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New Faces of Farming and Ranching Announced By USFRA

Nov 13, 2014

MEET THE NEW FACES!

The U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance (USFRA) are pleased to announce the winners of its next Faces of Farming & Ranching program, a nationwide search launched to help put real faces on agriculture!

 

ERIN BRENNEMAN (IOWA) – PIG FARMER

Brenneman Pork is a family farrow to finish operation. They consist of just over 20,000 sows over three sites. Erin’s main home farm is located in southeast Iowa and she also has two sow farms in Missouri. The operation was started by Erin’s in-laws and is where almost all of their children and spouses work full time. Erin enjoys helping in the fields during the busy seasons, but her passion is with the pigs.

DARRELL GLASER (TEXAS) – TURKEY FARMER

Darrell manages Bar G Ranch, which has been in operation for 80 years. He and his family brood approximately 600,000 turkeys each year and maintain a cow herd that consists of 200 mother cows. The operation is truly a family farm. Darrell’s 71-year-old mother still works on the farm today along with him, his wife and his four sons.

JAY HILL (NEW MEXICO) – VEGETABLE, BEEF & NUT PRODUCER

Jay’s father, Jim Hill, established Hill Farms in 1969. Throughout the 70’s and 80’s, the farm grew slowly while his family lived off a non-agriculture income. As Jay grew up helping with the farm, learning and growing with it, it cultivated his love for the lifestyle. He now farms between 500-700 acres. Jay’s focuses on vegetable production, always aspiring to grow a good tasting, safe product in the most cost effective way. 

THOMAS TITUS (ILLINOIS) – PIG FARMER

Over the last 52 years, Thomas’s 240-acre farmstead has grown to support four families, three full-time employee families and two part-time employees. Thomas primarily manages the operation of Tri Pork, where they market 12,000 pigs annually. With roots in 4-H, Future Farmers of America and youth development, they have 50 sows for show pig production, sale and exhibition. This allows their children to learn the joys of showing livestock and helps them develop character-building values.

CARLA WARDIN (MICHIGAN) – DAIRY FARMER

Carla and her husband Kris, both sixth-generation farmers, are the sole owners of Evergreen Dairy.  They recently expanded their herd and now milk a total of 400 cows.  They also grow crops to feed their cattle on 850 acres of corn, alfalfa, and pasture.  Carla blogs about the farm, goes into the schools to teach about farming, and enjoys giving tours.  The couple has three sons - 7-year-old twins and a 3-year-old.  

Erin, Darrell, Jay, Thomas and Carla will be tapped to share stories and experiences on a national stage to help shift conversations about food production and set the record straight about the way we feed our nation.

Applications were received from dedicated farmers and ranchers from across the nation, eight of whom were selected as finalists. Consumers, farmers and ranchers were asked to vote online for whom they believed best represented those across the country who work to bring food to the table. These votes were factored into the final decision to determine the Faces of Farming & Ranching. In addition to the public vote, a panel of judges interviewed and evaluated the finalists to help determine the winners of Faces of Farming & Ranching. 

Winners will share their stories and experiences about how food is grown and raised in the U.S. on a national stage through media interviews, consumer-facing public appearances and events. This is the second time USFRA has sought farmers and ranchers to speak on behalf of the industry in this capacity.

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Jill Mantey, USFRA, jmantey@usfraonline.org / 636-449-5059