Posted July 13, 2012

When Doug and Diane Brenneman opened up their new hog-finishing barn for the first time last week, more than 200 people came to celebrate.

“We made the decision to grow our farm with livestock as land is difficult to buy around our area,” said Diane Brenneman. “We think the addition of hogs to our beef cattle farm will be a perfect fit and will allow us to bring our son, Brent, back home after college. This hog building is our investment in the future of our family farm.”

Before the Brenneman’s started construction they turned to the Coalition for advice in choosing a good location and a plan for talking to their neighbors about putting up the barn on their farm. “The Coalition was very helpful and were there for Diane and I from start to finish,” said Doug Brenneman. “I can’t emphasize enough how important it is to talk to your neighbors before you start to build and address any concerns they may have. Diane and I want to be the best neighbors we can be because we plan to be on this farm for a very long time.”

“This hog building will have a $1.5 million impact on Washington County in the first year alone,” said Brian Waddingham, executive director of CSIF. “This event helped familiarize local residents about the benefits of livestock farming in their communities. Iowa is an agricultural state, and we should take pride in that fact and celebrate its value to our communities and the economy.”

The Coalition to Support Iowa’s Farmers was created by farmers to help farmers raise livestock responsibly and successfully. It’s a joint partnership involving the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association, Iowa Corn Growers Association, Iowa Farm Bureau Federation, Iowa Pork Producers Association, Iowa Soybean Association, Iowa Turkey Federation and Midwest Dairy Association.