Town: Melvin, IL
Background and Personal Info:
I’m a fifth-generation farmer that works in partnership with my family on a grain and livestock farms. I graduated from Lake Land College where I participated on the Livestock Judging Team, after two years there I transferred to the University of Illinois where I received my bachelor’s
degree in Agricultural and Environmental Sciences & Education. From there, I taught high school agriculture and was the FFA Advisor for seven years at a school in a neighboring county. While teaching, I was involved in our family’s swine operation and eventually became partners with my dad, raising Berkshire, Chester White and Spotted hogs and later adding a few Hereford’s. In 2010 I married my wife Denise and became a stepdad to her son Skyler. In 2011, we had our son Reid and I bought into the family grain farming operation. In that same year I took a job with Crop Risk Services as a crop claims adjuster. Currently, our family operation consists of 2100 acres of corn and soybeans and we run around 60 sows, with 12-15 of those being Berkshires. Our primary focus is on raising high-quality showpigs that we market across the United States. Pigs that aren’t sold are fed out and sold in our retail meat business.
How many Berkshire litters did you record last year?
In 2019 we recorded 11 Berkshire litters.
How many years have you been raising Berkshires?
20 years
In what ways are you actively involved in the Berkshire breed (local, state, national level)?
Currently, we market a vast majority of our Berkshires as showpigs that are
exhibited at local and state events. I try and attend as many national events
as possible, and from time to time we exhibit at those events.
Give a brief narrative of what motivates you to be an ABA Board member and your goals for the board.
Since starting our Berkshire herd back in 2000, I have been highly impressed with the strides the breed has made, not only in the show ring, but also in the retail meat cases and restaurants across the country. The Berkshire breed has the capability to be one of the premier leaders
within not only the showpig industry, but the retail meat business as well. The breed has multiple places within the hog industry. As a board member, I would like to see some continuity in our staff. It’s hard to move forward when you are taking a step back every few years. With that said, I would also like to help expand the opportunities that young people have exhibiting Berkshire hogs and also help expand our footprint in the meat cases.
As a member-driven organization, how do you envision increasing member opportunities, in addition to increasing member involvement in current ABA programs?
I believe this starts at the top, with the Board of Directors as well as the office staff working as one with one common vision. When all parties are working together toward one common goal, opportunities will present themselves to the members which in turn will help increase member involvement.
If someone new asked you why they should raise Berkshires, how would you respond?
First, I would ask them what their main goal is. The Berkshire breed
presents many different facets that are very appealing to new producers. The popularity of the breed in the showing is a bonus if your primary goal is raising show pigs. If your goals are to produce a high quality product for perspective buyers to put in their freezer, the berkshire breed is at the forefront in that area. I think in the end, it’s where you want to set your priorities. I would encourage them do some research and find where their
strengths are and where they would fit in in the industry.
What do you think is the biggest challenge the Berkshire breed faces and how do we navigate that challenge?
As I stated earlier, I think it starts at the top with having some continuity with employees and the board as a whole working together towards one common goal, and not having individual agendas.
What previous leadership experience do you have (church board, school board, pork producers, etc), and how will those experiences make you a good board member?
I have served on several boards and had various leadership roles over the
years. In the late 1990’s I was the Junior Coordinator for what is now Team Purebred and one of the original members of the adult advisory board for
Team Purebred. I also have served on the Illinois Spotted Association Board of Directors and have been President of the organization for the last five plus years. Also, I have served on the Ford County Fair Board since 2000 and have been the President of the Board the last eight years. While serving on these boards, I have learned how to work with different kinds of personalities and have gained numerous business skills needed to be a
valuable asset to the Berkshire Board.
Why should ABA members vote for you?
I think I bring a vast array of experience to the board with the different
experiences that I have had over the last twenty years. My passion is in the purebred hog industry, along with working with junior members and helping them gain life-long skills. I too want to help get the breed back on track and help to position the Berkshires as one of the premier organizations in the hog industry.