At Trails End Farm, environmental stewardship is a way of thinking, one shaped by generations, sharpened by experience, and guided by a willingness to make thoughtful investments to help pigs, people, and the planet. For Dale Stevermer, Minnesota Pork’s Environmental Steward of the Year, the recognition reflects a journey still in motion rather than a destination reached.
Built from Bare Ground
Trails End Farm began with Stevermer’s grandparents, who started the site from bare ground. Breeding pigs were central to those early years, with his grandfather raising purebred Chester Whites throughout his entire career.
“Pigs were always here on the farm,” Stevermer says. “My dad continued that.”
They transitioned to commercial production, and in 1975 the farm built its first barn. Within a decade, all pigs were moved indoors, earlier than some operations, but a move Stevermer says was necessary and ultimately beneficial. He and his father both grew up on the farm, absorbing not just the daily work but the mindset that progress requires adaptation.
After graduating from Iowa State University, where he studied animal science, Stevermer spent several years in agricultural lending. The experience proved invaluable, as he always knew pigs were going to be an integral part of the farm.
When Stevermer returned, he took over the pigs as his father prepared to step back. Together, they formed a corporation to manage farm operations and guide financial decisions. Advice from veterinarians and feed representatives helped inform changes along the way.
Dale and his wife, Lori, have three children. Brett is a mechanical engineer, and his wife, Tressa, is a pharmacist. Brett and Tressa have a one-year-old son, Killian. Adam serves as a 4-H program coordinator in Mower County. Beth recently began her legal career in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Lori is the Customer Success Manager for Alltech’s U.S. Pork Business and will be finishing her role as immediate past president of the National Pork Producers Council in March.
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