Our History

 The Tradition Continues…..
 
AN FFA PROJECT STARTED IT ALL!
 
1940’s – Jim’s folks farmed part-time along with a construction trade
1975 – Jim farmed with father Don until 1980 when Don retired
1975 – Jim and Kathy married and farmed 300 acres cropland and 200 head cattle
            Jim attended Wilmington College and Kathy graduated from Ohio State University
HOGS!  Introduced into the operation in 1992 – leased facility in Fairfield County –
            A 225 head farrow-to-finish operation; finishing barn at home farm location built for
            1200 head finishing hogs and 1200 head nursery
1996 – Purchased first sow facility in Pleasantville – 350 head
1997 – Pleasantville expanded to 600 head; 3600 head nursery added
CONTRACT FINISHING BARNS WERE BEING ADDED
1999 – Eagle Creek Swine sow unit built in Brown County – 2400 head sows
2002 – Nursery at Pleasantville converted to farrowing – facility remodeled; gestation barn
added
2004 – Mad River Swine sow unit built in Highland County – similar to other multiplier units
SINCE 2005 – As history goes on – more sow contracts and wean pig contracts have been
            added.
Contract finishing has become an integral part of the family farm with over 100 contract barns.
The contract system gives other families the opportunity to progress their family farm business.
Nico Straathof is an internal part of the operation with over 10,000 sows supplying pigs into the
            system. Other long term sow and wean pig contracts are added yearly.  The hog
            locations include Ohio, Indiana and Iowa.
            Heimerl Farms recently invested in the Clemens Packing Plant in Michigan.  After sending hogs to Pennsylvania, Indiana and Kentucky, the Clemens plant will be closer for the farm to send 60% or more of their hogs to Michigan.
 
MORE THAN HOGS!!
 
On-site feed mill that makes feed for 60% of our operation
Wabash feed mill serves western contract barns
Heimerl Farms INC division – hauls hogs to packing houses, feed delivery
Pioneer seed sales
Annual 4-H pig sales
Taking pride in the 90 team members!
 
BUSINESS AND FAMILY HAVE GROWN!
Jim and Kathy have four children: Casey, Matt, Brad and Jeff.  All were involved in 4-H and FFA.
Two sons work on the family farm.
Matt graduated from Ohio State University as did his wife Rachel, who serves as Office Manager.  Matt handles risk management, cattle and feed mills.
Brad and Jeff graduated from Wilmington College.  Brad is the Swine Production Leader and does training certification, logistics and bio-security for the farm. Jeff works for Syngenta working closely with farmers implementing crop protection programs.  
Casey graduated from Baldwin-Wallace College and works off the farm as the Chief Compliance Officer for Portfolio, providing aftermarket insurance products via dealerships. 
 
Heimerl Farms is proud to have been honored as Environmental Stewards, and hosts farm tours for schools and community events.
Jim spends time as a Hartford Fair board Director, and serves on Congressman Pat Tiberi’s House of Representatives Ag Advisory Council.  He is past President of the Ohio Pork Producers Council, and serves on the National  Pork Producers Council as Vice President.  Jim also finds time to be active on the Ohio Soybean Association board and was recently inducted into the Licking County Agricultural Hall of Fame. Kathy handles the Human Resources for the farm, and is a past board member of the Mary E. Babcock Library in Johnstown.  Both Jim and Kathy enjoy time spent with their grandchildren and envision the next generation molding the future of the farm.