S E C T I O N
THE LAND
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January 6/13, 2012
Minnesota Pork Congress schedule All events at the Minneapolis Convention Center unless otherwise noted. Jan. 17 Tradeshow Set-up 8 a.m.-7 p.m. Convention Center Exhibit Hall A Taste of Elegance Culinary Judging (Judging closed to the public) Noon-5 p.m. Minneapolis Hilton
Minnesota Pork Board Awards Reception (Invitation-only event)
Taste of Elegance (Invitation-only event) 6:30-8:30 p.m. Minneapolis Hilton Ballrooms D-G Jan. 18 Pork Congress registration 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Convention Center Mezzanine Level Pork Congress Tradeshow 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Convention Center Exhibit Hall A TQA Certification (Transport Quality Assurance) 9-11:30 a.m. L100 I
Energy Savings in Nurseries with Reduced Nocturnal Temperature 10-11 a.m. L100 H What to Expect in the 2012 State Legislative Session 10-11 a.m. L100 F-G Leading Across Multiple Generations Keynote Speaker Haydn Shaw Noon-1:30 p.m. L100 F-G Manure Applicators Workshop Noon-5 p.m. M100 D-G • Nutrient Management and Water Quality • Manure Pumping Safety and Pit Foaming Update • Economics of Manure Application • Adapting Manure Management Strategies in Response to Climate Change See SCHEDULE, pg. 6C
Balzer 4200 manure vacuum, new tank Better Built 2100 vacuum w/new tank Balzer 6350 slurry More In Stock! - Give Us A Call
Pork Congress Booths 604-606 See You There!
Buckey’s Sales & Service 45394 20th Street • Frost, MN 56033
800-788-6484 507-878-3302 Fax: 507-878-3125
“Where Farm and Family Meet”
Mobile Ventilation Lab Workshop 1-4 p.m. Convention Center Classroom Session L100 I Hands-on Training Exhibit Hall A No cost. Preregistration Required. Registration: (800) 537-7675 or mnpork@mnpork.com
5-6:30 p.m. Minneapolis Hilton Symphony Room III
the responsibilities of business strategy and planning functions of the farm. The Patsches’ three daughters, Teresa, Alisa and Kristeena, along with their families, all help with farm operations when needed. The Patsches are grateful for those who have assisted them through the years in transforming and growing their farm, especially the Fairmont Veterinary Clinic consultants, Preferred Capital Management and fellow local hog producers. Charles and Wanda also credit a peermentoring group that met regularly with the purpose of helping each other, and contributed to many of their early strides toward becoming a successful family farm. Charles and Wanda’s priorities are faith, family and farming, which is evidenced by their involvement in their local community as active members of the Martin County Pork Producers Association, local school and their church. Wanda has served as a cheerleading coach and is active in raising funds to support a local scholarship that honors their late granddaughter. Charles was honored with an “Outstanding Citizen Award” by the Martin County Sheriff’s Department for saving the life of a young girl involved in a car accident. Both Wanda and Charles have served as members of the Martin County Pork Producers Association, helping with promotions and educational activities at the local and state levels. Barry Hillgendorf of Preferred Capital Management, who has worked with the Patsches since 1979, said it best: “They (The Patsches) are and will always be valued members of not only the Martin County and Minnesota Pork Producers, but agriculture at its most basic level: The Family Farm.” AgStar Financial Services sponsor the Family of the Year award.
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Over the past 35 years, Charles and Wanda Patsche from Welcome, Minn., have seen many changes in the swine industry; changes they have embraced, which has allowed CW Pork Inc. to become a progressive and prosperous swine operation. The Patsches’ passion for the swine industry, forethought, involvement in their community and strong values are among the reasons for their selection as the Minnesota Pork Industry’s 2012 Family of the Year. The Patsches farm near Welcome, on the site Charles and Wanda purchased from Daniel Skow in 1979. At that time, the farm consisted of a 96-sow farrow-to-wean operation. The sows were housed in outside lots along with boars Submitted that were purchased from Farmers Hybrid. The Patsche Family — front row Jadyn Montgomery and There have been many changes at CW Pork Cadence Montgomery; seated (left to right) Teresa MontInc. since those first years of operation. A few gomery, Charles and Wanda Patsche and Alisa Eytcheson and years after purchasing the farm, Charles and back row (left to right) Dion Montgomery, Kristeena Patsche Wanda built their first gestation barn that and Marcus Eytcheson. allowed better breeding and farrowing management. After renting a finishing barn for a time, Center Creek Pork helped the Patsches’ operation the Patsches built their first finishing barn in 1983 in by providing access to locally raised weaner pigs, order to further integrate their farm. greater herd health history transparency, better All of these changes led to the construction of a far- genetics, and equity in a hog farm. rowing and nursery barn and the utilization of artificial Today, CW Pork Inc. finishes 4,400 hogs per year, in insemination, providing them access to better genetics. addition to farming approximately 1,000 acres of corn Later, the Patsches converted the farm to strictly and soybeans. Charles takes care of the day-to-day manfinishing barns, allowing for better herd health and agement responsibilities of the hog operation, as well as management. They were able to make the conver- all aspects of raising the corn and soybeans. sion to strictly finishing as a result of becoming parWanda is responsible for all office and accounting tial owners in Center Creek Pork, a local sow unit. functions and assists with the crops. The Patsches share
THE LAND, JANUARY 6/13, 2012
Family of the Year: Charles and Wanda Patsche family
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