Meat the Pig Farmers,
Bruce and Karen Grant’s farrow-to-finish pig farm is located near Meadow Grove, Nebraska. They are the parents of Jason, Jeremy and Kristen, and proud grandparents, as well. In addition to the pig operation, the Grant family farm also grows a rotation of corn, soybeans and alfalfa.
After their three children reached school age, Karen began to focus on the farrowing operation, keeping animal welfare her highest priority. She cares for the young pigs, making sure they are receiving ample food and water, she power-washes barns, and keeps the finances.
You would think that would be enough to keep Karen busy, but she is also well known across the state for the leadership roles that she has held over the years.
Karen served on the Nebraska Pork Producers Association Board for six years, and participated in the Pork Leadership Institute, a program that is jointly sponsored by the National Pork Board and the National Pork Producers Council. She has traveled with the U.S. Meat Export Federation to Japan and China as an advocate for our nation’s pork industry. In 2015, she was honored as the Ag-ceptional Woman of the Year. Together, Bruce and Karen have served as delegates to Forum, the National gathering of pork producers, over a dozen times.
Volunteering must be in the Grants’ blood. They have been faithful volunteers and supporters of 4-H, the Madison County Fair, the Farm Bureau Foundation’s Ag Pen Pal Program, their local church, and numerous boards in their community. They open their farm by sharing letters and photos with school children to help their community understand where their food comes from.
Nationwide, pork producers subscribe to the We Care (sm) initiative as part of their culture. The We Care(sm) principles include a dedication to food safety, animal well-being, public health, environment, fellow pig farmers, and the community. The Grants embody the We Care(sm) principles and have gone out of their way to welcome the community to their farm, and to help their local community by being active leaders.