Hilary Maricle
Albion, Nebraska
Beef and Swine Producer, FFA instructor

“My husband Brian and I are the sixth generation to operate our family’s cattle and pig farm. Being a mother and full-time agriculture teacher, I strive to show the next generation the importance of animal care. We care deeply about the health, well-being and safety of our animals, and ensure our animals’ well-being through proper management and shelter. When mother cows give birth, we provide shelter and stay with them until we know that mother and baby are OK. We also ensure that our cattle also have shelter such as tree lines for protection when they are on pasture. Because they have different needs, we keep our pigs inside special buildings so we can control the temperature and protect them from disease, competition, injury and predators throughout the year.”

Will Gilmer
Sulligent, Alabama
Dairy and Beef Producer

“I am the third generation on my family’s Holstein farm. Good care and healthy animals lead to safe food and a viable cattle operation. That’s why we have our calving heifers on a nutrition regiment that is set by our nutritionist. We keep our cows on pasture and supplement with hay so they have plenty to eat. We provide access to barns to provide the herd shelter, and in the summer we have fans and sprinklers in the barn to keep them cool. The health of these animals is tied to our livelihood. I have a son that’s 2 years old, and I want him to have the option to, someday, join a strong viable business.”

Jill Benson
Modesto, California
Poultry Producer

“On our farm, we believe healthy hens will produce safe, healthy eggs so our first concern has always been the safe, humane, healthful care of our birds. Our family farm has grown and evolved over the last 99 years, embracing new information, and developing technology and practices to enhance the lives of our hens and our employees. We operate under the United Egg Producers Animal Care Guidelines developed by an independent group of leading veterinarians, animal scientists and behavior specialists. We shelter our hens from disease, predators and severe weather by providing climate-controlled barns. And we provide unencumbered access to fresh water and nutritious feed to ensure and monitor our birds’ health.”

Rachelle Bailey
Turlock, California
Swine Producer

“I grew up on our family farm, so as child I spent numerous hours in the farrowing houses helping deliver baby piglets. I knew that I had a passion and love for the pork industry so I decided that a future career as a pork producer was what I wanted to do. Each animal is important to us and gets individual care on a daily basis. The animal’s environment, nutrition, safety and comfort are monitored to ensure that each animal is healthy.

I’m concerned that well-intentioned, but poorly-thought-out-laws that eliminate production practices will increase the price of food for consumers. Another concern is the safely of our animals. We need to continue to utilize individual housing to protect our sows from competition and injury. The well-being of the animal and its safety will ensure that the animal is healthy. And healthy animals mean healthy food for you and your family.” 

Jerry Barr
Madisonville, Tennessee
Dairy Producer

“My wife and I raise dairy heifers from young calves until they are pregnant, utilizing artificial insemination. We also harvest about 200 acres of hay and straw for feed. As farmers, we recognize that superior animal welfare practices lead to the production of high-quality, safe and wholesome food. So we’re constantly seeking ways to improve the well-being and comfort of our animals. For example, we feed our animals in the barn every day, giving us the chance to look at all of the animals to make sure that they are in shape and in good health. We can sort out those scheduled for veterinary checks. In fact, we have a veterinarian come out every month. We’re also Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) certified, which requires us to be inspected and tested every two years.”  

“I was a raised in a suburban area, but always had a passion to work with animals. It is a dream come true to care for animals and provide food for my family and others.

We are a true family farm with two generations working together on a daily basis. We have a swine, beef and diversified crop operation in Indiana. I think the opportunity to farm is a privilege not a choice. It is a privilege to continue the family tradition of feeding the world."

“My two sons and I operate a finishing swine farm and a nursery swine farm. Both farms have 7,500 pigs and are located in Choctaw County, Mississippi.  Everyday we look in every room and at every pig for many reasons. One reason is to ensure that our pigs have plenty of food and water. Another is to separate the pigs by size because the larger animals will take advantage of the smaller pigs. We take our animals health very seriously, and have a veterinarian on call at all times. Any animal that is poorly cared for will not grow and perform as it should; it’s impossible to starve a profit. We offer a standing invitation to anyone that wants to visit us and find out more about the animal care on our farm. We hope to see you soon.”

“My husband and I believe that we have an ethical responsibility and economic interest to ensure our livestock is provided with the best possible care. We use modern production practices that place animal safety, health and comfort at the forefront. Our employees and family members undergo training in the areas of animal and personal safety, nutrition and sanitation. And our facility was designed by industry experts and veterinarians to maximize animal safety and comfort while enhancing our ability to easily monitor herd health. Ultimately, we realize that we have to produce healthy animals to produce healthy food.”

“My husband and I raise our children on the family dairy farm. Since 1915, the farm has been operated by our family. Currently, my husband and son manage the 350 Holstein dairy cows. We take great pride in raising our dairy cows. Each cow has her own stall, and we bed the stalls with sawdust daily for comfort and cleanliness. We provide food and water 24 hours a day. Biweekly veterinarian visits are scheduled to check on the herd’s wellness. Additionally, we seek the help of a nutritionist to provide a healthy diet for our cows. The cattle can rest, exercise, eat and drink in our naturally-ventilated barns that are kept well lit for the protection and safety of the animals.”