iowa select farms selectcare newsletter qtr1 2015
DESCRIPTION
SelectCare™ is an official publication of Iowa Select Farms and is mailed to the homes of our employees, contractors and key stakeholders to highlight the efforts we make every day to fullfill our values and principles. Iowa Select Farms P.O. Box 400 Iowa Falls, Iowa 50126 www.iowaselect.comTRANSCRIPT
ISSUE 1/ 2015
www.iowaselect.com
IOWA SELECT FARMSREFLECTS ON EXCITING YEAR
WELCOME READERS!
SelectCare™ is an official publication of Iowa Select
Farms and is mailed to the homes of our employees,
contractors and key stakeholders to highlight
the efforts we make every day to fullfill our values
and principles.
Iowa Select FarmsP.O. Box 400
Iowa Falls, Iowa 50126
ABOUT THE COVER The Iowa State University Campanile is located on Iowa State’s central campus, and is home to the Stanton Memorial Carillon. The campanile is widely seen as one of the major symbols of Iowa State University. Photo courtesy of Barb McBreen, Communications Specialist, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Iowa State University.
ISSUE 1/ 2015www.iowaselect.com
IOWA SELECT FARMSREFLECTS ON EXCITING YEAR
ISSUE 1/ 2015
www.iowaselect.com
IOWA SELECT FARMSREFLECTS ON EXCITING YEAR
Jeff HansenJeff HansenPresident and CEO, Iowa Select Farms
www.iowaselect.com
When Iowa Select Farms was founded over twenty years ago, we made a commitment to grow our business within the walls of Iowa—to be able to provide economic growth tothestate,offeropportunitiesforemploymentand strengthen the state’s agriculture and pork industry. One thing we are especially proud of is our ability to givebacktothecommunitieswherewehaveourfarms, and provide resources and programs that strengthen ourstateandmakeIowaabetterplacetolive.
Oneofthestrongestpartnershipswe’vefosteredtodayhasbeenourcollaborationwith Iowa State University, not surprising considering their world-class College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, College of Food ScienceandHumanNutrition,SwineExtensionServiceandtheirhundredsof researchinitiativesthathavedrivenscience-basedimprovementsforporkproducersofalltypesandsizes.We’vetakenthetimetocapturethatpartnershipthroughoutthepagesofthisnewsletter.
We’re also extremely proud of our people who give it their all every day—caring for animals,maintainingoursites,transportingpigsandcontributingtoourbusinessofqualityporkproduction.Weenjoyhighlightingtheaccomplishmentsofour employeesandcontractorsbyfeaturingphotosandstoriesofthepositiveimpactsthey are making every day. This issue contains a summary of our 2014 SelectPride Winners—thetopperformingfarmsinoursow,nurseryandfinishingsystems—andtakesadeeperdivebyofferingafeatureofafarmthatnotonlyranked#4inour companylastyearbutalsocelebratedanentireyearwithoutinjuryoremployee turnover. Congratulations Kaci Pohlman and the entire Sow 24 team!
This issue also highlights just a few of the programs we’ve put in place to provide hunger relief to Iowa families who need a helpinghandandshowrecognitionandappreciationtoourservicemembers.We’restayingcommittedtotheseeffortsand willbeannouncingmanynewinitiativesin2015.
Thank you again for your support,
2
PUSHING PRODUCTION FORWARDPushingproductivityforwardthroughleadershipandaccountabilitywasthemainthemeof thebi-annualIowaSelectFarmsProductionManagementMeetingheldJanuary22attheJeff and Deb Hansen Agriculture Student Learning Center in Ames. Over150productionmanagersandmembersofsupportdepartmentsgatheredforafulldayoflearning,training,recognitionandfellowship.Thedaykickedoffwitha“stateofthestate”addressbyJeffHansen,PresidentandCEOofIowaSelectFarms,whorecognizedthe determinationandresiliencyoftheentireproductionteamduringthePEDvbreaksoflate 2013andearly2014.Mr.Hansenacknowledgedthehardworkandeffortsofthefarm managers and their teams, especially given the fact the Iowa Select Farms system fought back to come within only one percent of achieving the 2014 goal pounds of pork marketed (833,056,800pounds)despitebattlingthediseaseandsubsequentclean-upthroughmuch of the year. NoelWilliams,DirectorofProductionpresentedthe2015goalsfortheyear,challengingthe sow system to wean four million pigs. On the heels of that goal is a similar challenge to the nursery/finishingteamwhooverseethegrow-outphase—tofinish,marketandultimately sell900,000,000poundsofporktoourprocessingpartner,JBS. Throughoutthedayattendeesreviewedthegoalsofeachindividualproductionareaalong withtheservicedepartmentswhoworktoprovidesupportintheareasofinformation technology,feedandnutrition,healthservices,nutrientmanagement,repairand maintenance, human resources and many others. Afterlunchthelargegroupwassplitintosmallergroupstorotatethroughsixbreak-out sessions focused on technical training topics such as reducing sow mortality, increasing finishingsurvivability,iSLATorachievingon-farmsafety. The day also featured a keynote address by Col Kevin Heer, Iowa ANG Commander of the 132ndFighterWing.ColHeertooktimetosharehisthoughtsandobservationsonleadership, and lessons he’s learned throughout his extensive career in the Air Force. Thelasthourofthemeetingwasusedtorecognizethe2014SelectPrideandSafetyAward winners. The SelectPride Awards recognize the top ten sow farms by quarter, and then of those, the top ten overall winners for the year. The SelectPride program also recognizes the overalltoptenFinishingSupervisorsbasedonaprofitabilityindexandcontrollablescores. CongratulationsAlSchnitkerandtheentirestaffatSow117forearningthe1stPlace distinctionfortheentiresowsystem,andLorenPudenz,alongwithhissitemanagersand staff,fortakinghomebraggingrightsfortopoverallFinishingSupervisor. Read on for the results!
Kerry SweeneyDirector of Human Resources
Noel Williams Director of Production
Jeff Hansen President and CEO
Tracy Borkowski Director of Maintenance
Over 150 production managers and members of support departments gathered
for a full day of learning, training, recognition and fellowship.
3VOLUME 2, ISSUE 9ISSUE 1 / 2015
2014 SelectPride Overall Sow Awards
CONGRATULATIONSSELECT PRIDE WINNERS!
4
Q1, 2014 Q2, 2014 Q3, 2014 Q4, 2014
1st Place Sow 30 1st Place Sow117 1st Place Sow117 1st Place Sow 1122nd Place Sow 19 2nd Place Sow 30 2nd Place Sow 112 2nd Place Sow 1183rd Place Sow 18 3rd Place Sow 24 3rd Place Sow 116 3rd Place Sow 294th Place Sow117 4th Place Sow 23 4th Place Sow 114 4th Place Sow 1135th Place Sow 20 5th Place Sow 116 5th Place Sow 113 5th Place Sow1176th Place Sow 23 6th Place Sow 114 6th Place Sow 118 6th Place Sow 227th Place Sow 25 7th Place Sow 112 7th Place Sow 115 7th Place Sow 208th Place Sow 24 8th Place Sow 118 8th Place Sow 29 8th Place Sow 249th Place Sow 29 9th Place Sow 113 9th Place Sow 4 9th Place Sow 1610th Place Sow 22 10th Place Sow 115 10th Place Sow 24 10th Place Sow 18
If we can achieve these goals, we will get back on track and achieve the system efficiency we
need to be compet-
itive
within the indus-
try and achieve the prof-itability necessary for our business sustainability.
Over the course
of
Iowa Select Farms recognizes
1st Place 2014 SelectPride Overall
Sow 117
2nd PlaceSow 112
Adam Swalla, Manager
5th PlaceSow 30
Rhonda Root, Manager
8th PlaceSow 116
Gerhard Badenhorst, Manager
3rd PlaceSow 118
Lori Rice, Manager
6th PlaceSow 113
Shawn Chaplin, Manager
9th PlaceSow 29
Bert Becker, Manager
4th PlaceSow 24
Kaci Pohlman, Manager
7th PlaceSow 23
Mary Kraft, Manager
10th PlaceSow 18
Philip Barncastle, Manager
1st PlaceSow 117
Al Schnitker, Manager
Iowa Select Farms recognizes
for Excellence in Production 1st Place
2014 Finishing Performance
Loren Pudenz
2014 SelectPride Overall Nursery and Finishing Awards
CONGRATULATIONSSELECT PRIDE WINNERS!
CONGRATULATIONSFINISHING AWARD WINNERS!
3rd PlaceDaniel Lively,
Finishing Supervisor
6th PlaceChris Lorenz,
Finishing Supervisor
9th PlaceKevin Archer,
Finishing Supervisor
4th PlaceRandy Horne,
Finishing Supervisor
7th PlaceShannon Loyd,
Finishing Supervisor
10th PlaceDan Roth,
Finishing Supervisor
1st PlaceLoren Pudenz,
Finishing Supervisor
THANK YOU 2015 PRODUCTION
MANAGEMENT MEETING SPONSORS!
2nd PlaceMark Hendricks,
Finishing Supervisor
5th PlaceJerimiah Hall,
Finishing Supervisor
8th PlaceCarl Smit,
Finishing Supervisor
5VOLUME 2, ISSUE 9ISSUE 1 / 2015
The team at Sow 24 brought home top honors in the safety department, earning bragging rights for going all four quarters in 2014 without any recordable injuries, amongst other things. But earning a safety award each quarterwasn’tourtruemotivation,saysKaciPohlman,FarmManager.“Wereallycareabouteachotherandworkhardtohaveapositiveandproductiveworkplace.Being safeandinjuryfreeisabigpartofgettingusthere.”
Each quarter Iowa Select Farms recognizes teams who score 85% or higher on safety visits conducted by Safety Manager,
Eric Wiechmann. They also must have zero controllable safety issues, meaning they need to be following all safety protocols
suchaswearingtheirPersonalProtectiveEquipment,andfinally,havenoinjuriesforthetimeperiod.Pohlmanattributesgoodtraining,accountabilityandbeingproactivetoherstaff’ssafetytrackrecord.
“Westartbykeepingthefarmcleanandorganized,”saidPohlman.“That’snotalwayseasytodo,”sheadds,“butwekeepschedulesandrotateresponsibilitiessotheworkgetsdone.Floorsgetcleanedandarekeptdryandsuppliesgetrestocked.”
Signs and reminders are also posted around the break room and throughout the farm. “EveryresourceEricgivesus,weuse,”saidPohlman,whosebreakroomiscoveredin whiteboards, posters and signs all displaying important reminders to keep her team motivatedandfocusedonwhat’simportant.Fromtimetotimeshe’llalsomakeher own signs for extra reinforcement.
Safety Talksarereviewedinmeetings,andemployeesholdeachotheraccountabletoslowdown and follow procedures correctly, especially when moving animals, adds Pohlman.
Wiechmann, who tracks and monitors all safety issues closely, says handling and moving animals pose the biggest risk to employees, especially employees who are new to livestock production.“Ittakesawhiletolearnandunderstandhowtoholdpigletsproperly,movelargerpigs,knowflightzonesandremembertograbtherightsizesortboard.“Trainingandhelpingeachotheroutiskey,”headds.
WhentheSow24teamfinishedquarterthreeinjuryfreetheyreceivedanotefromCEOJeffHansen who recognized their accomplishment and also sent along Nike polo shirts with the IowaSelectFarmslogoembroidered.“Wewereprettyexcited,”saidPohlman.“Mr.Hansensaid‘hecouldn’twaittofigureouthowtorewardusifwemadeitthroughthefourth quarterinjuryfree’,andwestayedprettyfocusedafterreadingthat,”admittedPohlman.
Thanks to extra training and teamwork, Sow 24 ended quarter four with another perfect safety record. True to form, Mr. Hansen honored his word by sending another congratulatory note to the team along with a $250 visa check card for every person to use however they wish.
Employees watch out for one another, keep safety top of mind
Sow 1Quarter 4 – 2014
Quarter 4 – 2014
Sow 24
SOW 24 CELEBRATESINJURY-FREE YEAR!
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL SAFETY AWARD WINNERS!
QUARTER ONESow 5Sow 11Sow 21Sow 22Sow 24Sow 28Sow 112
QUARTER TWOSow 1Sow 3Sow 5Sow 10Sow 14Sow 19Sow 24Sow 28Sow 30
QUARTER THREESow 1Sow 3Sow 21Sow 23Sow 24
QUARTER FOURSow 1Sow 3Sow 9Sow 10Sow 14Sow 19Sow 21Sow 23Sow 24Sow 26Sow27Sow 30Sow 113Sow 118
Kaci Pohlman, Sow 24 Manager
6
Sow 24 Staff
Sow 24
2014 Safety Winners
IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY & IOWA SELECT FARMS
CELEBRATE LONGTIME PARTNERSHIP
In spring of 2014 Jeff and Deb Hansen were recognized as Iowa State
University Honorary Alumni, the university’s highest honor bestowed
upon non-graduates of ISU.
Jeff and Deb Hansen recognized as Honorary AlumniJeffandDebHansendidn’tattendIowaStateUniversity,butthefounders and owners of Iowa Select Farms have forged a unique andpowerfulpartnershipwiththeland-grantinstitutionforthebenefitofstudents,facultyandIowaagriculture.
Themostrecentexamplesofthatrobustworkingrelationshipoccurred when the Hansens received the Honorary Alumni AwardfromtheISUAlumniAssociation,andattheofficial dedicationceremonyfortheJeffandDebHansenAgricultureStudent Learning Center on the ISU campus.
The Honorary Alumni Award is the highest honor given by Iowa State University through theISUAlumniAssociationtoindividualswhohavemadesignificantcontributionstothe University but are not graduates of Iowa State.“AlthoughneitherJeffnorDeb Hansen graduated from Iowa State, they haveservedourinstitutionasthoughitwastheirown,”saidISUPresidentStevenLeath.
The Hansens are transforming the educationalexperienceforIowaState students,Leathadded,throughtheirgiftstotheJeffHansen/IowaSelectFarmsPorkIndustryScholarship, theirIowaFoundationforAgriculturalAdvancementscholarships,theAnimalScienceJudgingEndowmentCampaignandtheJeffand Deb Hansen Agriculture Student Learning Center.
IowaState,Leathsaid,alsohasbenefitedfromtheHansens’ willingness to fund research, appear as guest speakers on campus and hire Iowa State graduates. Leath noted the Hansens were instrumental in the re-establishment of Iowa Swine Days at ISU and made their farms available for faculty to conduct research instate-of-the-artpork-productionfacilities.
TheJeffandDebHansenAgricultureStudentLearningCenter,openedforclassesinJanuary2014,includesfourclassrooms,a
banquethalland840fixedseatsoverlookingthe27,500-square-footMarvinJ.Walterarena.The$7.7millionbuildingwasmadepossiblebytheHansensleadgiftof$2millionandnearly1,200other private donors.
The center is a key part of how the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences trains students. For students in animal science and other agricultural programs, the facility is a valuable resource for sharpening their skills working with, caring for and learning about animals.“Themodern,state-of-the-artfacilitycreatesanearlyunmatched learning environment for students who are pursuing
careersinagricultureandrelatedfields,”Leathsaid.
Deb Hansen, speaking for the Hansen family at the Agriculture Student Learning Center dedication,toldthestoryofayoungIowafarmerandhiswife“whoworkedhard–findingtheirrhythm–forgingalife.Thatwas35yearsand170,000sowsago.”
“Today,thatfarmerandhiswifearebothdeeplyhumbled and overwhelmingly grateful to be standingonthisstate’smostbeautifuluniversitycampus in a building with their names on it,
along with those who made it happen, as a testament of years ofhardwork,sacrificeanddedicationbecausetheyrealizetheycouldn’thavedoneitalone,”shesaid.
“ThatIowa-bornfarmcoupleisproudofthisAgLearningCenterand its purpose in forging young students who are passionate in reaching new heights of discovery and achievement in agriculture forgenerationstocome,”shecontinued.
“Thatcoupleisproudofthisvibrantuniversityanditssuperb standardsofexcellenceaswellasitscontinuinggrowthand success in the advancement of agriculture. It’s important because we live here, we work here and we raise our families here,”sheconcluded.
7VOLUME 2, ISSUE 9ISSUE 1 / 2015
LEARNING FROM SOME OF THE BEST
In 2008 Iowa Select Farms began collaborating with
Dr. Ken Prusa at the ISU Meat Sensory Lab to evaluate
pork quality characteristics, especially in bellies and loins,
leading to significant improvements in pork quality.
Funding scholarshipsIowa Select’s partnership with Iowa State dates back to 1996, when the company began funding scholarships for students majoring in agriculture. This program proved to be so successfulitledtothecreationoftheendowedJeffHansen/Iowa Select Farms Pork Industry Scholarship Fund in 2002. One or two outstanding animal sciences students receive this prestigiousscholarshipeachyearinrecognitionoftheir dedicationtotheporkindustry.Therecipientsareregardedas top scholars in the industry, which opens doors for them toexploreandpursuecareersrelatedtoporkproduction.
In 2004, the company established the Iowa Select Farms LivestockJudgingTeamCoachingEndowment,whichhelpedIowa State revitalize its livestock judging team.The$175,000endowmentenabledISU to hire a permanent coach for the team, whichhadlostitscompetitiveedgedueto budget cuts and replacement of faculty coaches with graduate students.
“LivestockjudgingisaveryimportantandrewardingactivityintheDepartmentof AnimalScience,”saidTomBaas,Professor ofAnimalScience.“Studentswho participateinlivestockjudginggain valuable life skills such as oral communication,decision-makingandtimemanagement.Theyalsohaveexceptionalopportunitiestomeetandnetwork with leaders in the livestock industry when they travelforworkoutsandparticipateinjudgingcontests.Thegenerous endowment provided by the Hansens has been a tremendousboosttoourjudgingprogram.”
The team also sponsors annual livestock judging camps for 4-H and FFA members, ages 12-18, who receive excellent early training in judging while learning about ISU’s Department of Animal Science.
Research partnersIowaSelectFarmsbegancollaboratingwithDr.KenPrusa at the ISU Meat Sensory Lab in 2008 to evaluate pork quality characteristics,especiallyinbelliesandloins.Thestudy, conducted at Iowa Select’s Research Farm, resulted in significantimprovementsinthequalityofIowaSelect’spork, said Dr. Howard Hill, a former ISU faculty member andcurrentdirectorofexternalrelationsforIowaSelectFarmsandpresidentoftheNationalPorkProducersCouncil.
IowaSelectalsohasworkedcloselyonseveralcooperativeresearchprojectswithISU’sDr.JohnPatience,an internationallyrenownedswinenutritionist,andhis graduatestudents.ConductingthesestudiesatIowa
Select’s Research Farm enabled researchers to study large numbers of swineinamodernproductionsetting,something that would not be possible in ISU’ssmallerresearchfacilities.
“Doingresearchinalargeproductionsettingresultsinmoreresearchgettingdonewithfewerdollars,”saidDr.NoelWilliams, DirectorofProductionforIowaSelectFarms.“Asgeneticimprovementprogressespairedwithnewanddifferentfeed ingredients coming into the marketplace
theresearchcomponentiscriticaltoourbusiness.OurpartnershipwiththeISUswinenutritionteamallowsustocontinuouslyimproveourproductionanddowhat’srightforthepig.”
In2011,IowaSelectpartneredwithIowaStateonafirst-in-the-nationprogramtoresearchairemissionsatoneofthecompany’sswinefacilities.Uptothispoint,researchandinformationonammoniaandgreenhousegasemissionsfromswineoperations—particularlyfrombreeding, gestationandfarrowingfacilitiesintheMidwest—hadbeenlimited.Thisinnovativeprogram,ledbyDr.HongweiXin,professor in ISU’s Department of Agriculture and Biosystems Engineering, helped establish baselines to later develop mitigationtechniques.
8
In fall of 2014 Jeff and Deb Hansen helped celebrate the dedication of the Jeff and Deb Hansen Student Agriculture Learning Center along with fellow donors, ISU faculty and staff, and most importantly— the students!
In 2004, Jeff and Deb Hansen established the Iowa Select Farms Livestock Judging Team Coaching Endowment, which helped ISU revitalize its livestock judging team.
In 2011, Iowa Select Farms partnered with ISU on a first-in- the-nation program to research air emissions at one of the company’s swine facilities. Up to this point, research and information on ammonia and greenhouse gas emissions from swine operations—particularly from breeding, gestation and farrowing facilities in the Midwest—had been limited. This innovative program, led by Dr. Hongwei Xin, professor in ISU’s Department of Agriculture and Biosystems Engineering, helped establish baselines to later develop mitigation techniques.
In 2013 Iowa Select Farms teamed up with Elanco to help students
get their first-ever Bacon Expo off the ground by coming on board with
funding and a title sponsorship.
Animal well-beingIowaSelectalsolaunchedin2011incooperationwithISUExtensiontheSelectCare AnimalWell-BeingProgram.It’sdesignedtoincreasefocusoncontinuallyimproving farmanimalcareandwell-beingpracticesandstemsfromacomprehensiveindependentexaminationofthecompany’sanimalcarepracticesandstandardsbyfacultymember Dr.AnnaJohnson,anationallyrecognizedexpertinanimalbehaviorandwell-being. Dr.Johnson’sexamination,fundedbyISUExtension,incorporateson-farmtoursandreviewsof employees working with animals.
Dr.JohnsonalsoservesonIowaSelect’sAnimalCareAdvisoryCommitteealongwith Dr.JohnThomson,ProfessorofVeterinaryDiagnosticandProductionAnimalMedicine and Dean Emeritus of ISU’s College of Veterinary Medicine.
IowaSelectalsosignedonassponsoroftheinauguralIowaStateBaconExpo,thefirst student-poweredbaconeventinthenation.TheexposhowcasedtheCollegeof Agriculture and Life Sciences at Iowa State and increased consumer awareness of bacon andporkproductioninIowa.
“IowaStatecouldn’tbemorepleasedwiththestrongpartnershipwehavebuiltoverthe yearswithJeffandDebHansenandIowaSelectFarms,”saidCollegeofAgricultureand LifeSciencesDeanWendyWintersteen.“Wearegratefulforthemanygenerous contributionsIowaSelectFarmsandtheDebandJeffHansenFoundationhavemadeto the University. Through our strong partnership, Iowa State and Iowa Select have grown andimproved,andweexpectthiswillcontinueasbothorganizationsmoveforwardtogether.”
Jeff and Deb Hansen Agriculture Student Learning Center
9VOLUME 2, ISSUE 9ISSUE 1 / 2015
HANSEN FAMILY HOSPITAL
Jeff and Deb Hansen taking a tour of the new Hansen Family Hospital
The $30 million hospital offers high-quality, accessible healthcare
to residents throughout Hardin County.
A point of pride for communityNew hospital a legacy to commitment to Hardin County A highlight of 2014 was the opening of the Hansen Family Hospital, a much-needed, brand new hospital for Iowa Falls—the home of Iowa Select Farms and the hometown ofJeffandDebHansen.
TheHansenshaveastrongpassionforIowaFalls,andaclosepersonalconnectiontothetown’sformerhospital.Jeff,PresidentandCEOofIowaSelectFarms,andDeb,hiswife, werebornfourmonthsapartatEllsworthMunicipalHospital,namedafteritsfirstmajor benefactor, local businessman E.S. Ellsworth, in 1902. Deb’s grandmother, Blanche Milliken,staffedthehospitalcafeteriaintheearly1960’sandlivedinthehousenearest tothehospital’semergencyroom.Asayoungchildspendingtimeathergrandmother’s home, Deb remembers hearing the ambulances arrive and seeing the red and blue lights from her bedroom window, and hoping everything would turn out alright for those patientsandtheirfamilies.
SoitwasnosurprisewhentheHansens,whoaremajordonorstocharitiesthroughout Iowa,madethelargestgift—$1.5million—tohelpbuildanew,state-of-the-artfacility justsouthofIowaFalls.Intotal,theprojectraisedover$7millionincommunitydonations,anastoundingshowofsupportfrom familiesintheIowaFallsandHardinCountyarea.Donationsrangedfrompledgesandcashgiftstodonationsofpropertyandgrain. Andthesizeofdonationsvaried,too,from$20onuptotheleaddonationcontributedbytheHansenfamily.
IowaSelectFarmshasaworkforceofnearly1,000employees,plus345contractors.“WiththemajorityofouremployeeslivinginsmallercommunitiessuchasIowaFalls,it’simportanttousthatweworktogetherandgiveback,”Jeffsaid.“Qualityhealthcareplays animportantroleinthelivesofourfamiliesandtheirfuture,whichiswhywearehappytosupportthenewhospital.”Givingbackis alongstandingtraditionfortheHansens,in2006thecoupleestablishedtheDebandJeffHansenFoundationtoformalizetheir charitablegiving.TheFoundationworkswithphilanthropicorganizationstorelievehunger,supportmilitaryfamiliesandstrengtheneffortstofindacureforchildhoodcancers.
In2013theFoundationdonated$250,000toBlankChildren’sHospitalinDesMoinesforanewCancerandBloodDisordersClinic, afacilitythatservesfamiliesinall99Iowacounties.TheFoundationalsohasmadecountlessdonationstocharitablegroupsand projects funding cancer research.
“Theseareperfectexampleofthetypesofprojectswesupportbecauseoftheirpositive impactonruralcommunities,”saidJeff.“Weareconfidentthisnewhospitalwillprovide high-qualityhealthcareforgenerationstocome,ensuringahealthyfutureforIowaFalls andHardinCounty.”
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Hansen Family Hospital Board, hospital donors and members of the Hardin County community take part in the ribbon cutting celebration.
The operating rooms at the Hansen Family Hospital feature spacious floor plans, integrated technology and a special surgery
waiting room for family and friends.
11ISSUE 1 / 2015
Thereactionwas instantaneous–loudcheers, tears all around and heart-felt hugs with family members and Iowa Select Farms representatives.That wasthereactionfrom17-year-oldLexiDelaney as she basked in the aftermathofthe
record-settingpurchasebyIowaSelectFarmsofherReserveGrand Champion FFA market hog at the 2014 Iowa State Fair Sale of Champions. The $50,000 winning bid was not only a record priceforahogsoldattheevent,itwastheall-timerecordpricefor any animal ever at the sale!
Delaney,daughterofDavidandTamiDelaneyofDeWitt,Iowa, is now a freshman at Iowa State University majoring in animal science.Shesaystheincomefromthesalewillhelpfinancehereducation.IowaSelectFarmspurchasedthepigwithsupportfromCargill,CustomPrecast,Elanco,NewshamChoiceGenetics,SGI,FirstCentralStateBank,LettowShowPigs,JakeandAngieSuppleand$14,500infundingfrombusinessesandcitizens ofDeWitt.
Iowa Select Farms was also the winning bidder for the 4-H Grand Champion market hog shown by Taylor Brinning of Keota, Iowa. The $36,000 purchase price was a new record for that category, aswell,andincludedsupportfromLuctaUSA,Dave&Janie Fenton,Zoetis,thepigplanet.com,Viagen,JBSUnited,CustomBuildersand$11,000frombusinessesandcitizensofKeota.
Iowa Foundation for Agricultural AdvancementThe Iowa State Fair Sale of Champions is conducted in partnershipwiththeIowaFoundationforAgricultural Advancement(IFAA).It’sanon-profitorganizationfoundedin1988 by agricultural enthusiasts from across the state of Iowa and dedicated to the agriculture industry and encouraging 4-H and FFA livestock, poultry and agriculture project members to pursue ag-related careers.
Sale of Champions exhibitors receive a check from IFAA only aftersatisfactorycarcassresultsforeachanimalsoldhave been reported by the ISU Meat Laboratory. The exhibitor keeps 75percentoftheproceedsandtheremaining25percentis availableforscholarshipsandIFAAadministrativeexpenses.
The 2014 Sale of Champions generated $326,900. Scholarships totaling $189,250 and carcass and performance awards totaling $31,150 were also awarded. In all, 254 Iowa youth receivedatotalof$547,300.
Winner’s Circle Scholarships Iowa Select Farms is also a major contributor to the IFAA Winner’s Circle Scholarship and Awards program. The program wasestablishedin1990toprovideincentivesforcollege- boundyouthseekingpost-secondaryeducationinanarea of agriculture.
IT’S A RECORD, TWICE!Iowa Select Farms support for Iowa youth reached new heights in 2014!
Matthew Schulte
Kolton Greiner
Kolton has been involved in the family’sswineoperationandwith his brother started Greiner Brothers Show Pigs. He has been very successful at the Washington County and Iowa State Fair with numerous champions and showmanship awards with both his swine and sheep projects.
“IowaSelectFarmsisproudtoplayarole in the IFAA mission through the purchase of animals at the Sale of Championsandscholarshipsupport,”saidJeffHansen,IowaSelectFarmsCEO.“Wearetotallycommittedto the future of Iowa and its rural youth as they prepare for promising futures in animal agriculture and manyrelatedfields.”
Iowa Select Farms’ 2014 Winner’s Circle scholarships were awardedtoMatthewRomoserofKeota,Iowa;MatthewSchulteofDorchester,Iowa;andKoltonGreiner,alsoofKeota,Iowa.Romoser was awarded a $10,000 Iowa Select Farms swine scholarship. Schulte and Greiner each received $6,000 Iowa Select Farms swine scholarships.
Romoser, son of Robert and Mary Romoser, is a senior at Iowa StatemajoringinAnimalScienceandplaysanactiveroleinthefamilyownedfarrow-to-finishoperation.Hewasthe2014Blockand Bridle president and Chair of the 2013 Proven to Win Pig Sale. He’s an Animal Science Peer Mentor, Student Ambassador for the College of Agriculture and Life Science and member of the LivestockJudgingTeam.Heplanstoattendgraduateschoolwithanemphasisinswinereproduction.
Romosersayshisinterestinporkproductionbeganasayoung4-Her.“Asa4thgraderIdidn’talwaysknowwhatwasgoingon,”hesaid,“butIknewIwantedtobeoutinthebarnwithdad helping breed sows, wean pigs and with the baby pig processing. AsIgrewolder,Igotmoreinvolvedinhelpingmakegenetic decisionsalongwithmydadandmybrother.”
MatthewSchulte,alsoasenioratIowaStatemajoringinani-mal science, is the son of David Schulte. He says his passion for the swine industry was developed working in his father’s far-row-to-finishoperationandshowingswinethrough4-HandFFA.
Schulte has served as the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences CouncilSeniorRepresentativeforBlock&Bridle,AnimalSciencePeer Mentor, Block & Bridle Summer Sausage and Cheese Fundraiser Tri Chair, 2013 Grill Team Co-Chair and Block & Bridle Spring Market Hog Show Chair. He is a member of the 2014 ISU MeatsJudgingTeam.
Kolton Greiner, son of Lindsay and Shelley Greiner, is a freshman at Iowa State majoring in animal science. As president of his local FFA chapter and high school student body, he was nominated toattendtheL.F.A.P.LeadershipAcademy at Indian Hills. He also received the Rising Star Award from the Iowa SoybeanAssociation.
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DEB & JEFF HANSEN FOUNDATION CELEBRATES A BIG YEAR OF GIVING!
CONSUMER: Limit one coupon per purchase of specified
product(s). Void if copied, sold, exchanged or transferred.
Consumer is responsible for any sales tax.CONSUMIDOR:
Limite de un cupón por compra del producto(s) específico. No
es válido si está copiado, vendido, cambiado o transferido. El
consumidor es responsable de cualquier pago de impuestos.
RETAILER: We will reimburse you the face value of this coupon
plus 8¢ handling, provided it is redeemed by a consumer at the
time of purchase on the brand specified. Coupons not properly
redeemed will be void and held. Reproduction of this coupon is
expressly prohibited. (Any other use constitutes fraud.) Invoices
proving purchase of sufficient stock with in the past 90 days to
cover coupons presented for redemption must be show upon
request. Mail to: CMS Dep’t #99766, Inmar, 1 Fawcett Drive,
Del Rio, TX 78840. Cash value .001¢. Void where taxed or
restricted. LIMIT ONE COUPON PER ITEM PURCHASED.
Ham Sandwiches for KidsTM is provided by Iowa
Select Farms and the Deb and Jeff Hansen Foundation
and presented to families in cooperation with the
Food Bank of Iowa’s BackPack ProgramTM. As farmers
and producers of high quality, wholesome pork, we
take pride in sharing our product with kids and
families across Iowa.
Ham Sandwiches for KidsTM es proporcionado por
Iowa Select Farms y la Fundación Deb y Jeff Hansen y
entregado a las familias con la cooperación del
BackPack ProgramTM del Food Bank de Iowa. Como
agricultores y productores de carne de cerdo sana,
de alta calidad, nos enorgullecemos en compartir
nuestro producto con los niños y las familias de Iowa.
MANUFACTURER COUPON | EXPIRES 12/31/2015
No other purchase necessary. Ask for $5 worth of shaved ham (this will be close to 1 lb.) from the deli case at your local grocery store and provide this coupon at checkout. Also good towards the purchase of pre-packaged sliced or shaved ham.
No es necesario hacer otra compra. En la vitrina de los fiambres de su supermercado pida $5 dólares en jamón rebanado (casi 1 libra) y presente este cupón en la caja. También lo puede usar para jamón rebanado o jamón desmenuzado pre-envasado.
GET $5 WORTH OF FRESH DELI OR PACKAGED HAM FREE!
VÁLIDO POR $5 DÓLARES PARA JAMÓN FRESCO O ENVASADO ¡GRATIS!
MANUFACTURER COUPON | EXPIRES 12/31/2015
Ham Sandwiches for Kids™ Program reaches over 8,000More than 8,000 students in Central and Northeast Iowa are receiving coupons for freeslicedorshavedhamthis2014-2015schoolyearthankstotheDebandJeff HansenFoundation’sexpandedHamSandwichesforKidsprogram.Theprogram provides$5coupons,fourtimesayear,forslicedorshavedhamtoover8,000 familieswhohavechildrenparticipatingintheFoodBankofIowa’sandNortheastIowa’s BackPack Program.™ The total value of these coupons is $166,000.
The BackPack Program™ provides child-friendly, easy-to-prepare nonperishable food items on weekends and during school breaks when students do not have access to the federalfreeandreducedpricemealprogram.“IappreciatethecontinuedsupportandgenerosityoftheDebandJeffHansenFoundation,”saysCareyMiller,executive directoroftheFoodBankofIowa.“Whenthereisachildinneed,thereisafamilyinneed. This partnership provides children and their families with a nutrient-rich proteinnotalwaysfoundintheirhomes.”AccordingtotheUnited States Department of Agriculture’s MyPlate guidelines, children need up to six ounces of lean protein daily, depending on age and gender. Ham is included in the MyPlate as a nutrient dense lean protein that promotes growth and development in today’s youth.
“Wearepassionateaboutprovidinghungerrelief,especiallyforchildren,” saidJeffHansen,CEOofIowaSelectFarmsandco-founderoftheDeb andJeffHansenFoundation.“WestartedourHamSandwichesforKids™ program in 2012 and the number of children impacted has grown significantlyeachyear.Sincehungerreliefisoneofthemajorfocuses ofourFoundation,wearecommittedtothesuccessofthisprogram,” adds Hansen. This year all families received a booklet with easy, kid- friendly ham recipes such as scrambled eggs and ham, ham pizza, and a variety of ham sandwiches and wraps for easy meals.
13VOLUME 2, ISSUE 9ISSUE 1 / 2015
Foundation cooked up support for every single armed services member in IowaIowaservicemembershadalittlemoreontheirplatesthisholidayseason,quiteliterally,withanunprecedenteddonationofcouponsgoodforfreeporkfromtheDebandJeffHansenFoundationandIowaSelectFarms.Everysingleservicemember in Iowa received $28 worth of coupons good for various pork products— including ribs, fresh pork, ground pork and bacon—through their unit readiness coordinators.Intotal,morethan10,800activedutyandreserveservicemembersreceived coupons, totaling $302,400 in free pork.
“ProvidingsupporttomilitaryfamiliesinIowaistheleastwecandoforthose onactivedutyandthosewhodedicatetheirtimetociviliandutyandtheReserves,”saysJeffHansen,presidentandCEOofIowaSelectFarms.“Supplyingthe resources for a home-cooked meal that brings their families together is our wayofsaying‘thankyou’tothemenandwomenwhosacrificesomuchoftheirtimeawayfromtheirfamiliesinordertoprotectourfreedom.”
“I’mhumbledandproudtobearecipientofthisgift,”saysSFCLarryHingtgen, amemberofDeltaCompany1/133rdInfantry.“IknowthatIspeakformostof the men and women in uniform all over the state in saying that this is hugely appreciated.Frombaconbreakfasts,toourholidaygatheringsandtailgating, thisisapracticalandhugelyhelpfulgift.ThethoughtfulnessofIowansneverceasestoamazeme.”Thefoundationalsodistributedthecouponpackets the Iowa State University ROTC programs.
Rural food pantries replenished with 24 tons of pork
No other purchase necessary. Simply use
this coupon toward your next purchase
of bacon—pork bacon, of course. If in
doubt, ask the butcher or meat manager.
$5PORK
BACON
OFF
Manufacturer coupon | expires 12/31/2014
No other purchase necessary. Simply use
this coupon toward your next purchase of
ground pork pre-packaged in the meat case
or available at the deli counter. If in doubt,
ask the butcher or meat manager.
$3GROUND
PORK
OFF
MANUFACTURER COUPON | EXPIRES 12/31/2014
No other purchase necessary. Simply use this coupon toward your next purchase of fresh pork straight out of the meatcase—fresh Iowa Chops,
boneless pork chops, pork cubes, slices and stripes or a pork loin roast. If in doubt,
ask the butcher or meat manager.
$10FRESH
PORK
OFF
MANUFACTURER COUPON | EXPIRES 12/31/2014
No other purchase necessary. Simply use
this coupon toward your next purchase of
any cut or brand of pork ribs straight out of
the meatcase—baby back ribs, spare ribs,
country-style ribs or riblets. If in doubt
ask the butcher or meat manager.
$10PORK RIBS
OFF
MANUFACTURER COUPON | EXPIRES 12/31/2014
EmptyfreezersinIowafoodpantrieswerefilledin2014whentheDebandJeffHansenFoundationandIowaSelectFarmsdonatedapproximately48,000poundsoffresh,boneless pork loins to help feed Iowa families in need. The pork was distributed by employeesofIowaSelectFarmstoover70ruralcommunityorganizations.
“WefocusonhelpingIowafamilieswhoneedahelpinghand,”saysJeffHansen,PresidentandCEOofIowaSelectFarms.“Theporkloindonationhelpsbringfamiliestogetherforagoodmeal,somethingtheycan’talwaysaffordtodo.”OneineightIowans, or more than 390,000 individuals, face the risk of hunger every day, accordingtoCoryBerkenes,ExecutiveDirectoroftheIowaFoodBankAssociation, sothedonation,valuedat$125,760,cameatatimewhenthereisagreatneed. “Theseareoftenhard-workingadults,childrenandseniorswhosimplycannotmakeendsmeetandareforcedtogowithoutfoodforseveralmeals,orevendays,”saysBerkenes.Eachcommunityhastheirownuniqueneeds,sotheFoundationworkswithlocal pantries to determine how they can best meet those needs. In total, 800 cases of porkloinswerehandedoutduringthisroundofdonations,andwiththegreatneed for fresh pork, pantries exhaust their supply very quickly. Whether the pork is used to meet immediate needs or saved for holiday food baskets, the loins help ease the stress for families wondering where their meals will come from.
“Youhavenoideahowmuchthisdonationhelps,”saidDianaBass,arepresentativeofthefoodpantryatUnitedMethodistChurchinNewHartford,Iowa.“Proteinissuchanimportant part of our diets and unfortunately, high meat prices make it hard for many peopletoaccessthesenutrient-richfoods.”Thebonelessporkloinsareapproximately4.5 pounds and each can feed 24 people a 3-ounce serving of pork. The 800 cases of porkloinroastsdonatedbytheDebandJeffHansenFoundationandIowaSelectFarmsprovided approximately 230,400 servings to Iowa families.
DEB & JEFF HANSEN FOUNDATION CELEBRATES A BIG YEAR OF GIVING!
14
Foundation delivers pork loin roasts to 132nd Fighter Wing in Des MoinesContinuinganothertraditionofsupportingourmilitary menandwomen,theDebandJeffHansenFoundation was proud to make a holiday delivery of pork loin roasts packedinfestivecoolertotestothenearly1,000 membersoftheIowaNationalGuard’s132ndFighterWing. The totes were delivered directly to the airmen during their December drill weekend.
Foundation delivers pork loin roasts to Iowa Army National Guard units just in time for ChristmasRepresentativesoftheDebandJeffHansenFoundationjoinedholidaypartiesinBooneandWaterlootohand deliver pork loin roasts to the Soldiers of the Det 2 HSD 248th, Det 3 Co B 248th, Det 1 S&S, Det HSC 148th and B CO 248th units. Many of these Soldiers had recently returned from deployment in Kosovo where they providedaviationmaintenancesupporttoacombat aviationbrigade,whichincludesaircraftdiagnostics, repair,maintenance,andtesting.
Deb and Jeff Hansen Foundation honors US Marine Corp ReservesOnacrispautumndaytheDebandJeffHansen Foundationwasprivilegedtoshowgratitudetothe members of the 2D BN 24th Marine Regiment of the USMarineCorpReserves.Foundationrepresentative were on-hand to present each Marine an insulated totestuffedwithporkloinsandribsalongwitha grilling apron and coupons for even more fresh pork, ribs, ground pork and bacon at the grocery meat case.
15VOLUME 2, ISSUE 9ISSUE 1 / 2015
16
Continuingwhathasbecomeanannualholidaytradition,theDebandJeffHansenFoundationonceagaingaveaway3,500freeporkloinroaststofamiliesinneedinconjunctionwithaspecialliveremotebroadcastofthe“VanandBonnieintheMorning”programonNewsRadioWHO1040.
EmployeessportingSantaClausandMrs.ClauscostumesandfestiveChristmashatshandedoutthefresh,bonelessroaststothesteadylineofparticipants,manyofwhomtookthetimetosharetheirpersonalstoriesofhardship.“Someeven broke down into tears when they were handed the porkloin,otherssharedalookofappreciationwhilechildrensquealedindelightfromthebackseats,”saidAllysonLadd,whofilledtheroleofMrs.Clausfortheevent.“Thestoriesweheardwereheartwrenching,”saidLadd.“Manypeoplepassedushandwrittenthankyounotes,orrespondedbyexchangingadonationbackthroughthewindowastheyreceived a pork loin they intended to take to a family they knewcoulduseahelpinghand.”
This year a small drone captured aerial footage of the event and showed cars winding through the state fair parking lot and out onto University Avenue. It was steady for the full fourhoursoftheevent.“Thisyearwedidmoreoutreachto area food pantries and children and family service-based organizationsthathelpfamiliesinneed,”saidJenSorenson, CommunicationsDirectorforIowaSelectFarms.“Wewantedto make sure they were aware of the giveaway and get someone down the fairgrounds, it’s amazing how something like a pork loin can bring the magic of Christmas back into ahome.”
Each 4.5-pound roast provides 24 servings of lean, nutri-ent-rich pork, with the 3,500 roasts supplying 84,000 total servings. The pork loins have a combined weight of 7.8tonsandavalueof$36,697.
OVER 3,500 FAMILIES IN NEED RECEIVE A HELPING HANDAt the annual Pork Loin Giveaway!
THANK YOU 2014 FOUNDATION SPONSORS!
PREMIER
GOLD
SILVER
Randy & Jean Thompson
BRONZE
Tony & Mari Thies
Gold-EagleCOOPERATIVE
17VOLUME 2, ISSUE 9ISSUE 1 / 2015
THANK YOU 2014 FOUNDATION SPONSORS!
EveryoneWE BELIEVE
DESERVES A
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Chad Besemer, Sow 31 manager, responded the way most of usdowhenfacedwithamassiveworkplacechange.“WhenIfirstheardabouttheproject,Istartedthinkingaboutallthereasonswhyitcouldn’twork,”hesmiles.
But the manager who spent most of 2014 helping start up Iowa Select Farms’ newest sow farm near Holstein, Iowa, also recalls,“ThemoreIthoughtaboutit,themorepositivesIfound. Now that we’re fully into the project, things are runningsmoothlyandwe’veadaptedtoournewworkflow.”
The“project”iscalledbatchfarrowinginarecentlyacquiredpengestationsowfarm.Besemerwasoneof10-14teammembers pulled together in spring of 2014 by project manager Dan Dean to start up the sow farm and test the concept compared to the company’s standard breeding and farrowingpractices.
The advantages of batch farrowing are improved downstream pigqualityandspaceutilization.“Batchfarrowingmeanswe’ve changed a lot of things about how and when we handle animalsatthesowfarms,”Deansays.“Butthebiggestimpactweshouldseefrombatchfarrowingwillbeingrow/finish performance.Itmaytakeafewparities,butwe’llgetthere.”
“Thebiggestdifferencebetweenbatchfarrowingand conventionalfarrowing,”Besemersays,“isthatat conventionalsowfarms,wefarrowsowseveryday,processpigs every day, wean sows every day and breed sows every day. With batch farrowing, you concentrate on one task at a timewithinaspecifictimeperiod.”
AtSow31,atotalof720sowsarehousedin24,30-stall farrowingrooms.“All850sowsarebredinoneweekso farrowingcanbecompletedinoneweek,”Besemersays.“Thenwefocusonprocessingandbabypigcareuntilwe’redonewiththattask.Thenweweanuntilthattaskisdone.Afterthreeweeks,wemovethe720sowsfromthefarrowingrooms to the breeding pens, clean and disinfect the farrowing roomsandthenstartmovinginthenextbatchof720sows.”
“Whenweweanedourfirstgroup,wewereabletofill twowean-to-finishbarnsin48hours,”Deansays.“With conventionalfarrowing,ittakesabouttwoweekstodothat.Withbatchfarrowing,we’reabletofillasiteandshutthedoor. This creates health and performance advantages for thepigsandimprovedlaborefficiencyforemployees.”Deanemphasizes the project wouldn’t have been possible without thecooperationandteamworkofeveryoneintheentire Iowa Select Farms system.
Breeding project crew accomplishes a monumental taskOnce the farm purchase was completed, a constructionandrepaircrew set out to the site togivethefarmafacelift,while Dean immediately went to work pulling together the team needed to establish a batch farrowing system. HisfirstcallwastoTysenAbell, Gilt Development Unit (GDU) supervisor for southern Iowa andgiltselectionspecialist.Abell’sassignmentwasthetaskoffinding4,000giltsneededtopopulatethe3,400slotsatSow31.
“Oh,andbytheway,”DeantoldAbell,“weneedallofthosegiltsinlessthansixweeks.”AfterbeingconvincedthatDean’srequestwas a serious one, Abell quickly went to work.
DeannextcalledBesemer,aGDUsupervisoratthetime,toenlisthiseffortstojointhebreedingprojectandultimately,Sow31.Besemer and Abell then worked together to get the selected giltsmovedtothreebreedingsites—EmmettAvenue,Kraft and Norway.
Gilts were loaded into the breeding sites in groups sized to match thependynamicsatSow31.Theyweresortedbyheatdetectiondates so it would be known when to start administering Matrix, aheatsynchronizationfeedadditive.Thatallowedgiltstobegrouped and bred for movement every four weeks to Sow 31.
“Wehadfourpeopleatthebreedingsiteseverydayforheat checkingandsorting,”Deansays.“Then,everyfourthweek, we’d bring in another 10 to 14 people to breed 850 gilts. This group was made up of supervisors, GDU managers and gilt breedingspecialists.Theirsolejobfortheweek,fromthetimetheyshoweredintothetimetheyleftthebuildingatnight, wastobreedgilts.”
Deansayshe’sparticularlygratefultothosewhovolunteered tohelpwiththebreedingastheygaveupentireweeksand weekendsoftheirtimeawayfromtheirregularjobsand families–includingEasterSundayandmanyotherholidays. “Thatalsomeantthefarmstheycamefromwereshort- handed while they were working on the batch project so theirco-workerstherehadtopickupthatextraworkload.”
TEAMS COME TOGETHER TO GET SOW 31 OFF TO A GREAT START
Breeding Project Crew
Brody Abell (with board) and Chad Besemer
o Breeding Project Site
Hannah Simmerman, Ryan Johnson,
Courtney Foster and Monica Dodge
19VOLUME 2, ISSUE 9ISSUE 1 / 2015
TEAMS COME TOGETHER TO GET SOW 31 OFF TO A GREAT START
Dean offers special thanks to Noel Williams and his family for supplying a holiday dinner for crew members working that day, David McGeefromPIC,JamesBergettandhisrepaircrewforhelpgettingtheEmmetfacilityreadytoreceivegilts,thecrewsatFarris,3Fires,Stalker1andLucasCityforloadingandgettingallthegiltscaughtuponvaccinationspriortoloading,andboarstudemployees.
“BoarstudsupervisorBrianQualleytoldmethefirst7-daystretchofthebreedingprojectwaslikeadding20,000sowstotheIowaSelectsystemwithoutanyadditionalboars,”saidDean.
“I’vebeeninGDUsfor10yearssobreedingismyspecialty,”saysRyanJohnson,GDUmanagerandmemberofthebreedingteam.“Fromthebreedingperspective,Ihavetosaywe’reverysatisfiedwiththeproject.Tohave14peoplewho’veneverworkedtogetherbeforeachievetheresultswedidisastounding.”
“Whatismostmemorabletomeaboutthebreedingproject,”Abellsays,“isthewayteammembersworkedtogethersowellafterjustadayortwoonthejob.Ithinkthathappenedbecausewewereallfocusedoncompletingasingletaskthatwasclearlyidentifiedandeverybodyunderstoodthegoal.”
Qualley Boar Stud Hasting Boar Stud (Back up to Qualley Boar Stud) The Breeding Project Crew
• Tysen Abell, GDU Supervisor• Brody Abell, Technician, GDU 38• Connie Kraft,Manager,HemannEastG447• Chad Besemer, Manager, Sow 31• Bernardino Pelico-Guox, Technician, Sow 31• Janea Shannon, Farrowing Department Head, Sow 31• Craig Whalen, GDU Supervisor• Nick Pickar, Manager, G162• Arthur Schwab, Manager, G241• Darian Fisher, Manager, G044• Eric Hensley, Technician, Gravity GDU 541• Monica Dodge, Breeding Assistant, Grouse G400 • Hannah Simmerman, Intern • Courtney Foster, Intern• Ryan Johnson, Manager, Gast G938• Orin J Cox, Manager, Gravity G541 • Dan Dean, DirectorofMultiplicationandGDUs• The entire Transportation Department • The Construction, Repair and Maintenance Department• Noel WilliamsandtheentireWilliamsfamily
People who held down the fort at their GDU sites by keeping production at expected levels
• Chris Bessman, Manager, Grouse G400• Dave Hemann, Breeding Assistant, Kiss G162• Virginia Garcia,Technician,HemannEastG447• Jaime Chaplin, Manager,Gast/Greenfield4GDU• Larry Last, BreedingAssistant,Gast/Greenfield4GDU• Desarae Schwab,BreedingSpecialist,Gast/Greenfield4GDU• Randy Deahl, BreedingSpecialist,Gast/Greenfield4GDU• Doug Gillmore, Manager,Gast/Greenfield4GDU• Hebert Nunez Aragon, Department Head, S115• Zach Behrens, Technician,Greenfield4G561• Gus Olson, Technician, Cyclone G562• Randy Abell, Sow 29 Growers• Nate Taylor, Sow 29 Growers• Jerri Stewart, Sow 29 Growers• Rodney Briner, Sow 29 Growers• Dave Maxson, Technician, Gravity G541
SPECIAL THANKS
About Sow 31• Was purchased by Iowa Select Farms in early 2014• 4,000head,pengestationsowfarm• GiltsbredoffsiteatRooseSouthandenterthefarmoneweekpriortofarrowing• Bredsowsarehousedingestationstallsuntilday37,thenmovedtooneof16,
20 x 45 gestationpenseachhousing50-60sows• Sows farrow in one of 24, 30-stall farrowing rooms• The farm also features two on-site nurseries each holding 1,800 pigs
Tysen and Brody Abell
Monica Dodge
Ryan Johnson
Sow 31
SelectCare™ PO Box 400
Iowa Falls, IA 50126
ADVENTURELAND H SUMMER PARADES H IOWA STATE FAIR
employees and contractors—warmer weather is just around the corner! We’re looking forward to another great spring and summer of family fun.ThankYou