Interns on the Wilsons’ Farms

Lorna Wilson, Paullina

Editor’s note: Every so often the stars come together and we have a young person wanting to learn, a family willing to host, and a little funding. That was the case this summer in northwest Iowa.

D&C Wilson Farms had the opportunity to host two ag interns this summer. Our first intern was Mike Leichty, who is a senior at Dordt College in Sioux Center, Iowa.

Mike was a joy to have as a part of our family. He fit right in and picked up quickly our methods of working with the hogs. It was a real pleasure to be able to mentor someone who was seeking alternative methods in farming. Mike was with us just before the PFI tour at our farm and was a big help in getting little jobs done that needed doing before the tour.

Our second intern was Toaw Sirirak, an ag exchange student from Thailand. Toaw had only a limited background in agriculture, so this was a totally different experience from the time we spent with Mike. Toaw was here to learn all he could about U.S. culture and English, as well as work on a hog farm.

Even thought these two men came from totally different backgrounds, I was surprised at the number of similarities in the two. First of all both men were very keen observers, they were able to catch on to our routine very quickly. They both were quite curious and asked a lot of questions which made it easier to know what they were interested in. It also made it easier to share with them because you knew by the questions whether you were properly explaining all of the details of how our farm works. Toaw and Mike were both very teachable. They were open to discuss different ideas and philosophies. We had some good mealtime conversations with both of these men. Finally, the time both men spent with us was too short.

So how did the Wilson’s benefit from the internship program? Obviously it was a big help to have another pair of hands around to share the work load. Even more than that, it was good for us to view our operations through the eyes of two other people from different backgrounds. We also had to slow the pace down a little bit and take the time to talk. This is something we don’t always do very well. It was also good to be around a couple of young men that had so much interest in where family farms are headed today.

So would we host another intern? The answer is yes, but we would try to make the time they are with us be a longer time. One week is not long enough. We would also be more specific in the time of year when they came, because it does take more time in the beginning of the program to get used to one another.

In the future PFI members need to look at interns as a way of training the next generation of young people in the proper respect for the land and how they as farmers fit into their communities. There are many of our members that have a lot to share. Why not share it with an intern?

Mike Leichty, Dordt College, Replies:

I toured Colin and Carla Wilson’s farm last year with the Swine Science class from Dordt College. I was very interested in their Swedish-style farrowing barn and the specialty market for their hogs. I found out about the internship program through the North Central Institute for Sustainable Systems and thought an internship with the Wilsons would be a good opportunity to learn more about their swine operation. I went to the Wilsons expecting to learn about their Swedish deep-bedded farrowing barn and thought I would possibly be exposed to some pasture farrowing also. I didn’t know what else to expect.

I stayed with Dan and Lorna, but ate some meals with Colin and Carla. Their families made me feel right at home. I really appreciated the closeness of their families and was impressed with how they treated each other. Their Christian faith makes a difference in their lives – in the way they farm and in their family life. The Wilson farm is a perfect example of a family farm. Their families all work together to make the farm operation successful.

I followed Dan and Colin around and helped when I could. I helped chore the pasture hogs every morning with Dan and went to Colin’s later to help with the Swedish barn. I did a lot of hog work – I helped vaccinate hogs and sows, load and sell hogs, and move hogs and pregnant sows out to the pasture. I mowed weeds under the electric fence with a weed-eater to keep the pasture pigs from getting out. I helped move the A-frame farrowing huts and other pasture buildings to get ready for the late-summer pasture farrowing. I helped chore rotationally-grazed sheep and Joel Salatin-style pasture laying hens and broilers. I basically helped with whatever the Wilsons were doing on the farm.

One evening I went with Dan and Colin to a marketing meeting. I heard Dave Lubben speak and learned about how a marketing group works.