THE PARKS COMPANIES: OPEN ARMS TO THE COMMUNITY

Tricia Braid

Sep 14, 2017  |  Today's News |  Livestock

FITHIAN, ILL. -  The Parks Companies welcomed nearly 400 members of the community to an Open House at a new 8,200 head wean to finish hog farm on Monday, September 11th, near Fithian. The event was hosted in cooperation with the Shepherd and Rademacher families, of Vermilion County.

The Illinois Pork Producers Association (IPPA) and the Illinois Livestock Development Group (ILDG) helped coordinate the event and provide a pork chop supper to attendees. A ribbon cutting ceremony took place to highlight the completion of construction.

Neighbors, community members, local officials, and more were invited to attend. Open houses offer a chance to see the latest products and technologies for swine care and environmental stewardship. Guests could see inside this new barn before the pigs arrive.

“The Rademacher family is a third-generation farm family that is blessed to have a long history in grain and livestock farming. This history is what has shown us the benefit of using hog manure for fertilizer. There is not a more natural way to fertilize crops. This is one of the many reasons we decided to partner with Parks Livestock in building more finishing barns. Through this partnership we are able to utilize the manure from the hog barns to fertilize more of our crop land,” says Kyle Rademacher, one of the Parks’ grower partners.

The pork industry is constantly adapting new technology and best animal welfare practices to raise healthy and nutritious animals. “Farmers are committed to raising their pigs in a safe and comfortable environment, and modern pig barns provide just that,” says Jenny Jackson, Director of Communications for IPPA. For more information regarding pig farmers, go to www.ilpork.com.

ILDG is a coalition of Illinois ag groups committed to expanding and growing the livestock industry. ILDG members include: IL Beef Association, IL Corn Marketing Board, IL Farm Bureau, IL Milk Producers’ Association, IL Pork Producers Association, and IL Soybean Association checkoff program.

Other sponsors of the event were: AP, EPS Buildings, The Equity, Frank & West Environmental Engineers, Gro Master, Hog Slat, IL Pork Producers Association & the Pork Checkoff, Import Supply, Maximum Ag Technologies, Old National Bank, QC Supply, and Space Ray Heaters.

For more information regarding the pig farm, contact Parks Livestock at (217) 446-4600.