Pork Congress 2012 - Iowa Pork Producers Association

2012 Iowa Pork Congress Re-Cap
Joel and Faye Kooima
Rock Valley, Sioux County
Pork producers for 40 years, the Kooimas own a 130-sow
farrow-to-finish operation. Joel and Faye also partner with
several of their four sons on contract finishers in the Rock Valley
area. They are very aware of biosecurity concerns and manage
their operation to minimize visitors and other risks.
Joel is PQA Plus- and TQA-certified and his sites have been PQA Plus-assessed.
He applies all manure from this site and receives manure from the partner units to fertilize their crop ground. They farm about
700 acres, equally split between corn and soybeans, and are pleased with the value of the manure the hogs produce for the
crops.
The Kooimas are long-time members of the Sioux County Pork Producers Association. They also participate in church and
community activities and enjoy spending time with their seven grandchildren.
Dallas Muhlenbruch
Dows, Franklin County
Muhlenbruch, who has raised hogs for 34 years, is now a
contract finisher for Murphy-Brown, LLC. He owns and operates
a 4,000-head wean-to-finish site described as one of the most
productive in the Murphy-Brown district.
Dallas and his son, Tyler, who recently joined the business, are both PQA Plus-certified and
the production site has been PQA Plus-assessed.
In addition to the swine business, Muhlenbruch also raises corn and soybeans on 2,000 acres around the production site.
Dallas and his wife, Kim, are active in church and community affairs and they take great pride in multi-generational family
activities. They have four adult sons and two grandchildren.
Muhlenbruch has been active in the Iowa Corn and Soybean organizations. He was president of the Iowa Soybean
Association and has served on the Franklin County Soil and Water Conservation Board. He is a member of the Farmers
Mutual Insurance Board and is a past member of the Farmers Coop Board.
March 2012
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