Hundreds of area residents now have a better idea on how a hog raising operation works. They toured a new 8100 head wean to finish hog farm west of Rossville during an open house at the Carl and Jody Clark farm.
One of those present was Tim Maiers, who is working with the Illinois Pork Producers Association. Maiers noted there has been a lot of interest in hog farm operations lately.
‘’That’s why we do these is to have people come out and learn more about these types of modern technologies that we’re using to care for these pigs – to care for the environment. As we know there’s a lot of misinformation out there sometimes, so it’s good for the folks to come in, actually see what the barns are like, talk to people who have the experience and have been working in these barns and can tell them from experience how things work,’’ said Maiers.
The Illinois Department of Agriculture cleared the way for the construction of two new hog raising facilities near Fithian last week.
Maiers says he is glad to see that the Clark’s – who dedicated the new facility near Rossville – are a young family.
‘’You know we talk a lot in rural America about our young people leaving and what we can do to keep them in our rural communities. Livestock is keeping young people in our communities. Contract pork production is keeping people in our communities. And the Clarks are a great example of that,’’ said Maiers, ‘’being able to expand their farm and look at their children as a fourth generation down the road, and be able to build something that potentially could be for them to continue on this farm.’’
Between 350 and 400 people took part in the open house at the Clark farm. As part of their visit they got to enjoy a meal – complete with free pork sandwiches.
[Information for this story courtesy of Vermilion County Farm Bureau.]
