Master Pork Producers

Joel and Laura Huber were named Master Pork Producers by the Iowa Pork Producers Association (IPPA) this year, an acknowledgment of their lifelong commitment to the highest standards of farming practices.

"Not everyone gets to do what they want to do as a job," Joel said. "Raising pigs is good work as long as you're willing to work hard."

Joel and Laura have been working hard together for 22 years on their hog and row crop operation in Washington County near Wellman. The couple met in college and celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary this year.

The Hubers can trace the farm back six generations, or about 130 years, but Joel said the family likely owned the land earlier than that. Laura, originally from northern Iowa, joined Joel when he returned to the family farm after they both worked in central Iowa for a few years after graduating from college.

The couple has two daughters: Alexa, a sophomore at Iowa State University studying to be a large-animal veterinarian; and Callie, a senior at Mid-Prairie High School.

Along with Joel's parents and his sister and brother-in-law, the Hubers raise and sell about 50,000 hogs a year to Tyson and JBS. As independent producers, they source their herd from a sow co-op and feed out the weaned pigs in their barns.

"We've worked to consistently expand the operation, adding pigs and acres when we can," Joel said. "It's important to us that these expansions cash flow."

Along with expansion have come improvements in care for both the animals and land. The Hubers' hog barns are equipped with modern feeding and temperature-control systems.

"I'm a big proponent of modern buildings," Joel said. "Producing safe, healthy pigs is the best for the animals and best for our business. Our pigs have the best life possible."

They also utilize solar power, which provides most of the energy to run the technology inside the barns. Alliant Energy buys excess power from the Hubers' solar panels, which then are counted as credits toward the power used at night or when it's cloudy.

Pictured above: Joel and Laura Huber were honored by the Iowa Pork Producers Association this year as Master Pork Producers for their dedication to sustainable farming and their high standards in animal care. PHOTO / CONRAD SCHMIDT

On their crop acres, they've added not only grass buffer strips along sensitive waterways but also about 50 terraces to manage runoff. They practice no-till on their soybean acres.

Most of their corn goes directly back into the farm as feed for their hogs. And the manure from the barns provides about 80% of the farm's nitrogen fertilizer needs each growing season.

The Hubers have received numerous environmental awards, including the 2014 Iowa Farm Environmental Leader Award from the State of Iowa and the 2015 Iowa Environmental Stewards from the IPPA.

Both Joel and Laura stay busy off the farm as ag advocates, specifically with the Washington County Farm Bureau - Joel is a past county president and state voting delegate - and IPPA. Laura serves on the Washington County Fair Board and works with the local 4-H club.

"For us, it's important to be good members of our community and good neighbors," Joel said.

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