Iowa Pork Gets Harper's Notice

By Sam Garchik

The Harper's Magazine May 2006 issue came to my door today.  In it, there's a great article about pigs, and it mentions two successful Iowa family farms. One, run by the Sleezer family, has maintained a strong farm in Aurelia by being a "boar stud," facility. The other, run by Paul Willis,  was the first farm in Iowa to join the free-range Niman Ranch marketing plan. 

Although these farms may approach farming and animal stewardship from different perspectives, the families deserve a lot of credit for figuring out how to keep the family farm relevant in today's global marketplace. Ultimately, these two opperations share a belief that high quality, global perspective, and solid business practices will make sure Iowans create the best opportunities for business growth and individualized ownership.