COLUMBUS, Ohio – United Producers Inc. (UPI), a farmer-owned and operated livestock cooperative based in Columbus, Ohio, has appointed Jon White as its Advanced Hog Marketing Relationship and Strategy officer.

 “My position that has been created is in relation to that livestock world that we live in,” White said. “Essentially, my job is to strategize and build out some new programs and services that can benefit the members of this coop and assist the current team members who are on this advance hog marketing team, helping them do their job to the best of their abilities.”

In his new role, White will be responsible for maintaining the highest standard of quality, growth and profitability for UPI swine programs. 

White is a graduate of Michigan State University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering. His career includes experiences in the swine industry, including farm ownership and operations.

“I grew up on a farrow to finish swine farm, so I know about swine first hand,” said White, who most recently served as the assistant director for Kalmbach Swine Management in Upper Sandusky, Ohio.

 “Agricultural Producers Unite” is the rallying cry at this coop. UPI offers marketing, financing and credit services to its member ranchers and farmers. It also provides risk management and production management services.

 “What we do for our members is we buy and re-sell livestock in small lots, but for some of our larger members we assist with contract negotiations with direct packers. We offer some risk management services for them and are we a fiduciary type of organization,” White said. “But our primary function is that marketing assistance in terms of contract negotiations and scheduling the delivery of animals.”

“Covid has changed the landscape,” White says. “What we have experienced the last 18 to 24 months is that we have to be forward looking and be strategic about how one operates the business in terms of day to day livestock marketing as it is a much more critical role than ever. So having someone like myself at United Producers who brings in strong livestock production experience with some large system experience will prove valuable to the customer.”

White is heavily involved in the agricultural world. He has served as vice president for the Cass County Farm Bureau, chairman of the Livestock and Poultry Advisory Committee for the Michigan Farm Bureau, chairman of the Swine Committee for the National Commodity Summit (Arkansas) and numerous other involvements in his community and related industries.

 “Jon has a great deal of first-hand knowledge and experience in the swine industry that will be beneficial to UPI’s members,” said Mike Bumgarner, UPI president and CEO. “He has an exceptional mix of communications, collaboration and technical skills that make him a great fir for this role.”

 UPI has been in existence since 1934. Today, UPI services 45,000 members in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio and Tennessee. The company has 30 facilities and handles roughly three million head of livestock annually.