pig, but we were still in their air space and want to take extra biosecurity precautions.”

Gumshire Pork — Barossa Valley, South Australia

( John Krüger)

One of his country’s biggest health challenges now is Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV), an emerging zoonotic disease transmitted by JEV-infected mosquitos.

“How do you control a mosquito? You can’t control a mosquito and the water birds that move JEV around,” Blenkiron says. “Where we are located is lucky in this case. We’re too dry to get a buildup of mosquitoes, and it gets too cold in the winter.”

African swine fever (ASF) is on the minds of many Australian pork producers who know the virus is “knocking at the door,” but he says that’s the same challenge the U.S. faces, too.

How Pork Power Couple Rob and Char Brenneman Built a Legacy

Fri, 15 Aug 2025 16:10:07 GMT

Although Rob and Char Brenneman approach driving differently, their team is quick to point out they are both good drivers.

“Rob is the gas pedal and Char is the brakes,” says Erin Brenneman, their daughter-in-law and education and event coordinator at Brenneman Pork. “Nobody is slamming on either pedal unnecessarily and there is always a check and balance in play.”

That check-and-balance approach has helped the couple turn Rob’s childhood hog project into a thriving pork business today. They survived the farm crisis of the 1980s, overcame industry challenges and quit their day jobs in the late 1980s to focus on building their hog operation in Washington, Iowa.

“We committed to raising pigs,” Rob says. “When feeder pigs turned around and we had all the debt paid off, it felt like it would work. We thought we knew how to raise pigs better than anybody, so we said, ‘we’re going to continue to do this.’”

It Was Always Plan A
Every year since 1988, they put up a building to expand their business. They eventually formed a corporation. Together, they worked to grow their dream. Char credits that Rob’s passion kept her going, but Rob says it was Char that kept him going.

“Without her, it would have not worked at all,” he says.

(Provided by Rob and Char Brenneman)

He also credits his FFA teacher Duane Sprouse for giving him one of the best pieces of advice when Rob was a freshman in high school.

“I asked Mr. Sprouse how a person farms and gets big like other guys,” Rob says. “He told me, ‘Where there’s a will, there’s a way.’ I’ve never forgotten that. He inspired a desire in me to never give up.”

Lindsay Greiner, Rob’s best friend, recently reminded Rob that he never had a plan B – that it was only going to work as a plan A.

“He was right – plan B was not an option. Failure was not an option,” Rob says. “We were going to make it work, whether it took all night, all day, or whatever. And that’s what we did, that’s what built our business.”

Humbling Moments
In the midst of expanding Brenneman Pork, Rob says he learned a valuable lesson taking a job with UPS.

“I learned how to organize,” he explains. “When you left that center, your truck was organized. You knew exactly where you were going. When I got to Washington, if I didn’t get there by 9:15 a.m., the Pepsi truck was in the alleyway, and you were toast for two hours. You had to make sure nothing was going to stop you from being to this point by 9:14 because you did not want to get behind the Pepsi truck.”

He says that helped him build his pig business more efficiently and profitably. The rules were strict, and the lines were drawn. Rob was known for keeping the pressure on his employees.

One morning he vividly recalls when he was working in weaning with some of his team and things just weren’t going right.

“I kind of went ballistic,” Rob admits. “We had five employees, and all five of them walked out the door. I came back to the kitchen to see Char. She was getting breakfast ready, and I looked at her, and I said, ‘Honey, what are we going to do?’”

Char says her response was pretty pointed that day.

“I said, ‘No, what are you going to do?’” she recalls.

Rob realized at that point that something had to change.

“I learned I had to maintain the heat to get things done, but I had to do it in a better way,” he says. “Char coached me through that. I got a few employees to come back and then we started picking up a few employees here and there. It took a lot of coaching from Char.”

Performance Reviews and Buzzers
Establishing a positive culture at Brenneman Pork has been critical to the farm’s growth.

“It’s a work in progress,” Char says. “It’s all about getting the right people in the right spot, and that’s often trial and error. However, a lot of that is treating people right and showing them your expectations. If they know your expectations (and you can communicate and they can communicate back), it’ll get there.”

People want to be successful, Rob points out. That’s why he studies the performance of his employees to figure out how they can be better.

(National Pork Board and the Pork Checkoff)

“I don’t expect anybody to do anything that I haven’t or won’t do,” he says. “Every time I pass off a job, I want to see how we can improve. Because if we make it better, it’s better for the pig and it’s better for the employee.”

There are many examples of how Rob pushed the gas on expanding Brenneman Pork, while Char hit the brakes.

“Every time I’d have an idea, I’d say, ‘We need to add gestation crates, honey.’ And she would say, ‘How soon do we have to add farrowing crates?’” Rob shares. “Then I’d say, ‘Oh, we’ll be all right.’ Six months later, I’d say, “We need to have some farrowing crates.’ That went on for 15 years.”

He quickly realized if he could sell Char on an idea, he could sell the bank on it. If he couldn’t sell Char on it, it wasn’t going to happen. She says it’s important to be able to be up front and talk about everything in the business.

“Not a lot of husband and wives can work side by side for years,” she says.

And through those years, they’ve learned how to make it work, even when Rob made poor decisions to “buzz her in the rear end with the buzzer” while loading pigs.

“That was a problem,” she laughs. “I taught him he could load pigs himself when that happened!”

Bigger Than Family
The family legacy the Brennemans have created is special. Rob says he prays every day and night that his kids and grandkids can have the opportunity to be involved in the family operation.

“The pork business is great,” he says. “We get a lot of bad raps, but I think as we continue to do what we do, we will be more appreciated as time goes on.”

Char hopes their pork operation is an opportunity for young people in their community, too.

“We want them to be in agriculture,” Char says. “There are so many different avenues that you can go. It’s not just taking care of a pig. You can be an accountant, a mechanic, an electrician, and all of it can be right here at Brenneman Pork.”

Find out how Rob and Char built their business, discover Rob’s thoughts about leading the National Pork Producers Council in 2026 and find out how Brenneman Pork has benefited from TN visa labor in the 26th episode of The PORK Podcast. Watch this episode on YouTube or listen anywhere podcasts are found.

There's No Tired Like State Fair Tired

Wed, 13 Aug 2025 14:58:46 GMT

You don’t know tired until you know end-of-state-fair tired. I’m on day 1,247 of the state fair or so it feels today. I’m not sure what day of the week it is or what’s happening in the next hour. I know I showered today, but it probably wasn’t obvious as I was instantly covered in dirt, sweat and who knows what within my first hour in the barn.

I realize I am not the only one who feels this way as I’m greeted by fellow show parents suffering from the same affliction. We knowingly nod and putter on, cleaning pens, tidying up our tack areas and adding more ice to the cooler.

Sadly, state fair mini donuts and coffee aren’t enough to wake us from the state fair stupor.

But goodness, it’s a good kind of tired. It’s the kind of tired that reminds me there is nothing better than working hard for something and knowing you gave it your best.

It’s the kind of tired knowing that this week you anticipate all year is coming to an end, requiring you to move on to the next thing. But truth be told, you just want time to stand still for a few minutes so you can soak it all in through those tired eyes.

Because these are the moments we live for as show parents.

The fierce determination on her face as she takes her first sheep into the show ring at the state fair.

(Cindy’s Livestock Photos)
The conversations and coaching on the way to the show ring.

(Jennifer Shike)
The laughter of kids united by a common passion, kids who see the world through a different lens than others.

(Jennifer Shike)

The friend who always steps in to help without being asked.

(Jennifer Shike)

The smile she can’t contain as she shakes the judge’s hand.

(BROOKLYNN SALO/Cindy’s Livestock Photos)
The connection between kids and animals that reminds you there are some places in your heart that humans can’t fill.

(Jennifer Shike)

We live a lot of life in these show barns. Some of it’s fun to talk about and some of it’s not. But in the good times and in the tough times, we grow and we learn. We find out how to understand others better and we realize this world isn’t all about us. We get humbled, we get praised, we get hurt, we get redeemed, and we gain perspective.

These tired eyes aren’t just for lack of sleep during state fair week, but rather for a lot of life lived.

Parents aren’t the only tired ones!

(Jennifer Shike)

Read More: No, He’s Not a Buffalo: Why We Can’t Avoid Their Questions Anymore

A Time of Transition for the Purebred Swine Industry

Mon, 04 Aug 2025 14:05:06 GMT

What’s next for the purebred swine industry? That’s a good question and one that a passionate group of people are exploring and asking of themselves right now.

“The purebred side of the business is constantly changing,” says Clay Zwilling, CEO of the National Swine Registry. “It’s a dynamic industry. I think we truly are in a place of transition. We always talk about the generational gap. But the industry is so fast paced that even in my short tenure of being gone, it changed so much.”

After leading the National Swine Registry for four years, Zwilling decided to make a career change for his family. But his passion for the purebred swine industry drew him back in 2024.

“A lot of what we’re focused on now as an organization is creating sustainability from a breeder base and from a generational knowledge standpoint,” he explains. “We are focusing on educational activities like our Young Breeder Forum held before NSR’s Draft Sale and partnering with National Pork Board and showpig.com to create the National Show Pig Summit to bring people together and have critical discussions.”

National Swine Registry CEO Clay Zwilling

(Legacy Livestock Imaging)

Of course, he says NSR never wants to lose sight of the bigger industry as well. From participating in the U.S. Swine Health Improvement Plan to collaborating on industry biosecurity efforts to working with National Pork Board, Zwilling says it’s critical to the future of the purebred industry to be actively engaged strategic partners in these efforts.

Are Youth Swine Shows Shrinking?
Although there have been many exciting conversations around digital pedigree systems and branded pork programs, Zwilling says one of the big topics of conversations NSR is having right now is around talent build in the industry and developing young people.

“We get so focused at the shows on the pig. Is this pig what we expect in terms of phenotypic quality? What did this judge say about my pig? How am I making breeding decisions that are important to the business?” Zwilling says. “But at the end of the day, what are we actually trying to do with these pigs as a product? To me, beyond the pig ultimately ending up in the food chain, we have to consider what we are trying to teach young people.”

He estimates a third of the exhibitors at the National Junior Summer Spectacular held in Louisville, Ky., this summer were new families. With the significant rise in the price of the pig project in the last few years, he says that is pretty incredible.

Stormi Swaim showing Hampshire pig

“We know with inflation, the cost of travel, feed, all those things have gone up,” Zwilling says. “I think that’s why my perspective has changed a lot in focusing on how many families are engaged (and how many are new) versus how many pigs are actually at the show.”

He believes pig numbers will likely level out and maybe even retract some in terms of actual numbers exhibited at shows. That’s why he is focused on the exhibitors.

“If the exhibitor number continues to grow and new families come in, that tells me we’re in a healthy place in our business,” he says.

But he admits he’s concerned about county and state fair participation. Zwilling says national shows like the ones offered by the National Junior Swine Association and Team Purebred, have “super fans” who are highly committed to engagement.

“Candidly, if we look at the average Midwest county fair, livestock numbers as a whole, but particularly in the pig barn, are on the decline,” he adds. “I think a lot of it does have to do with the economic factor of it and we have a lot of discussions in the boardroom on bringing in new participation.”

Show pigs are the most accessible for young families in his opinion. That’s why he is driven to focus on engaging new exhibitors and new families to try out the show pig project.

“The cycle of which we sell pigs because of the maturity of the pigs we show today has certainly changed,” he says. “I think we need to start having the discussion of merchandising pigs to specific endpoints in specific places.”

An Attention Competition
In a time where everyone’s competing for time, talent and resources, providing the best experience possible isn’t just important, it’s crucial, Zwilling says.

“Without our members, we’re not here,” he says. “A lot of people may not know this, but at heart, I am a people pleaser. I want everyone to be happy and have a positive experience. I’ve realized I can’t do that all the time because it’s not feasible or realistic. But I do want to identify things that don’t go well and figure out how to make them better. I want people to feel heard.”

Perhaps even more important to Zwilling is to remember that NSR is reaching consumers.

“We’re in the animal protein space, and regardless of whether you have one sow or 100,000+ sows, that’s where pigs are ultimately going to end up,” he says. “We were able to partner with National Pork Board to bring a cooking competition for kids to the National Junior Summer Spectacular. Frankly, with the new consumer facing campaign, Taste What Pork Can Do, it just aligned really well for us to try out this contest this year.”

A team of chefs from Oklahoma work on a tasty dish utilizing pork loin.

(Jennifer Shike)

Teams of young chefs participated in a cooking demonstration by a chef, learning about how to best prepare pork.

“The feedback I got from participants was, 1) we had a ton of fun and 2) it was really interesting to hear the chef talk about the preparation of pork and the different philosophies around cooking pork,” Zwilling says. “Our goal should always be to drive consumer demand and interest in eating pork. If that contest provides a little context around that and a new appreciation for eating pork, it’s worth it for us to invest in doing.”

It’s hard, but he says we have to accept the reality that the majority of our talent in the swine industry doesn’t come from a traditional farm background anymore.

“Projects like this create that passion, create that knowledge, and then open the gateway to ultimately go on and pursue a career in the pork industry,” Zwilling says. “It excites me to know we have a group of young people who are passionate about taking care of pigs and being involved in the pig business.”

Listen to The PORK Podcast to listen to the full conversation on the future of the purebred swine industry and the most valuable leadership lesson Zwilling has learned over the years. Watch this episode on YouTube or listen anywhere podcasts are found.

Read More:

Don’t Let Them Go: We Need to Try Harder to Keep Them in the Swine Industry

Why Keystone Cooperative is Investing in the Stock Show Industry

From Tobacco to Pork Production: Move Allows Farmers to Bring Home the Bacon

Fri, 01 Aug 2025 13:44:53 GMT

Transitioning from tobacco production to pork production requires a big leap of faith for farmers. Some North Carolina farmers say if the move is done right, changing a farm’s main commodity offers both financial and experiential rewards.

“From Bright Leaf to Berkshires” is a North Carolina A&T (N.C. A&T) Cooperative Extension program helping some farmers make that leap.

N.C. A&T Extension swine specialist and program director Derrick Coble says the program’s goal is to provide tobacco farmers who have been financially impacted by tobacco policy and social changes with options to improve their farms’ profitability.

The program trains farmers to produce Berkshire pigs using hoop structure barns.

“Hoop house structures originated in Canada at the turn of the century,” Coble says in a USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) release . “Inside the hoop house, the deep-bedded system filled with hay, sawdust or anything fibrous will absorb waste. These structures also have walls that can be pulled down so it can be managed as a cold barn during winter.”

Training Is Not Optional
Raising hogs today is much different than it used to be, says Caswell County farmer Santonio Bolton.

“It’s all about quality,” Bolton says in the release. “It’s all about biosecurity. It’s about learning so many different things that you don’t think of when you grow up doing it on a farm.”

Funding from the North Carolina Tobacco Trust Fund Commission has helped 18 farmers graduate from the Extension program. NIFA says they will receive assistance for the next two years to make sure all participants’ entry into pork production allows them to ‘bring home the bacon.’

According to Coble, the program has accounted for 25 jobs, $552,500 worth of pork products sold, and more than $22,000 in tax revenue for the state of North Carolina.

Growth Opportunities
NIFA program leader Solomon Haile says the N.C. A&T program illustrates how Extension programs can foster farmers’ willingness to expand their operations into new and profitable areas.

“Profitability is an ongoing challenge for farmers and even more so for ones with smaller operations,” Haile says in a release. “Extension programs, like the From Bright Leaf to Berkshires effort, open producers’ eyes to new opportunities and more importantly, they provide the hands-on training and support needed to turn those opportunities into real success stories.”

Aspiring hog farmers learn about production basics, such as nutrition and reproduction. They also dig into more advanced topics in waste management, welfare and behavior, diseases and niche marketing opportunities.

Sampson County farmer and returning N.C. A&T student, Kevin Chestnutt, says the program allows him to connect with other producers across the state.

“We were versed in artificial insemination, the science behind the diets that you feed pigs in order to maximize the production of pork that you’d get from an animal,” Chestnutt says in a release. “I was originally raised on a hog farm in Sampson County, and with this, I want to preserve the past and embrace the future at the same time.”

Keep Reading:
Find out how Aaron Blackmon, a North Carolina extension agent and first-generation farmer, discovered his passion through mentorship and now carries on a farm’s legacy with dedication.

Born to Farm: The Story of a Second-Generation Pig Producer

Mon, 28 Jul 2025 15:59:35 GMT

With California’s agricultural land becoming increasingly more expensive and regulations tightening, some farmers are seeking new opportunities elsewhere. For the Robinson Family, the answer was Oklahoma — a place where wide-open land and a deep-rooted farming community offered a setting for a fresh start.

“We started our first hog farm in 1997 when we moved to Oklahoma,” says Tanner Robinson, farm manager at Robinson Family Farms.

The Robinson family. Front row (l to r): Liddon Robinson, Cody Robinson, Tyler Robinson. Back row (l to r): Eddie Robinson, Tanner Robinson and Richard Robinson.

(Robinson family)

Tanner’s father, Eddie Robinson, worked at a fiberglass store in California but had always loved animals, especially pigs. Eddie went to Oklahoma to see one of his uncles and toured a friend’s hog farm. He loved it and moved the family to Oklahoma when Tanner was 8 years old.

“My uncle Rich and my dad became partners and created Robinson Family Farms,” Tanner says. “Our lives completely changed.”

After graduating from high school, Tanner pursued an animal science degree at Oklahoma State University where he graduated in 2012.

“I came home after college and fell into the family plan of pig farming,” Tanner says. “I loved the family aspect of going to work every day with my dad, uncle, cousins and brothers.”

Just Like His Dad
Watching the hard work Eddie put in and his determination to never give up on himself was just the encouragement Tanner needed to follow in his footsteps.

“My dad pretty much groomed us to work alongside him,” Tanner says. “From a young age, I knew this is what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. It is the only thing I have ever done, and it is all I know.”

Tanner became the farm manager of Robinson Family Farms a few years after he graduated from college. The genetics and production at the farm has increased significantly since his dad started the operation, he says. The farm started with around 2,500 sows and now has about 20,000.

“It was simpler back when my dad started this,” Tanner says. “It was easier as far as animal rights and regulations. We have more audits now and requirements to make sure we are in compliance for Walmart because of our contract with Tyson Foods.”

“The goal right now for Tyson Foods’ farms is to get 30 pigs per sow per year,” Tanner says.

Tanner’s life changed because of hog farming, he says. He looks forward to what is to come for the future of his family’s operation.

Partnering for Success
Robinson Family Farms is a contract producer for Tyson, explains Luke Williams, production manager at Tyson Foods. He has been working with Tanner to oversee all of the Robinson Family Farm sites for just over two years.

Williams works with Tanner and his family to help them achieve a better paycheck by producing more pigs. Williams helps with anything from advising them on better production practices to giving advice on management and anything that helps hit the production targets.

Tanner has grown up with this lifestyle, so he is willing to work and is not afraid to get in the barn and work on being better, Williams adds. He has good ethics for pig farming, too.

“Tanner is upfront and honest with you,” Williams says. “Tanner loves what he does and is willing to put in the extra effort to be the best producer he can be.”

The agricultural industry is constantly pushing to improve, he adds.

“Being a second-generation producer, I often come across people saying they have always done it one way and they have no desire to change anything, even though there are better practices,” Williams says. “With Tanner, he is willing to try new techniques, and he is open minded to updating practices even if his father did it a different way, which I appreciate.”

A Family Affair
Eddie and his brother kept buying more pigs and were extremely eager once they moved to Oklahoma, so the production just kept growing, says Cody Robinson, Tanner’s younger brother and farm manager. Something that started small turned into something big.

“All together the Robinson family has 13 different pig farms,” Cody says. “Tanner and I run different farms, but we talk all day every day about pigs. Tanner has been my best friend since we were little kids, and I have always looked up to him.”

When the family moved to Oklahoma, their lives revolved around hog farming, and they were eager to continue to live out their father’s passion, Cody says.

“When our father died in 2024, we knew we wanted to try our best to work together to keep the operation going,” Cody adds.

One of the biggest challenges they face today is finding and keeping good employees, especially with the impact of inflation, Cody points out.

“Pig farming is not for everyone,” he says.

Their biggest struggle has been finding employees to work on the farm. Thankfully the brothers work well together.

“You would think there would be some conflict with working with your brother every day, but there isn’t for us,” Cody says, who also graduated with a degree in animal science from Oklahoma State University. “We know the ins and outs of each other, and all we have ever known is pig farming, so by this point we are able to work well together every day.”

Beyond a professional partnership, Cody has deep respect and admiration for Tanner, emphasizing not only his skills as a hog farmer but also his character as a person.

“I can’t really say enough about Tanner because of how highly I think about him,” Cody says. “I know he’s my brother and I may be biased, but he is a really good man and a really good hog farmer.”

Why Keystone Cooperative is Investing in the Stock Show Industry

Fri, 11 Jul 2025 15:31:27 GMT

When it comes to hiring employees, Keystone Cooperative, Inc., looks for three core competencies: customer focus, drive for results and teamwork. The company says it is finding its next generation of employees within organizations like the National Junior Swine Association (NJSA).

“We talk a lot at Keystone about these core competencies, and you definitely must have all three if you’re going to be successful in the show ring,” says Nathan Hedden, vice president of swine and animal nutrition at Keystone. “You have to work hard at home and that will end up bringing the other three competencies along.”

Keystone is a farmer-owned cooperative with roots that go back to 1927, Hedden explains. Based in Indianapolis, Ind., the company operates in Indiana, Ohio, Illinois and Michigan.

“We have 2,000 employees at Keystone across four different divisions: agronomy, energy, grain, swine and animal nutrition,” Hedden says. “It really made sense for us to partner with NJSA. When we think about talent, we want to be the employer of choice in the Midwest, not just in agriculture, but across all different industries. We see this as the next talent pool to continue to grow Keystone.”

(Legacy Livestock Imaging)

During the National Junior Summer Spectacular in Louisville, Ky., Keystone representatives were on site watching the show and meeting young people from all over the country.

More than 600 exhibitors from 28 states brought 1,324 pigs to the event, says Clay Zwilling, CEO of the National Swine Registry.

“One of the things that was the most exciting for me was asking how many of new families were in the crowd at our opening ceremonies,” Zwilling says. “Probably a third of the crowd raised their hands. It really heeds to the passion people have for this industry and the excitement of the long-term engagement and sustainability of our side of the business for young families that are coming in and getting engaged.”

(Jennifer Shike)

Molding Leaders
NJSA is focused on developing the next generation of leaders for the pork industry, Zwilling says.

“It’s been really exciting to watch this grow and blossom and be able to connect really talented young people back into the pork industry,” Zwilling says. “The number of new employees and tenured employees at Keystone that have come through the junior livestock project, and specifically NJSA, is incredible.”

The core competencies that Hedden looks for align with NJSA’s focus, he adds.

“It’s incredible to watch little kids that we’ve got to encourage to break out of their shell go on to have success in the show ring and ultimately come back to the industry as talented leaders,” Zwilling says. “I think this alignment makes a ton of sense. I’m very excited about the future and appreciate the support of people willing to help invest in these kids.”

It’s A Big Industry
The stockmanship skills youth learn raising and showing pigs is another reason Keystone was drawn to support this youth swine program.

“We have 282 sites across the Midwest where we raise pigs today, working with an independent farmer who is actually taking care of those pigs,” Hedden explains. “Well, as those farms have grown, we’ve seen a lot of those operations that haven’t had pigs or maybe haven’t had pigs for a while and haven’t kept up with the technology that’s available today, want to raise pigs again. If you can find employees with stockmanship skills that can stand in the gap and help them learn and develop that, that creates a huge competitive advantage for us.”

The pork industry is full of opportunities, Hedden adds. He’s committed to helping youth see that there is more waiting for them after they finish showing pigs.

“It doesn’t end at the end of your show career,” he says. “Find people that you can talk to, maybe even ride along with, to better understand what they do. That may help you find your passion for what you want to do next.”

Don’t Let Them Go: We Need to Try Harder to Keep Them in the Swine Industry

Tue, 08 Jul 2025 17:14:34 GMT

It makes sense why we struggle to find people to come back to the farm and put in long, hard days working with livestock. It’s not easy. People don’t understand what it’s all about. With more and more generations removed from the family farm, the pool of potential employees continues to shrink.

There is no question that visa programs are making a big difference. But I believe the swine industry is missing opportunities by not investing more into the next generation of kids who simply love pigs.

The pork industry needs to recruit kids when they are young to help them realize there are lots of opportunities for kids who like working with pigs.

(Jennifer Shike)

I’ve spent the last month on the road watching hardworking, driven, talented young people chase big dreams – and contrary to what some may think, they aren’t just dreams about banners. They are dreaming about so much more because of the opportunities the National Junior Swine Association (NJSA) and Team Purebred are providing to gain knowledge, develop leadership skills and explore career opportunities.

They Know How to Work
For Nathan Hedden, vice president of swine and animal nutrition at Keystone Cooperative, Inc., there’s no better place to find his future work force.

Youth participate in the first Foundations of Flavor Cooking Contest at the National Junior Summer Spectacular.

(Kyle Knauth)

“We don’t just see young people in the NJSA—we see our future. These youth bring grit, passion and a work ethic that mirrors our values,” says Nathan Hedden, vice president of swine and animal nutrition at Keystone Cooperative. “These kids know how to work. That’s why we’re fully invested—not only in their success, but in building a pipeline of leaders who will shape the future of agriculture, protein production and beyond.”

It’s easy to discredit things you don’t understand. I am excited to see more commercial swine producers and industry partners engage with these kids who have a passion for the swine industry.

One of the greatest gifts you can give someone is your time and attention. Merck Animal Health’s Dr. Abby Redalin and Eric Fugate offers insight to a junior exhibitor at The Exposition.

(Legacy Livestock Imaging)

Give Them a Chance
It’s not hard to find stories of incredible leaders who found their path to the pork industry because of youth programs. Paul Ayers shares how a hands-on activity during a Pork Quality Assurance training session years ago sparked his curiosity and inspired a career as the animal care programs manager for The Maschhoffs today in a recent column .

(Country View Family Farms)

For Courtney Case, our newest Barn Hero, managing a 5,000-sow farm for Country View Family Farms wasn’t on her radar as a city kid. But through 4-H, she was exposed to showing pigs where she uncovered a passion for working with animals. This led her to pursue a degree in animal science at Delaware Valley University and an internship that changed her life. Read her story here.

We need more Courtneys and Pauls. Their stories show what can happen when we pass on our passion to others.

Say Yes
My son’s favorite part of competing in the speaking and skill-a-thon contests offered at these shows is interacting with swine breeders and industry leaders. From the outside, it might look like a group of people evaluating his knowledge, but it is more than that. It is a group of people encouraging and pointing to the pork industry with every question they presented him to figure out.

Their time made a difference.

Kyle Crowder, an Indiana pork producer and member of the Indiana Pork board of directors, facilitates a station in the skillathon contest at The Exposition.

(OG Media)

We can’t fix this problem by talking about it. We’ve got to do something. If you aren’t sure where to start, check with your local 4-H program. Volunteer to judge projects or be an official at a local judging contest. Ask the National Junior Swine Association and Team Purebred organizations if they need financial support or help with the contests.

The worst thing we can do is let them go without trying to keep them.

Lighting the Spark: Why Investing in Youth Is Vital to the Future of the Swine Industry

Thu, 03 Jul 2025 16:25:11 GMT

By Paul Ayers

What was your spark?

For many of us, our path into the swine industry wasn’t forged by accident. It was ignited by a spark that lit out passion for agriculture. In 4-H, a “spark” is defined as something that gives a young person’s life purpose, direction and meaning. It’s the thing that excites them, challenges them and keeps them coming back for more.

For me, that spark came from a local 4-H extension agent who challenged me to get involved in swine projects. I still remember a hands-on activity during a Pork Quality Assurance (PQA) training session in which he made complex concepts feel real and relevant. That experience didn’t just teach me about pigs – it sparked my curiosity and inspired me to pursue a career in swine production.

Recently, I had the chance to lead a similar PQA activity with our local 4-H youth. Watching their curiosity grow, I couldn’t help but hope it might light a spark for them the way it once did for me.

Investing in Tomorrow’s Leaders
Our industry’s future depends on people – innovators, caretakers, leaders – and they don’t appear overnight. They’re developed through early exposure, guidance and mentorship. Programs like 4-H and FFA teach far more than animal care; they instill responsibility, leadership and resilience. But these programs only thrive when adults invest time and energy into them.

That’s why I’m proud to work at The Maschhoffs, where our purpose is “feeding families and building communities.” That purpose isn’t just a tagline, it’s something we live out every day. One of the ways we do that is by giving every employee a paid volunteer day to support causes they’re passionate about. For many of us, that means showing up for youth in agriculture. Whether that’s mentoring a local 4-H’er or volunteering at a fair, we all can be the spark for someone else.

A Call to Action: Be the Spark
So here’s my challenge to you: think about who sparked your interest in this industry. Reach out and thank them. Then, pay it forward. Volunteer at a youth livestock show, speak to a local ag class, or invite a young person to your farm. Even the smallest gesture can make a lifelong impact.

Our barns will need managers. Our companies will need innovators. Our industry will need leaders. And they’re out there – right now – waiting for someone to believe in them. The future of pork production doesn’t just lie in our genetics or technology; it lies in the hearts and hands of the next generation. Let’s make sure they find their spark.

Paul Ayers is the animal care programs manager for The Maschhoffs.

Your Next Read: Show Pig Exhibitors: Future Talent the U.S. Pork Industry Needs

Every Pig, Every Day: Barn Hero Courtney Case Raises the Bar

Wed, 02 Jul 2025 15:08:38 GMT

Courtney Case is inspired every day to do her small part to feed the world and make sure it’s done the right way on the sow farm she manages. Her first priority is caring for the sows, but building a positive culture for her team is a close second.

As people become further removed from the farm, they may struggle to understand modern livestock production practices. But Courtney Case says it’s simple. Every day she tries to make life better inside of the barn for the sows and pigs in her care. Her biggest frustration is hearing people use the words “factory farm” as it completely misrepresents what she does every day. For Case, raising pigs is all about individual care for each pig every day.

“A big part of my job is making observations on what’s working well and what can we improve on,” says Case, who manages Smiling Porker Sow Farm, a 5,000-sow farm in Morris, Pa. “Every day our team makes sure that every pig is getting feed and water, that the air quality is excellent and vaccines are up to date. We make sure they get everything they need at every stage of their life.”

It’s not about checking a box, Case says.

“I come to work to do my small part to feed the world,” she explains. “I work with animal protein. They will feed us, and I am going to ensure they have the best life possible.”

Her commitment to care for every pig and for every person on her team makes Case a barn hero who sets a high bar that others strive to reach each day.

City Girl Goes Country
Case didn’t grow up on a farm, but her parents found a way for her to be involved in the local 4-H program. Along the way, she learned how to care for animals and showed dairy cattle and pigs.

“One of my 4-H leaders went to Delaware Valley University and got a degree in animal science,” Case says. “I didn’t know exactly what I wanted to do, but I loved working with animals. I thought I wanted to be a vet or a nutritionist, so I decided to pursue an animal science degree at Delaware Valley University.”

While she was in college, she interned with Country View Family Farms (CVFF) the summer before her senior year. That internship changed her life, she says. The 20-year-old at the time realized she could make a living doing something she loved – caring for animals.

“The funny thing is, I had never been on a commercial-sized pig farm before that internship,” Case says. “But I knew I liked pigs. When I showed up to the 1,400-sow farm, which is now small to me, I remember looking into the gestation barn and thinking, ‘Oh my goodness, what am I signing up for?’”

What she believed would be overwhelming didn’t feel that way for long. Case’s experience helped her realize opportunities she never dreamed were possible. CVFF offered her a job when she graduated early that December. On Jan. 4, 2011, she went to work as a technician on a farm in southern Pennsylvania and over time, moved up the chain of leadership until she landed in her current role as sow manager.

At Smiling Porker Sow Farm, she oversees the daily care of 5,000 sows on a “plus farm” that is California Prop 12 compliant. She also manages 20 team members, including one assistant manager, a breeding department lead and a farrowing department lead.

“A big part of my role is supporting my team in their roles and overseeing anything they might need, engaging them and getting the most out of our team,” she says. “It’s also about ensuring the safety of the team and the biosecurity of the sow farm.”

A Shifting Landscape
In the past 15 years, Case has experienced many changes in the pork industry. Perhaps the biggest change is the workforce.

“When I started, it was all local employees,” she says. “We all spoke the same language and were all from this area. That’s totally changed. I’m the minority in my farm now and most of my team members are international and speak Spanish.”

Case is not bilingual, though she can understand a little Spanish. She says building a team despite having a language barrier requires her to be resourceful and relentless in creating connection. She considers herself very fortunate to work with one of their company’s first international hires – Roberto Galindo – who now serves as the farrowing lead at Smiling Porker. He started working at the company through a visa program that hires employees from Mexico to work in the U.S.

“Roberto helps me if I need to communicate something beyond what I can do with Google Translate (which is a fantastic tool),” she says. “There could be a lot of stuff that doesn’t get said that needs to be said when you speak different languages. Even though it may be inconvenient or hard, you need to make the effort.”

Galindo says her efforts to bridge that gap are appreciated more than she knows.

“Courtney has spent years surrounded by Spanish-speaking coworkers, which has allowed her to understand the language quite well, even though she is not yet able to speak it,” Galindo says. “It would not surprise me if, in a few years, she becomes bilingual.”

Progressive Approach to Production
Case is proud to work for a company that is progressive, always on the cutting edge of things, trying to think ahead to what the industry and customers want.

“I consider myself very blessed to experience this type of an environment,” she says. “It can be a challenge in the moment, but it’s an awesome experience to have some of the things in place that we do today like antibiotic-free production, Prop 12 compliance and maternity crates. It’s a blessing in hindsight to have that experience in all of these different ways to manage sows.”

If she’s honest, most of these new management approaches didn’t come with an instruction book.

“A lot of it was trial and error,” Case says. “You have no idea what’s going to work or not going to work in real life. I mean, conceptually, it can be great. But we have to apply it and then figure out how we can make it work to fit what our customers want.”

Of all the changes she has helped implement in her role, she’s most proud of their new training program.

“We are getting more engagement and success because of it,” Case says. “You can have a training program, but it may not be getting you the same results that an excellent training program can.”

True Buy-In
Training isn’t a one and done experience. She says she still learns something new every day. In fact, that’s why her favorite part of her job is the role of technician. She works alongside her team doing the tasks they do. Not only does it get her buy-in, but the shared experiences open the door for meaningful and important conversations, especially if they are questioning a process.

“Courtney is always willing to help with whatever you need and consistently leads from the front,” Galindo says. “She is a very responsible person who clearly loves her job and conveys the same passion to the team. She shows respect to the entire team by guiding, teaching and supporting us. I believe the respect is mutual.”

That servant leadership sets Case apart, says Eric Rider, sow production manager in the northern tier of Pennsylvania for CVFF. He’s known Case since they attended college together at Delaware Valley.

“She works side by side with her team as a farm manager, developing and pushing them to be the best,” Rider says. “She doesn’t ask her team to do anything that she wouldn’t do. She demands a lot from them, which is why I think she gets that respect. Her expectations are high, which has helped develop more leaders under her guidance.”

But Case would never sugarcoat managing people. She says it’s the hardest part of her job, and that surprised her.

“As a lead in the nursery, I had two team members. I thought that for sure, the 20,000 pigs I oversaw were going to be harder than two team members,” she says. “Surprise – they were not. It’s increasingly more challenging as you move up from two to 10 to 20 team members. It’s also what brings me back every day — the challenge of keeping my team engaged and getting the best out of my team members.”

Sow Farm Excellence
Case excels at getting the best out of her team and continues to raise the bar in sow farm performance, Rider says. CVFF has a benchmark system that compares all of the sow farms in all of their regions, including Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Indiana.

“Success, to me, looks like being at the top of that list consistently,” she says. “That means I’ve got my team and production practices firing on all cylinders. It means meeting customer expectations as far as wean pig quality and hitting those targets with an engaged team.”

Every week her team waits to see where they are on the list. And she loves it.

“During our weekly meeting, we’ll review the standings,” Case says. “They can’t wait to see the customer response form from the nursery when we ship our wean pigs. They want to know who they beat that week and if someone beat them, how did they do it? That fuels their fire to perform that much better.”

A Winning Combination
To be a successful sow farm manager, it takes grit, determination and dedication, Case says. But even more importantly, it requires some sacrifice.

“What I get from this career is worth the sacrifices that I’ve made,” she adds. “When it comes to my leadership skills, I’m a much different person then I was 10 years ago. I connect with people. I’ve learned all of these life skills through my career that have also allowed me to provide really well for my family in a rural area.”

Being on call 24/7, 365 days a year isn’t easy. She says it’s hard to unplug because somebody might need you or the pigs might need you in the middle of the night.

“For me, that is the hardest part of my job,” Case admits. “I want so badly to make sure everything’s done right. I would be here all day and all night, but I’ve had to learn that balance over the years. You can’t do that or you will burn yourself out.”

Her focus on developing her team has built trust. She’s learned to delegate more and this has helped relieve the tension of carrying it all on her shoulders. It’s also helped her team develop into stronger leaders, too.

Rider says it’s easy to see why Case has excelled in her career. She is a true barn hero, exemplifying ethics, integrity and stewardship both inside and outside of work.

“She is relentless about improvement, bringing ideas to the table, pushing her leadership team and quickly implementing changes,” Rider says. “She creates a safe environment for her team – her team finished the fiscal year with zero accidents. She doesn’t just develop her own team, but she drives success in the region by pushing our other sow farm managers to bring their best every day.”

It’s a win-win. Case says she feels privileged to do something she is extremely passionate about, putting her college degree to use while providing for her family.

“I get to do what I love every single day,” she says. “What could be better than that?”

Your Next Read: The Power of Why: Sow Barn Manager Jaime Sanchez Rises Above

Courtney Case says she’s grateful for her supportive family consisting of husband, Kyle Rouse, and daughters Whitney, 9, and Lainey, 6. She says Kyle is a huge part of her success and support.

One of the most important things Courtney Case looks for in a caregiver are observation skills. Being in tune with the pigs is critical. She says this is not easy to learn – you’ve got that ability to see what’s wrong or you don’t. She believes it is something that is understood innately. Empathy, patience and teamwork closely follow, she adds.

Roberto Galindo, farrowing team lead at Smiler Porker Sow Farm, says Courtney is the type of leader who lifts her team, provides guidance and shares knowledge freely. She always gives her best and constantly seeks to improve in everything she does.

Courtney is a champion for promoting agriculture, her teammates say. She is devoted to her family beef and chicken farm, Blair Creek Farm LLC, and raising her kids to be next-generation farmers.

From the Show Ring to the Lab: Schwecke Studies Mycoplasma Hyosynoviae and Swine Lameness

Mon, 30 Jun 2025 20:03:26 GMT

Meet Haley Schwecke, our latest addition to Farm Journal’s PORK’s Up & Coming Leaders feature. We are showcasing some of the fresh, new voices of the pork industry who combine innovative thought and work ethic with scientific savvy and a passion to make a difference.

Age: 25
Education: Bachelor’s degree, Kansas State University; Master’s degree at the University of Minnesota
Hometown: Gibbon, Minn.

Q. How did you become interested in pursuing a career in the swine industry?
A. I was fortunate to grow up in the swine industry on a commercial and show pig operation. From a young age, I knew I was interested in the swine industry from competitively showing pigs at state and national levels. I served on the Team Purebred Junior Board. Through that experience I learned about numerous career opportunities in the swine industry that I had not known prior to that exposure.

Q. Describe your internship experiences.
A. I was on the Team Purebred Junior Board and American International Junior Charolais Association Junior Board for a summer. Both junior boards gave me great experiences in communication, planning and networking skills. Additionally, I was a research intern for Swine Vet Center while I was studying at Kansas State University. During my internship at Swine Vet Center, I gained experience in caretaking for the pigs and had numerous opportunities to learn more about swine research.

Q. Describe your undergraduate research experiences.
A. I was an undergraduate research assistant for the Kansas State University Swine Nutrition Team where I was exposed to swine research, and the connections I made there also led to a collaborative undergraduate research study during my internship with Swine Vet Center and Kansas State University.

Q. Describe other swine-related experiences.
A. Showing swine throughout my life opened a lot of different doors and opportunities for me and gave me a deep passion for the pigs and people in the swine industry.

Q. Tell us about your studies.
A. During my graduate studies while pursuing a master’s degree, I conducted research on the effects of vaccination against Mycoplasma hyosynoviae, a bacterial pathogen known to cause lameness in growing and finishing pigs. This work deepened my appreciation for research focused on swine lameness, and it solidified my interest in continuing to explore this important area of animal health. Now following graduate school, I am grateful to be in a career that allows me to engage with a diverse range of research topics involving swine health and contribute to studies that address real-world challenges in the swine industry.

Q. What is your generation’s greatest challenge?
A. I believe the evolving and diverse consumer demands are great challenges for my generation entering the swine industry. Recently, there have been numerous implications and obstacles that the swine industry has been faced with but ultimately many more will continue to occur. I think it is vital that people take the time to get to know and learn from their peers and mentors to better grasp and tackle these challenges as an industry.

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Moraes Finds Answers to How Influenza A Virus Changes Over Time

Wed, 25 Jun 2025 12:01:42 GMT

Meet Daniel Moraes, our latest addition to Farm Journal’s PORK’s Up & Coming Leaders feature. We are showcasing some of the fresh, new voices of the pork industry who combine innovative thought and work ethic with scientific savvy and a passion to make a difference.

Age: 39
Education: Master’s degree and DVM, University of Londrina, Brazil; MBA, University of Sao Paulo, Brazil; master’s degree, Iowa State University; and recently completed Ph.D. at Iowa State University
Hometown: Sorocaba, Sao Paulo, Brazil

Q. How did you become interested in pursuing a career in the swine industry?
A. I became interested in pursuing a career in the swine industry beginning of my DVM at the University of Londrina (UEL). I had an animal virology course, and two professors, Dr. Alice Alfieri and Dr. Amauri Alfieri, shared about opportunities in the poultry and pork industry. Then, I started working mainly with porcine enteric diseases as rotavirus in the Virology Laboratory in UEL, Brazil under their guidance. I also participated in some swine nutrition trials on the farm at the university under the guidance of Dr. Caio Abercio da Silva. Then, I started working in a production system in Brazil and returned to pursue a master’s with Dr. Caio Abercio da Silva before continuing my path at Iowa State University.

Q. Describe your internship experiences.
A. My internship experience was on a farm in the State of Parana in Brazil, an important State in Brazil for the swine industry. That farm has been recognized for high productivity performance and received an award for one of the best breeding herds in Brazil in the number of weaned piglets by sow by a swine production management platform. In addition, it was my first experience with the complete feeding system from gestation until the growing finish phase. This vaccine trial experience and feeding system were an amazing opportunity for me to learn.

Q. Describe your undergraduate research experiences.
A. In addition to my vaccine trial experience, I led a vaccine trial related to a porcine enteric virus, directly connected with my experience in the laboratory. We vaccinated the sows and gilts during the last gestation phase, about 85 to 90 days, and the idea was to understand this vaccine response in the piglets by piglet mortality, diarrhea score and piglet weight at weaning. It was a great experience being exposed to a research trial on a commercial farm and applying the knowledge obtained during my undergraduate education.

Q. Describe other swine-related experiences.
A. While I was working in the production system in Brazil, we conducted research trials for pharmaceutical products to understand how they could present results under the pig farm challenges. In addition, we performed swine nutrition trials to assess average daily gain and feed conversion in the breeding herd phase from birth until nursery stage. Applying these trials in a farm context helped us better understand how to use a product or adjust management. One of the biggest takeaways from these trials and my experience within a production system in Midwestern Brazil was what my boss used to tell me: “Diseases can be related to management, and in the end, we need to go deep and understand why that challenge is happening.” I also worked in a Midwest production system and in swine sales for a period of time.

Q. Tell us about your current studies.
A. My PhD focused on the Influenza A virus (IAV) in the swine population in two main areas: diagnostics opportunities and sample types, and IAV surveillance . I studied macroepidemiological aspects of the IAV in the U.S. I also performed a longitudinal study through the Centers of Excellence for Influenza Research and Response (CEIRR), in which we monitored the pigs and farm employees in sow farms and nurseries to better understand IAV diversity and how it changes over time at the human-swine interface. For example, in one study, we assessed the use of family oral fluids for IAV in breeding herds. We collected samples from the piglets and the sow. Then, we conducted a second study to assess the probability of IAV detection in pooled samples. We observed that population-based samples such as udder wipes and family oral fluids were the most cost-efficient for IAV testing, and in the pooling study, when practitioners have fixed testing budgets, pooling should be considered in low prevalence scenarios to improve coverage. Additionally, I assessed manure pumping effects on virus detection in wean-to-finish pig sites. This applied information can impact the swine industry make a better decision when testing for IAV by presenting more testing options and sharing more information about those options.

Q. What is your generation’s greatest challenge?
A. I believe the greatest challenge is that students may not be exposed to swine production, especially swine management, because they do not have the opportunity to grow up in it or have an extended experience on a commercial swine farm. Exposure to swine production is critical for our generation to learn, understand why there are challenges, and then later look for solutions. One important step is to work as a team and be around great people and the environment. It also helps to be motivated, ask for feedback and know how to work on a team. A second challenge is communication skills and communicating clearly at different levels to diverse audiences, from the farm employee, farm manager or owner to swine company and university leaders.

I believe our generation needs to be patient with themselves, be aware that we are leaning, and realize it takes time. We need to learn how to listen to determine what the swine producer needs, how to communicate with the producer and farm employees, how to be focused on solving problems and to be open to constructive feedback. When students are open and willing to learn more, it’s important to realize that receiving feedback will not always come in the expected way. Focus on the main goal of those conversations to solve the issues at hand. Having this mindset is a good and healthy growing process for our generation going into the swine industry. Expectations may be difficult, but it is part of solving problems.

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Here’s What Hofschulte Genetics Did When Facebook Shut Down Their Business Page

Wed, 18 Jun 2025 14:10:54 GMT

In 2019, Facebook unexpectedly shut down Hofschulte Genetics’ business page. In one second, years of audience-building and customer relationships were lost for Chris and Kaitlyn Hofschulte, showpig breeders in Miami, Okla.

“We soon realized we weren’t alone,” Kaitlyn Hofschulte says. “Breeders and farmers across the country were being censored or losing access to their communities due to Facebook’s policies prohibiting the sale of animals, especially live ones, on Marketplace and business pages.”

(Provided by Chris and Kaitlyn Hofschulte)

Instead of giving up on the idea of building community and increasing the reach of their business on a social platform, the Hofschultes developed an ag-friendly alternative app, StockLink, that lets producers sell livestock and genetics without fear of pages or posts being removed.

“The livestock industry needs an app like StockLink because we do not have a social media platform that is safe to market our livestock and products,” she says. “Most platforms are anti-ag and do not want to see us succeed – making it against their rules for us to speak freely on selling livestock and any animal product.”

StockLink will be available in Apple and Google stores mid/late July.

(StockLink)

During The Exposition in Indianapolis on June 9-12, the Hofschultes launched a preview of StockLink for the show pig industry.

“The response was unbelievable at the Exposition,” Hofschulte says. “We had tons of people and businesses reaching out to us asking how they could be one of the first to access the app.”

StockLink will be available in Apple and Google stores mid/late July. While general users of StockLink can browse, buy and connect for free, if you are a breeder, ranch/farm, ag business, etc., Hofschulte says you’ll be able to download and upgrade to a StockLink Pro account for $21.99/a month.

“With the pro account you will be able to have a visible business profile that you can customize, create general and marketplace posts and connect with potential customers,” Hofschulte explains. “If you’re a buyer or interested in the industry you will have a free general account that is hidden that lets you follow businesses, favorite posts to go back to see later, publicly comment and like, and message.”

StockLink is for everyone who is interested in cattle, sheep, goats, pigs and other businesses that help make the stock show industry what it is today, Hofschulte adds.

“This is an app designed for livestock producers, by livestock producers,” she says. “Let’s get away from anti-ag platforms that do not want us to succeed and switch to an app that will link our livestock industry together.”

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Show Pig Exhibitors: Future Talent the U.S. Pork Industry Needs

Fri, 13 Jun 2025 18:46:44 GMT

From nutrition to genetics to hog equipment, youth exhibitors at The Exposition in Indianapolis, Ind., had the opportunity to learn more about careers in the swine industry and the paths people took to secure them.

“The pork industry is full of businesses, companies and pork operations looking for people to fill important roles,” says Clay Zwilling, National Swine Registry CEO.

The National Swine Registry partnered with the National Pork Board and Keystone Cooperative to help elevate career opportunities in the industry during The Exposition. Zwilling says the show already has great industry representation of career opportunities in its trade show. The career fair served as a way to introduce young people to careers they could find in the pork industry while shining a light on those who are stepping up to support the future of agriculture.

A Talent Pool Worth Your Investment
“While there are so many great skills, experiences and competencies developed in the showring, we know that inevitably the junior show experience will end,” Zwilling adds. “Taking those skills like hard work, commitment and communication, amongst so many others, and translating them to the pork industry create endless opportunity for talent acquisition and the next generation of pork producers.”

Makayla Spray visits with Garry Childs of Kane Manufacturing at The Exposition.

(Jennifer Shike)

Makayla Spray, 18, of Lafayette, Ind., appreciates the support of companies coming in and sponsoring events and opportunities at these shows for young people.

“Growing up in this industry, you meet so many people,” Spray says. “But taking that a step further to really learn what they do for a living gives you insight into possible careers down the road. It helps provide a more well-rounded approach to the agriculture industry.”

Garry Childs, Kane Manufacturing Southeast Region sales manager, says the reason their company thinks it’s important to invest in the National Junior Swine Association and other junior swine programs is because they want to help educate the future leaders of not just the swine industry, but agriculture.

“You don’t have to spend very much time around one of these events and associate with the young people and the families involved in it, before you quickly realize these are some of the most outstanding young people in the world,” Childs says. “And we think that it’s a very good investment.”

There are many valuable lessons we can learn from each other, Zwilling says. Here’s a little career advice shared this week.

Keep Your Options Open
Vincent Osborn, sales representative for Genepro, encourages youth to gain as much business experience as possible.

“If you are majoring in animal science, consider a minor in business or a related field,” Osborn says. “My plan was to go into production, but I found my way into a career in sales. I believe business knowledge is valuable for every career.”

Vincent Osborn, sales representative for Genepro, shows off a new technology turning heads in Europe.

(Jennifer Shike)

Osborn, a 2017 graduate of Purdue in animal science, says he wishes he would have taken some classes in business and marketing.

“For me, it’s not about selling products,” Osborn says. “It’s about helping people and improving their quality of life.”

College Isn’t the Path for Everyone
Josh Couch grew up showing pigs in Texas. After attending auctioneer school, he went to work on a commercial sow farm and managed a multiplier. He also worked for a hog equipment company before coming to ADA Enterprises, Inc., where he serves as a sales manager for swine equipment.

Josh Couch, sales manager for swine equipment, at ADA Enterprises, Inc., says the swine industry is full of career opportunities.

(Jennifer Shike)

“The swine industry is full of opportunities,” Couch says. “I didn’t go to college – I went to work in the commercial swine industry right away. College may not be the path for everyone and that’s o.k. There are so many great careers that pay well in the swine industry that don’t require a college degree.”

In addition, he believes working in the commercial swine industry is valuable for people who want to raise show pigs someday.

“If you want to produce good show pigs, go work in the commercial swine industry for five years,” Couch says. “Learn how to do heat detection better and tips on how to best set up a barn. There’s so much knowledge and experience to be gained that will make you a better hog producer.”

Think Bigger
Don’t limit yourself, advises Greg Lear with Purple Pursuit Show Feeds. He is a former president of the Iowa Pork Producers Association.

“Find something you love to do, and you’ll never work a day in your life,” Lear says. “I get up and get to go to work – that’s the way to do it.”

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Machinery Pete's Advice For 'Young' Farmers

Fri, 13 Jun 2025 18:41:08 GMT

What a life young producers have ahead. You’ve got your own canvas to paint. But if you permit it, there are a few gray-haired words of wisdom the old auction price guy would like to affectionately direct your way.

Keep Your Head on a Swivel
My father, who is now 87, gave me this advice in November 1989 when I set sail trying to help farmers, dealers, bankers and auctioneers better understand what used equipment is worth. Train yourself to seek out information from varied sources, be inquisitive and watch what folks are paying attention to. There are valuable insights waiting.

Stubbornness is an Asset – Sometimes
Believing in yourself, even if others don’t, is your No. 1 job. When I applied for our first home loan 33 years ago, the lender spouted off stats on how many new small businesses fail and said, “Sorry, no can do on that loan.” Rejection was like rocket fuel to me. I pushed harder and took on two part-time jobs. But the trick I’ve learned over the decades is knowing when to harness that stubbornness. Using it all the time isn’t pretty or easy for your loved ones to live with.

Eye Contact
A while back in the “Ag Twitterverse,” someone asked, “What’s one piece of advice you would give to a young person?” My reply: Eye contact. We live in an increasingly impersonal world. Technology is marvelous, but people skills are suffering greatly. The seemingly simple act of establishing and holding good eye contact with the people you are talking to is becoming extinct. There’s a golden opportunity for young folks, whether in ag or not, to stand out and get noticed. Hold good eye contact and listen well. Trust me, it will bring untold opportunities both in business and in your personal life.

It’s About Story
You might have noticed folks want to buy furniture, clothes and food with a story to it. There’s a huge opportunity there. By all means, look for ways to make your operation more efficient. But also think about new and different ways to tell the story of what you are producing. Take it from the data guy, when you tell a little story from your heart and personalize what you are selling, whatever it is becomes worth more money.

This 2001 John Deere 8210 Gold Key Tour certified tractor sold for a record $132,500.

Take this 2001 John Deere 8210 Gold Key Tour certified tractor with 3,059 hours and one owner for example. On March 22 in West Unity, Ohio, we filmed a Machinery Pete auction preview video. The late owner, David Buehrer, took great care of his equipment. His wife, Lynne, told me, “I can’t show you the Gold Key. We put it with David in his casket.”

His son, Nate, said, “Dad taught me to never have the radio on in the tractor, combine or truck because we had to listen to our equipment.”

The machine sold for $132,500 – breaking the record auction price that had been in place for 13 years by $17,500. The story matters.

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Ensuring Opportunities for Future Generations of Pork Producers

Fri, 13 Jun 2025 12:45:55 GMT

Supply and demand — two sides of the coin where the National Pork Board (NPB) works diligently. NPB shares updates on consumer marketing, animal welfare research and protecting freedom to operate.

New consumer marketing campaign driven by data

More people eating more pork — that’s the bottom line of the new consumer campaign, “Taste What Pork Can Do.”

“Taste and flavor are No. 1, always,” says David Newman, NPB vice president of market growth. “Then people consider, ‘Is this good for me? Is it good for my family?’ Finally, they need to know pork is versatile, that it’s something they can make quickly within their busy schedule.”

The campaign launched May 6, but the journey started more than two years ago, Newman said. He remembered participating in a panel discussion at World Pork Expo 2023, when producers were losing $30 per head and the industry’s eyes were being opened to the domestic need to complement strong export demand. Fortunately, the board had already begun collecting new domestic consumer data.

“We said, ‘If we’re going to make decisions, we’re going to make data-based decisions the same way producers do on the farm.’ We’re going to really deep dive into consumers and understand what it is that drives them, who they are, where they live, what they think about pork and what they think about competing proteins,” said Newman.

Growing domestic demand for pork is this campaign’s priority, according to the input NPB has collected from state pork associations, National Pork Forum delegates, processors, packers and U.S. pork producers. The data shows today’s younger consumers are a giant opportunity for increasing long-term domestic demand.

Instead of a blanket national campaign, NPB is focused on reaching more consumers in dense populations — California, Texas, Florida, New York, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Ohio, Georgia, North Carolina and Michigan.

The campaign intends to leverage the cultural relevance of pork among diverse consumers. By harnessing the popularity of flavorful processed meats to capture attention, opportunities for fresh cuts also open, said José De Jesús, NPB assistant vice president of consumer marketing.

Protecting freedom to operate for nation’s pork producers

“Do good things and talk about them. The research we do is only as important as the communication about it,” said Frank Mitloehner, department of animal sciences director at UC–Davis.

The NPB is doing plenty of both. Stephanie Wetter, director of animal welfare for the National Pork Board, explained that most animal welfare issues reach the United States about 5-10 years after focus in Europe. The biggest issue in the United Kingdom right now is farrowing stalls.

“We need a proactive, producer-driven response to the issues that will be on their way from Europe,” she said, adding there have already been consumer campaigns targeting housing.

This 5-year farrowing housing research plan will examine animal welfare, economics, facilities and infrastructure, labor and environmental impact. It is designed to preserve freedom to operate by anticipating policy and market shifts and maintaining housing choice with defensible, credible data.

On-farm reports are another instance where defensible, credible data shine.

When working with regulators, Lauren Servick, director of public policy, strategy and sustainability for the Minnesota Pork Board, said, “On-farrm reports make me really hard to argue with, because I can tell them and I can show them.”

In sharing data, the NPB takes a multi-faceted approach to reviewing all of the existing research, filling knowledge gaps and turning that into useable information to fuel industry collaboration.

“We work to turn science into soundbites to share the good things pork producers are already doing,” said Heather Fowler, director of producer and public health for the NPB.

It’s time to get excited

Feedback in the industry is positive after a hard two years.

“Get excited,” Newman says. “Isn’t it time to have some fun? If you’re in farming, you’ve had plenty of bad news in your life. It is always too dry. It’s always too wet. The markets are always too low. They’re never too high. What we’re trying to do is take a little bit of that low side of that roller out of it, right? So get excited and know that we have to stay in this for the long haul to make it work.”

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