As a child, Matthew S. Ries of the Lomira FFA Chapter in Wisconsin helped his father feed hogs and give vaccinations on the family hog farm. When he was in the third grade, he was given two pigs to raise and show at the fair. Today, the farm has 100 sows, with 20 sows farrowing every four weeks and producing roughly 180 pigs a week. Ries is supported by his parents, Karen and Steven, and FFA advisor Dan Robinson. This award is sponsored by Provimi North America.
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