“I’ve known since high school that I always wanted to come back to the family farm and farm full time,” said Jason Foster, owner
of Foster Hog Farms and vice president of South Dakota Pork Producers Council.
After his mom encouraged him to attend Lake Area Technical College in Watertown, Foster graduated in 2009 with a degree in agriculture production and agricultural business.
Returning home, he became a fifth generation farmer just north of Garden City on land which was homesteaded in 1882.
“We have a diverse farming operation where we raise corn and soybeans on 1,500 acres, have a 200-head sow and farrow-to-finish operation, and also 120-head cow/ calf operation,” explained Foster.
It’s a family affair for Foster and his wife, Ashley, son, Renner, and parents, Rodney and Sherry.
“One day is never the same as the previous,” said Foster, sharing the various routines the family uses to keep livestock clean, fed, healthy, and comfortable.
The farmer is also very active in state and local organizations, and has served as president of the Clark County 4-H Leaders Association, as well as fire chief of the Garden City Fire Department.
Read more about the farmer, his business, and what he does to celebrate National Pork Month.
1. WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE PART OF YOUR JOB?
Working alongside my dad and mom, and also with my wife and son.
2. WHAT IS UNIQUE ABOUT YOUR FARM?
We still raise our pigs outside. There’s nothing wrong with raising pigs inside commercially, but we have a niche market with our pigs since we still choose to raise them outside. We market a fourth of our pigs as locker pigs to individuals in the tristate area. We also market feeder pigs to people who are looking for an outside pig to grow themselves. Our next goal is to be able to get federally inspected at our local butcher shop, and to be able to start marketing our meat privately to consumers.
3. HOW DO YOU CELEBRATE NATIONAL PORK MONTH?
With a good ol’ juicy pork loin cooked to 145 degrees. Also, we will promote our product through promotions at local grocery stores and just help spread the word on how wonderful our pork products are.
4. WHAT DO YOU DO IN YOUR FREE TIME?
My family likes to travel, take in local hog shows, promote pork, and sometimes just like to relax.
5. WHAT’S SOMETHING YOU WISH PEOPLE KNEW ABOUT FARMING?
Ninety-eight percent of farms are still family farms, and farming looks a lot different than it did 50 years ago. With advances in technology
in today’s world, we can grow more food per acre and raise animals on fewer acres than we did 50 years ago, while still being good stewards of the land. The United States has the safest food supply in the world, thanks to regulations that have been set in place. It doesn’t matter if you grow one pig or grow 10,000 pigs—we as producers strive to have the safest, most affordable, and tastiest product for the consumers.
