January 2025 - Journal Final - Flipbook - Page 9
Management
“Hiawatha was a bold move to help farmers.
It continues to inspire us to innovate and adapt for their success today.”
Dr. Barry Kerkaert
another change, transitioning Hiawatha East into a
2,200 head commercial sow farm.
• Health Management: In 2013, Hiawatha
innovatively added air 昀椀ltration to combat health
challenges posed by increasing pig density in the
area. This investment signi昀椀cantly reduced disease
risks like PRRS, Mycoplasma, and PEDV, ensuring
continued high health and pro昀椀tability for its
owners.
• Future Transformation: Due to the pig-dense
location and ef昀椀ciencies of scale that larger farms
offer, Hiawatha is transitioning entirely into a
wean-to-昀椀nish production site in 2025. Once again,
adapting to meet the needs of the industry and its
farmer-owners.
The Impact of Innovation
Hiawatha’s contributions extend beyond swine genetics
and production. It represents a broader story of
innovation, resilience, and leadership. Barry Kerkaert,
re昀氀ecting on its legacy, notes, “Hiawatha was a bold
move to help farmers. It came with a price—at the
time, the clinic lost clients and ruf昀氀ed feathers when
neighbors opposed the nearby farm project—but
Gordon and Doc didn’t waiver from what they believed.
They believed they could help the family farmer be
successful.”
“That belief became our North Star,” said Hannah
Walkes, President of Pipestone Services. “Bringing
farmers together, helping them achieve economies of
scale they couldn’t as individuals is still the goal. When
family farmers are successful, everyone wins.”
Hiawatha’s journey is not just a testament to the
evolution of swine production but a celebration of the
farmers, leaders, and visionaries who made it possible.
Its success and legacy inspire Pipestone Management
to continue evolving for the farmer, building on a
bold model that started with a revolutionary idea and
continues to adapt to meet the needs of the future.
WHERE IT ALL BEGAN
2013
1988
2005
36 farmer-owners
collaborate to build
Hiawatha, a 600
sow unit outside of
Pipestone, MN.
Farmer-owners transition
from a multiplier to a
2,200 head commercial
sow farm.
Air 昀椀ltration was
added to maintain
the high health status
of the farm as pig
desity increased in
Pipestone County.
2025
Hiawatha East
transitions into
a wean-to-昀椀nish
facility.
1996
1990 - 1995
Select gilts were delivered
to shareholders in groups
of 6-30 head via
goose-neck trailer.
Hiawatha transitions to a wean-to-昀椀nish barn and renamed
Hiawatha West, and a new facility, Hiawatha East, is built to
expand the farm to a 1,500 sow multiplier.
The 昀椀rst load of select gilts to Hiawatha East tips over in the
driveway upon arrival. Troy Woelber, now Executive Vice
President of Pipestone Management, recalls that “ditch full of
gilts” as a fresh-faced, local kid just starting his career.
WINTER 2025 | 9
