When Matt Ries looks around at his family’s farrow-to-finish hog farm, his eyes behold more than just agriculture at work. He sees an opportunity to help feed the growing population of the world.
“I want to help make our farm more efficient and sustainable for our food supply,” Ries says. “To boost efficiency and sustainability, we’re going directly from the farm to the consumer. We’re providing fresh quality pork directly to the consumer.”
His determination and consistent efforts to find ways to help feed the world has earned him the honor of being named a 2017 finalist for the American Star in Agricultural Placement.
Growing up on his family’s farrow-to-finish hog farm, the Lomira, Wis., resident has always had a passion for raising and showing quality hogs. Ries remembers when, as a third-grader, he was given his first two hogs to raise and then show at the fair.
As he grew older, Ries was given more responsibility on the farm. Currently he is a full-time assistant manager at Ries Pure Breed Hog Farm. He hopes to eventually become the third-generation owner of the farm and continue the family tradition of raising quality market hogs.
As an FFA member, Ries was encouraged to participate in a supervised agricultural experience (SAE), and working on his farm seemed the perfect fit. Today he helps with the day-to-day chores and management of the operation, and it’s a tradition that he loves.
Ries credits FFA with teaching him the leadership skills to help him succeed. “FFA gives you a lot of opportunities to learn new things,” he says. “I’ve learned how to go outside my comfort zone and work with people.”
Over the long term, Ries sees a bright future for the farm and the possibility of building new facilities there that would make it more efficient. “I’d like to implement precision agriculture for monitoring systems while planting and harvesting, and variable rate application,” Ries says. “I’d also like to see us tiling fields so they can be planted at optimal times.”
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