We rented all our land to concentrate on pig production. We employ 16 full-time people and a few part-timers, including our two eldest daughters. Together with our team, we try to run a low-cost, efficient operation, with high sow productivity. We pay a lot of attention to environment, animal welfare, and health and safety for our employees.
After 15 years of farming and some struggles along the way, like the roof that collapsed under heavy snow loads, we had a large barn fire in 2003 that killed 1,280 sows and 2,000 pigs. We're weathering the hog crisis right now, and we are still here.