Fowlers are 2009 Minnesota Pork Industry Family of the Year
Ron and Dora Fowler have been named 2009 "Family of the Year"
by the Minnesota Pork Board.
The Minnesota Pork Board annually recognizes individuals and families who have made significant contributions to the state's pork industry.
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By the Minnesota Pork Board, www.mnpork.com
When Ron and Dora Fowler see four generations working together on their Martin County pork farm, they believe they are truly blessed. “I get to work with my dad, son and grandson,” Ron said. “There have been many days when you will find four generations busy with chores.”
The Fowler family’s dedication to the pork industry, work ethic and personal philosophy are all factors contributing to their selection as the 2009 Minnesota Pork Industry Family of the Year Award winner.
“I believe that honesty, integrity, hard work, and how we have invested ourselves and our time in relationships will be most important in determining how successful we have been,” Ron said. “We’re very honored and humbled. It’s a lifetime achievement.”
In addition to homemaking and being a farming partner, Dora works as a financial secretary for a Fairmont church. The couple has three sons; Travis, Ryan and Craig. Travis farms fulltime with his parents. He and wife Jeanine, a teacher’s aid in Fairmont, have two children, Jed and Tessa. Ryan is an auto mechanic at the Fairmont Chevrolet dealership. Craig, a Fairmont police officer, and wife Eva, a nurse, have two children, Caiden and Grayson.
Although he grew up on a dairy farm, Ron liked working with pigs and he always desired to enter farming. At the young age of 14, he ventured into swine production by purchasing two feeder pigs from a neighbor. After high school graduation in 1974, Ron had 60 sows and sold feeder pigs. A year later, he married his sweetheart Dora, moved to their current residence south of Truman and together they grew their enterprise to 100 sows. Within two years, they increased their herd to 200 sows and began constructing additional barns. In 1997, they expanded their sow herd to 500 head.
Their oldest son Travis graduated with a swine management degree from South Central Technical College in Mankato and began managing the farm’s feed mill and finishing sites in 1998. Like his father, farming had always been his career goal. “Farming is all I’ve ever done. It’s all I’ve ever wanted to do,” said Travis, age 31. In addition to his involvement in the swine operation, he has 60 Dorset ewes.
Like his parents, Travis has learned that rewards come from hard work and time spent with family and friends is most meaningful. “It means a lot to be working with my family,” Travis said. “Not many people get to do that.”
As the Fowlers approach their goal of becoming a 700-sow, farrow-to-finish operation, Ron says that communications skills, management strategies and record keeping are important to maintaining relationship on a multi-generational farm.
“Caution is the key to expansion,” Ron said. “You have to be methodical and a little Divine guidance always helps.”
By being vigilant and disciplined, Ron and Dora hope they have paved the way for their children and grandchildren to continue in pork production.
“Good records define goals and hard work should give you a decent road map,” he said. “You need to know where you want to go, but how you get there will change along the way.”
The Fowler family’s pork promotional work includes grilling pork patties and chops at various events, working at the county fair pork booths, offering pork samples at local grocery stores and competing in 4-H and open class hog shows. Ron served on the Martin County Pork Producers Board from 1982 to1987, and was elected membership chair in 1984, secretary in 1985 and 1986, and vice president in 1987. Dora took part in the Martin County Pork Council Women from 1985 to 1989. The Folwers are also active in their church, with Ron serving on the pastoral committee and Men’s Ministry Board.