DES MOINES, Iowa–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Sep 8, 2018–Niman Ranch, a leader in sustainable agriculture and humane livestock practices, Friday, celebrated the 20th Annual Hog Farmer Appreciation Dinner in Des Moines by pledging to double their network and add more than 750 independent family farmers and ranchers in the next ten years. The company committed to supporting 1500 sustainable family farms in the next decade.

As part of the announcement, Niman Ranch officials said they will begin a recruitment effort and unveiled a first of a kind Gilt and Boar Gift program for young farmers, recent college graduates and those that have served in the military. More than $300,000 in sows have already been made available to qualifying individuals who are looking to get started in farming, grow their herds, improve their genetics and ultimately make more money.

Niman Ranch began hog production in 1995 with one farmer, Paul Willis, from Thornton, IA. Since that time the company has expanded to 629 hog farmers in 12 states. Part of the ongoing partnership between Niman Ranch and the farmer is a yearly scholarship for farm families and their children to go to college without significant debt so they can return to the farm.

This year the Next Generation Scholarship Fund became a formal 501C3 and raised more than $150,000 from more than 60 donors – giving out scholarship awards to more than 32 students. Two of the students received $10,000 as part of a special Phyllis Willis Pioneer Award and the original Dave Serfling Scholarship.

(View the multi-media presentation from the meeting, here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180907005544/en/