20 The Trusted Source for Canada’s Pork Producers Better Pork | October 2024 GOOD-HUMOURED PAIR LAUGHS LAST Couple has fun ’til the day is done. By Geoff Geddes UP CLOSE When you date an electrician, there’s bound to be a spark. That was the case for Jessica Bickle and Scott Nyenhuis, who met at a St. Paddy’s Day dance when they were 20 and have been laughing like leprechauns ever since. While he learned a trade, she studied agriculture and environmental management at the University of Guelph. Since building a 300-head organic contract sow barn in 2012 (oh, and also getting married), they have evolved to their current 600-sow farrow-to-wean operation in Grey County, Ont. Today, their three children – Nathan (10 years old), Ryan (9) and Grace (6) – all help out in the barn. “Whether it’s feeding, moving gilts or catching pigs, everyone pitches in,” says Bickle. What is your role on the farm? Scott: I am responsible for overseeing everything on the farm: The day-to-day operations, checking in with employees, repair and maintenance, and moving animals. You name it, I do it! Jessica: I like to call myself Scott’s right-hand man. I do a lot of the office work, but I truly love working with the animals and doing a little bit of everything. I seem to be his “go-to” for pressure washing and hauling manure. I’ll take it as a compliment. How many people do you employ? Scott: We employ one full-time worker in our sow barn, and one part-time employee who floats between barn work and general repair/maintenance. The right employees make all the difference, and we are very fortunate to have the people we do. What’s your favourite thing about working with pigs? Scott: I love seeing all the different personalities of the animals. I like the constant challenge of trying to be better and do better every day. Jessica: Every day is something new, and I am constantly proving to myself that I can do hard things. What do you like least about farming? Scott: The startup costs, for sure. The initial overhead that it takes to start farming can be prohibitive, especially when you’re starting a new operation. It can even be tough with new projects/renovations. Jessica: I struggle to shut it off. The farm is such a large part of our lives, so even when I’m away from the farm, it’s always in the back of my mind. How do you protect your herd’s health? Scott: After our herd broke with S. zooepidemicus in 2020, we took a hard look at our biosecurity prior to repopulation in 2021. After we repopulated, we started our own in-house multiplication to make our own gilts, and cut another chunk of risk out of the equation. We’ve also installed gates on all laneways, and have made an honest effort to inform all service providers about our specific biosecurity expectations. Jessica Bickle and Scott Nyenhuis operate a 600-sow farrow-to-wean operation in Grey County, Ont. Bickle Family photo
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