It’s about 6a.m. and I’m sitting at the kitchen table, drinking coffee, reading a magazine and watching my daughter sleep in the baby monitor. Full disclosure, there may even be a prayer or two being said that she stays asleep as many of you may know that those cute, little, sleeping faces can spring into action at any moment. As I sit here and flip throw the 125th Anniversary Issue of the Berkshire News from July of 2000, I can’t help but be thankful of those who laid the foundation for the breed to be going strong into this new decade. I can’t help but be thankful for all of the various reasons why people have a passion for Berkshires for it’s why you and I have something to be a part of today. I believe that we’re all fortunate that we chose to be a part of a breed that does it all. More than just the adorable faces (maybe just me with that opinion), Berkshires compete in the show ring and to be featured on the table, now more than ever as the American Berkshire Association (ABA) looks at its 145th year representing all of you. This issue of Experience Berkshire celebrates where we currently are as a breed and where we can be. You’ll first read an article from Neil Knobloch about the ABA’s Vision 2025. Neil is completing his second term on the ABA Board of Directors and has been a Berkshire breeder for many years. If you’re not yet excited for this new decadego check out page 13. From there you’ll get to know Logan Thornton from the Flying Pig Farm in Kuna, Idaho (pg. 18). Logan and his father, Brad, have around 175 Berkshire sows that they breed for local showman and to market. His passion for the breed and agriculture advocacy speaks volumes. The ABA Progeny Test puts numbers behind the great taste of Berkshire pork. The 2019 results are on pages 21 -24. I’d like to thank the participants and sponsors who make the test possible. Get to know the fuel of the delicious food at Oven & Tap, Chef Luke Wetzel (pg. 28). This Arkansas restaurant has featured local Berkshire pork on its menu since its founding. At last, you can learn from Torie Egger, an expert on how to picture your pigs for this upcoming spring sale season on page 31. I’m not into all of the New Year’s Resolution making, but I do often reflect the past and how it may shape the future. Rather than each year being an opportunity to raise better hogs, increase marketing and reach more people, I think that list can apply to every day. If we work hard every day as Berkshire stakeholders, we’re setting up the next generation to have a strong decade and be even stronger in the next one. Thank you all who make this possible,
ABA BOARD OF DIRECTORS President, Greg Smith Vice President, Steve Stassen Exec. Committee, Neil Knobloch Vance Aldridge Jan Allen Pete Brummer Allen K. Conover Matt Ritter Jeff Wippel
MAGAZINE STAFF Mallorie Boggs
Editor, Designer, Advertisement Coordinator
WRITERS Neil Knobloch Mallorie Boggs
ABA STAFF
Alex Conover Katie Brummet
PUBLISHER
American Berkshire Association 2637 Yeager Rd., West Lafayette, IN 47906 Ph: (765) 497- 3618 americanberkshire.com Every effort is made to avoid spelling mistakes, errors and omissions. If an error does come to your attention, please accept our apologies. The Experience Berkshire online magazine is an entity of the American Berkshire Association. For more information, visit americanberkshire.com. © 2020 All Rights Reserved.
Our Purpose: The purpose of this publication is to highlight all the positive benefits of the Berkshire breed, including positive consumer demand for high quality pork, chef’s tips and recipes, marketing and promotion tools, meat quality education, progeny test results, entrepreneurship and business opportunities, breeder networking, and exhibitions for the next generation of producers and leaders. 6 \ Experience Berkshire
