Adventures in Animal Husbandry
It was the spring of 2006. Mark's and my fledgling grain enterprise, Pinicon Farm, had reached a plateau. A Goldilocks size where we could maintain high standards while being low cost. We were meeting lenders to discuss diversification into livestock ownership.
They cautioned us grain farmers in general are not well suited for animal care, a 24 hour/365 day per year responsibility. Spring planting and fall harvest are intense but relatively brief. The other 8-9 months of the year can be as hectic or leisurely as one chooses.
Although we understood their concerns, Mark and I knew we didn't fit the typical grain farmer’s mindset. We grew up on a dairy farm which Mark operated till '88. I had pigs until we decided to focus on crop farming in the early nineties. We appreciated the demands of livestock production. Although we stayed busy year-round moving our crop enterprise forward, the off-season value of our time could never match the continuous, non-stop output of a livestock operation. Adding livestock would complement our aptitudes, improve utilization of assets, and give us the ability to expand at our discretion.
After considering dairy, beef and hogs, we chose to build finishing barns and raise pigs for Iowa Select. This decision set us down a path that would lead to a shift in our core business. Last year Ringneck Pork surpassed her older sibling, Pinicon Farm, in gross revenue. I always suspected we would someday return to our roots and feed livestock. This is the natural progression for maximizing the value from every acre. But though we had the physical assets to make this possible, finding the right people to lead this effort was the key to success. Luck has been my ally when it comes to recruiting capable partners. Let me introduce you to the men who have made growing Ringneck Pork rewarding and enjoyable.
Cesar Gonzalez is the most tenured member of the Ringneck leadership Team. He started working for us when we were still custom finishing. He earned a reputation as "The Pig Whisperer." Supervisors marveled at his ability to handle pigs gently and effortlessly. If loading, giving shots, and doing daily chores were a competitive sport, Cesar would be the GOAT. Cesar oversees our caretakers.
Tanner Meyers has been with us eight years. At his first interview, he shared that his house in Leroy was paid for. Clearly this twenty-two-year-old was a man on a mission. Tanner is one of those natural talents who can operate a guitar, golf club, fishing rod or welder with precision and ease. Tanner along with understudy Dylan Anderson maintains our facilities.
Doug Frodl is the newest member of the leadership group. He brings the most decorated resume and carries the heaviest load, sharing offices with me. In addition to being in the Army Reserves, Doug worked for the Coop System in sales, nutrition, pork production, business development and staff recruitment. He also taught farm business at Riverland Community College. Doug was the hire completing assembly of the Ringneck leadership Team. His official title is CFO/COO. His duties include financial analysis, marketing, scheduling, nutrition, health, and grower relations.
I've always believed that in sports, talent is overrated. Athleticism cannot overcome poor judgment and incompetency on the part of the coaches. On the other hand, effective leadership can win championships with mediocre ability. Don't get me wrong, we'll take all the brilliance we can get. But if we as leaders support our Team and create an organization where everyone can thrive, the rest is fundamentals.
Jim
Left to Right: Doug Frodl, Tanner Meyers, Cesar Gonzalez