Reicks View Farms’ very own, Tim Sadler was named a 2021 Master Pork Producer through the Iowa Pork Producers Association. Tim has been an employee with Reicks View Farms for approximately five years. He first started working at Reicks View Farms as a Swine Production Intern. Once he graduated from Iowa State University, he came back to Reicks View Farms full-time. Tim started working as Farrowing Department Head at one of Reicks View Farms sow units. Two years later, he was promoted to a Finishing Supervisor where he oversees an average of 20 contract growers.
Tim has also done a variety of things to promote animal well-being, but the most unique position has been his role in developing a FarmChat program with Reicks View Farms. In 2018, Tim and a co-worker heard of FarmChats and wanted to expand the experience to local schools in Northeast Iowa. The FarmChats would consist of Tim or his co-worker going into the classroom with a weaned pig while the other hosts a tour of a farrowing facility. Throughout the FarmChat the students are able to see what a facility is like, biosecurity measures, and the daily care farmers do to ensure the health of the pigs. The program started across local schools with around 50-100 students in grades Kindergarten through 8th grade. In 2020, the program has exponentially grown to 750 students across the Midwest and Alaska!