SOMERVILLE, Ohio — Lauren Schwab was selected as one of four finalists for the title of America’s Pig Farmer of the Year. Schwab works as a second-generation farmer on the 230-acre farm founded in 1977 by her father, Jeff. Schwab manages the farrowing house.
She works alongside her brother, Ryan, and three part-time employees.
"America’s Pig Farmer of the Year award was started to recognize pig farmers and pork producers who are doing the right things on their farms," said Cindy Cunningham, spokeswoman for the National Pork Board. "We are looking at everything that that producer is doing on their farm – the care they are giving to their animals, the care they are giving to the environment and things around them."
Schwab’s farrow-to-wean operation has 12 modern barns that house 1,100 sows. The barns provide the proper environment for the sows, which are individually cared for and observed daily. The sows produce about 30,000 piglets each year, which are sold to other farmers for finishing.
Schwab and the other contest entrants answered questions including how they exemplify the Pork Board’s We Care ethical principles and why they would want to be a spokesperson for the pork industry.
The We Care ethical principles that the pork board has developed are to produce safe food; protect and promote animal well-being; ensure practices to promote public health; safeguard natural resources in all of their practices; provide a work environment that is safe; and contribute to a better quality of life in their communities.
"All of the We Care principles are exemplified on my farm," Schwab said. "The one that means the most to me is to protect and promote animal well-being," she said. "I work mainly with the sows as they come in to give birth to the piglets. Individual care and attention are very important to me."
Schwab also feels compelled to share her story with consumers so they can have a better understanding of what happens on the farm. She gets positive feedback from her blog, farmgirlwithcurls.com
The panel of judges was looking for things like that blog which made the producers stand out, Cunningham said.
The judges were an interesting mix, including someone from the American Humane Assoc., the World Wildlife Fund, a registered dietitian for the Kansas City Royals, an associate professor of animal science at Iowa State University, and Chris Soules, a pig farmer from Iowa and TV star from The Bachelor and Dancing With the Stars.
"America’s Pig Farmer of the Year will serve as a spokesperson for the U.S. Pork industry," Cunningham said. "That’s the goal, to make sure that others understand that our producers do care every day for their animals and are doing the right things on their farm."
The other finalists are:
•Marti Knoblock, Rock Rapids, Iowa; Knoblock is one of the owners of GMC Farms, founded in 1980. It is co-owned by Marti; his brother, Mitch Knoblock; and Morris Metzger.
GMC raises pigs in modern slatted, curtain-sided barns with deep pits and markets 23,000 pigs annually.
•Steve Kerns, Clearfield, Iowa; Founded in 1966, Kerns Farms started as a 4-H project and has grown into a full-scale seedstock operation. Steve and Becky Kerns manage the farm with the help of their sons, Karl and Matt, and three employees.
They market 10,000 pigs annually, with the 320-acre farm’s facilities including hoop barns, open lots, curtain-sided and mechanically ventilated barns.
•Keith Schoettmer, Tipton, Ind.; Keith and Darla Schoettmer founded Schoettmer Prime Pork in 1987. The farm has grown steadily despite many changes in the pork industry.
Today, they raise 22,000 pigs annually on the farrow-to-finish farm with the help of eight full-time employees.
The winner will be announced Oct. 7.
