Iowa Select Farms

03/16/2023

“I ran for the People Care Council because I think people are the heart of any business,” said Andrea Ruiz Campos.

Andrea is passionate about both people and pigs. She started her career in Mexico, where she received her master’s degree in animal science before moving to the United States to pursue an internship program in swine research at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

That experience eventually led her to Iowa Select Farms, where she has worked at Sow 27 for two years, first as the assistant farrowing department lead and now as breeding department head. She’s also a member of our People Care Council, which has allowed her to serve as a voice for Iowa Select Farms employees.

“Even though I’m not American, I think everybody should feel welcome in a different country. Iowa Select Farms is doing a great job at this by making everyone feel included, safe and valued,” said Andrea. “I also think Iowa Select Farms does a good job of promoting the personal and professional growth of all its employees by providing them with the necessary tools to achieve their own goals.”

It’s established initiatives like these that made Andrea believe she could make a difference as a member of the People Care Council.

“There is a saying in Spanish, ‘Mi granito de arena’. It means my little grain of sand. We use this to refer to one tiny contribution to a collective goal. My work is a drop in the larger ocean or a grain of sand in the desert because I am part of something bigger,” said Andrea. “I identify with our Iowa Select Farms values and am happy to be part of this great family.”

Thank you, Andrea, for bringing your inspiring attitude and enthusiasm to the People Care Council!

03/15/2023

“I love to go to different farms and hear different opinions and ideas on how we can improve every day,” said Val Leija, a sow retention specialist at Iowa Select Farms and a member of our PeopleCare Council. “We don’t just talk about productivity. We also talk about how to take care of our people, what their concerns are or what they think we can all do together to improve performance.”

The PeopleCare Council exists to provide critical feedback from the workforce to our leadership teams through interactions just like this. In her role as a sow retention specialist that travels to different farms, Val is in the perfect position to listen to and share many different perspectives. During her almost seven years at Iowa Select Farms, Val has also seen many aspects of the company, helping her better connect with a variety of employees.

“I started working for Iowa Select Farms in August of 2016. My first role was an animal caretaker at the ISO Pork and Marton-Hunt gilt development units,” she explained. “Then I transferred to Sow 112 where I worked as a day one specialist. Next, I moved to southern Iowa and worked on Ochylski sow farm and eventually became the breeding department head on Jones sow farm. That’s brought me to my current position as sow retention specialist.”

Val’s growth and promotion within the company have positively impacted her, and she wants to give those same opportunities to others.

“I’m hoping to work on our training programs to help people move up through the company,” she said. “I know we have some development programs, and those are awesome, but I would like to have a system we can develop on farms to prepare employees to grow and be promoted.”

Helping people move up within the company is important to Val, not only because her promotions shaped her path at Iowa Select Farms. She believes the company is a great workplace that consistently invests in its employees.

“Iowa Select Farms takes care of our people. The company is always showing their appreciation for us,” she said. “They keep us motivated to do our best every day.”
Thank you, Val, for your service and leadership!

03/15/2023

I’ve been surrounded by agriculture my whole life and have learned about livestock care, entrepreneurship and the importance of helping others,” said Lilie Vansice, an Iowa Select Farms scholarship recipient.

To help pay for college, Lilie started her own goat business, which she says has helped her build business and life skills while helping pay for tuition.

Lilie is pursuing a degree in physical therapy at Mercy College of Health Sciences studying physical therapy. She’s the daughter of Jordan and Stacia Vanice. Jordan is the site manager of Hog Heaven outside of Melbourne.

Congratulations on your scholarship, Lilie!

03/15/2023

“Iowa Select Farms is always giving back to communities, listening to employees and evaluating processes to make sure we are doing the best we can in every way,” said Kaci Pohlman, a member of the People Care Council.

That dedication to being the best made Kaci want to join the People Care Council. She has a variety of ideas she wants to implement to improve recruitment, reviews, training and events.

“I want to help create new processes, update current ones, help people have a voice in changes, and overall, just make a positive impact on our company and employees,” she said.

Kaci has a great perspective on how Iowa Select Farms operates after working here for 16 years. She started with the company part-time in 2007 at Sow 23 when she was just 19. Since then, she has been a breeding department head at Sow 24, then the manager at Sow 24 and has managed Sow 33 since 2017.

“I think the creation of the Council to help people have a voice and be heard is a huge positive,” said Kaci. “The company is always open and looking for suggestions from people. Then they act on that feedback if they are able to.”

Thank you, Kaci, for your service and leadership!

03/13/2023

“My favorite memory from Iowa Select Farms is being able to see all the workers at the Iowa State Fair relaxing and being able to have fun with their families,” says Shelby Vandermark, an Iowa Select Farms scholarship winner. “It is great that they do these events to help their employees enjoy some time to take a break.”

Shelby has always been intrigued by numbers and enjoys working with them. She is currently studying accounting at Des Moines Area Community College and hopes to one day become an accountant. Her determination has helped her get through difficult times and is also helping her achieve her dreams.

Shelby is from Mount Ayr. She is the daughter of Brenda Vandermark and the late William Vandermark. Brenda is an animal caretaker for Iowa Select Farms.

Best of luck in your future endeavors, and congratulations on your scholarship, Shelby!

03/12/2023

“To be a leader, you need to serve as an example to those around you. People are always going to learn more from what you do than what you say,” said Flor Rodriguez, assistant farrowing department head at Thorsen sow farm.

Flor has put her leadership values into action by joining the People Care Council. Members of the Council are representatives of our culture and are committed to collectively helping develop, strengthen and execute projects that create and maintain positive working environments and relationships. The Council is a perfect fit for Flor — she is always thinking about ways to help her coworkers and the company as a whole.

“I see it as an opportunity to give back to the company what they have given me. Iowa Select Farms will give you so much on and off the farm,” she said. “On farm, they will provide every tool you need to get the job done and help you be safe and efficient while you do it. Outside the farm they always recognize good work, promote a good family and work relationship with events through the year and give back to the community with meaningful programs.”

In addition to the existing programs and initiatives Iowa Select Farms provides, Flor appreciates their willingness to accept and act on feedback.

“Iowa Select Farms is always looking to be better and make everybody better with feedback and constant training,” said Flor. “They support their employees in any way they can. From COVID measures to the recent increase in gas and food prices, they actively listen to the struggles of their employees and always find a way to help.”

Giving all employees a voice by ensuring this feedback reaches our leadership team is one of the key roles of all People Care Council members.

“I see this as an opportunity to help others develop their potential, support our employees and keep things pleasant, fair and efficient,” said Flor.

Thank you, Flor, for bringing your leadership and positive attitude to your work on the People Care Council!

03/09/2023

“ I grew up on a farm, and my favorite memories include doing chores with my dad,” said Karissa Stephenson, an Iowa Select Farms scholarship winner. “I enjoyed being around the animals and in the fields like him.”

Karissa is studying kinesiology at Iowa State University. She plans to continue her education by attaining her Doctorate to become a physical therapist. She enjoys being active and helping others as she did on the farm.

Karissa is from Lohrville and is the daughter of Robby and Kim Stephenson. They are contract finishers for Iowa Select Farms.

Congratulations on your scholarship, Karissa!

03/08/2023

“The team at Iowa Select Farms has gone above and beyond expectations for nutrient management,” said Dean Runde, a contract grower with Iowa Select Farms who works with the nutrient management team each year to pump manure from his barns and apply it to his fields. “They comply with the basic DNR rules and have made their own tougher rules that hold their work to a higher standard. They truly want to do this the right way.”

Runde is one of the 1,846 farmers around the state that the nutrient management team communicates with to identify fields and soils that can benefit from the manure nutrients our farms provide. Our field-based team works with various stakeholders to oversee manure storage and application, manure management planning and compliance with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR), which helps farmers apply high-quality, organic nutrients to their fields.

“I really can’t even begin to put a value on it; that’s just how valuable it is,” said Runde. “I haven’t bought a drop of commercial fertilizer in over 15 years. This stuff really works, and it wouldn’t be possible without Iowa Select’s nutrient management team. They take care of everything: the paperwork and permits, all our sampling, our rates for pumping and anything else we need.”

The team works diligently to combine soil and crop science, compliance, communication and conservation year-round. They play a pivotal role in coordinating the application of a nutrient that benefits both soil and society—hog manure.
That hard work and versatility earned the entire nutrient management team the Q3 SelectPride Partner recognition this past fall. The award-winning team comprises Keith Kratchmer, Maria Maguire, Max, Gransow, Luke Baker, Kent Pliner, Carl Ott, Brian Blumhagen, Makayla Brennecke, Slade Faris, Sarah Hockemeyer, Nick Johansen, Erica Lain, Matt Railsback, Troy Weber and Jaime Keninger.

They are connected to almost every aspect of our operation. Their work impacts everyone from veterinarians and sow supervisors to contractors and, of course, manure applicators. However, all these different positions have one thing in common: they have positive things to say about the nutrient management team.

“They are amazing. I have nothing but good things to say about them,” said Cory Jackson, a manure applicator. “If you call, they are there. It doesn’t matter what time it is. It doesn’t matter what the question is. They are always responsive. Having that reliability is of the utmost importance. You can’t waste a minute doing what we do.”

Manure application is a big job, especially during the fall when 90% of manure generated on our sites is applied to 160,000 acres of cropland by over 80 manure application crews. During the busy season, the entire team is focused on accuracy and safety. Precision is key when it comes to application, not only due to the short time span but because of the heightened biosecurity risks that come with the season.

“Research shows there tend to be more disease outbreaks during pumping and application, so everything we do regarding farm access has to be strategic,” said Katie Coleman, DVM and Director of Biosecurity at Iowa Select Farms. “There’s just more disease around, so it’s a critical time, and we take many additional steps to minimize disease risk, like having applicators get checked in when they arrive at a site. Seemingly small steps like this facilitated by the nutrient management team can impact our bottom line and everyone who works with our pigs in a big way.”

Scientific research and strategic decision-making are necessary beyond biosecurity for the nutrient management team. It applies to every policy they use in the field, and the people they work with appreciate that deliberate approach.

“Two things set Iowa Select apart from other operations,” said Marci Werner with Southern Waste Handling, a manure applicator who’s worked with Iowa Select for almost 20 years. “They have a positive work atmosphere and use lots of research and knowledge to support all their decisions and policies.”

Data from soil samples and crop rotations drive the team’s decision-making. During pumping season, they calculate the appropriate manure application rate based on the crop nutrient needs and soil and manure characteristics. During the off-season, they continue to gather data by updating soil samples, mapping new fields, and fielding DNR inspections.

The team follows the 4R stewardship framework to ensure responsible and compliant application. The basis of 4R stewardship is ensuring the right fertilizer source is used at the right rate, at the right time and with the right placement, all of which takes research and planning to execute properly.

From prioritizing communication and working with multiple stakeholders to safeguarding biosecurity and making data-driven decisions, the nutrient management team plays many roles in ensuring the safe and efficient application of manure. This hard work makes a positive impact on everyone they partner with.

“I’m very proud of this team and the work they do,” said Keith Kratchmer, Chief Compliance Officer and member of the team. “It’s not easy to make all of the logistics of manure application work in concert, but the team does an excellent job with communication and making it all work.”

“Our crews enjoy working with Iowa Select Farms,” said Werner. “Because of the nutrient management team’s work, our crews can do their jobs successfully.”

Congratulations to the nutrient management team on your SelectPride Partner award, and thank you for your consistent hard work and dedication!

03/07/2023

“I appreciate how Iowa Select Farms celebrates different cultures,” said Rogelio Cruz Bracamontez, manager of Wright Sow Farm and member of the People Care Council.

Rogelio has been with the company for nearly eight years, working on the teams at Swanson, Jacobson, Peterson, Kramer, Yale and Wright sow farms, where today he is the manager.

Like Rogelio, Iowa Select Farms has many employees who come to the US on a work visa, leaving their homes to pursue a career in animal science and pig care.

“It’s joyful to celebrate those parts of Mexican culture, remember our families and home country,” said Rogelio. “It’s important to us, as we learn the new customs here, to take the time to gather and celebrate our traditions.”

That’s why the People Care Council has been working to introduce a variety of events and social gatherings for all employees.

Recently, the Council hosted three simultaneous Posadas, a festive and fun Christmas-themed party commemorating the nativity story. Previously, they planned and hosted four regional “football tailgate” style picnics. Several had flatscreens playing college football games while kids partook in numerous competitions and contests.

Rogelio says the Council keeps working to find the right mix of entertainment and locations that would draw all employees and their families. They are working on a summer intramural softball, corn hole and volleyball tournament.

“All employees are invited to all events, and it’s a chance to celebrate and be social together,” says Rogelio.

Thank you, Rogelio, for your service and leadership!

03/04/2023

Easy Ways to Order Deli Ham from the Counter

The Deb and Jeff Hansen Foundation's Power Snack program empowers students to purchase fresh deli ham as a nutritious source of protein over weekends and school holiday's. We know though that ordering directly from the deli counter can be intimidating. Thankfully. Dance Around the Kitchen is here to show us just how easy it can be. Take a look!

03/02/2023

Happy !🐷 At Iowa Select Farms, we're proud that raising healthy pigs is our top priority, every day. Which pig is your favorite?

03/01/2023

“Agriculture has changed my life in ways that nobody will ever understand because Iowa Select Farms gave me a chance to start over with my life and get the best opportunities to become the person I was meant to be,” said Sofia Sanchez, an Iowa Select Farms Future Ag Leader scholarship recipient. “My family and I are thankful for the growth and networking opportunities available to its employees and families.”

Sophia and her family live in Iowa Falls. She is the daughter of Cesar Sanchez Garza and Monica Macias Canales. Cesar is a Sow Farm Manager at Iowa Select Farms.

Sophia is currently studying finance and accounting at Iowa State University. She would like to fulfill her American dream by becoming a personal banker. She ultimately wants to help immigrant families establish themselves financially.

Congratulations on your scholarship, Sofia; we wish you success!

02/28/2023

“Agriculture has positively impacted my life and family since my dad was given the opportunity to move our family to the United States and begin working at Iowa Select Farms,” said Liliana Sanchez, an Iowa Select Farms scholarship recipient. “They gave us the biggest gift of having a better quality of life and educational opportunities.”

Liliana is studying early childhood education and social work at Ellsworth Community College. She decided to pursue these fields due to personal experiences she encountered while needing tutoring and emotional support due to dyslexia. Liliana found solace in helping others in difficult situations at school and would like to continue helping others by supporting them through struggles in life.

Fun fact about Liliana—she learns better in her second language, English, than in her first language, Spanish.

Liliana lives in Iowa Falls. She is the daughter of Cesar Sanchez Garza and Monica Macias Canales. Cesar is a Sow Farm Manager at Iowa Select Farms.

Congratulations on your scholarship, Liliana!