(CLIVE, Iowa), August 15, 2018 – Two Iowans are among the four finalists who are vying to be named the 2018 America’s Pig Farmer of the YearSM. The award, which is organized and managed by the National Pork Board, honors a U.S. pig farmer each year who excels at raising pigs following the We CareSM ethical principles and who is committed to sharing their farming story with the American public.
Brad Lundell, Kiron, and Kevin Rasmussen, Goldfield, are being considered for the award along with Patrick Bane of Illinois and Bill Luckey of Nebraska.
“The four finalists demonstrate how pig farmers embrace the We Care ethical principles as their daily standard of care,” said National Pork Board President Steve Rommereim of Alcester, South Dakota. The four finalists will meet with an expert panel of five third-party judges who will interview each of them and view videos produced at the finalists’ farms. Included as a judge is the current America’s Pig Farmer of the Year, Leon Sheets of Ionia, Iowa.
Through Aug. 29, the public can also vote once a day per person for their favorite finalist at www.americaspigfarmer.com. The winner will be announced the week of Oct. 1 based on the judges’ scores and the online voting.
About the Finalists
Brad Lundell, Kiron, Iowa
Being a good caretaker of the pigs drives Brad Lundell’s passion. That’s the result of learning through five generations of family farmers. Lundell hopes consumers see why pig farming is family-oriented when they consider the farm operation is run with the help of his wife Sarah and their four children. The Lundells also raise turkeys, corn and soybeans.
Kevin Rasmussen, Goldfield, Iowa
Employee care is important in providing a safe product at KLR Pork, where Rasmussen markets 26,000 pigs a year from his farrow-to-finish farm. As a fourth-generation Iowa farmer, he considers the employees who work for him as family, and that makes all the difference in the product they produce.
Patrick Bane – Arrowsmith, Illinois
Raising pigs has been a life-long passion for Patrick Bane, whose family has been raising pigs for three generations. Bane raises 74,000 pigs on his farm in west-central Illinois, where he focuses on protecting public health, hiring the best people and maintaining herd health.
Bill Luckey – Columbus, Nebraska
Farming and raising pigs is a family tradition for Bill Luckey, who is a fourth-generation farmer. Luckey, along with his wife and three sons, markets 10,000 pigs a year. They also raise cattle, corn and soybeans on their farm.