30 THERE ARE MANY OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUNG FARMERS TO WORK WITH OTHER FARMERS OR COMPANIES WHEN RAISING LIVESTOCK. CHAD & JULIA KROGMAN – SHANNON, ILL. Chad and Julia have been married 8 years and desired a farm lifestyle for their family where they could work together as husband and wife and build a legacy to pass on to their three sons. They both grew up on farms and have been involved in agriculture all their lives. Over the years they worked for other farms, for agricultural retail companies, hauled livestock and raised a few cattle as freezer beef for others. In 2015, they had an opportunity to move to the Shannon community and began custom feeding with other farmers. In 2017, the Krogmans built a new 2,450 head wean to market hog barn. “We enjoy raising and caring for livestock and the environment. As first-generation farmers, we see hog production as an opportunity to work into an agricultural realm that is very capital intense. We feel blessed to have the opportunity to pursue our goals in agriculture and desire to be good stewards of what we’ve been given.” - Chad Krogman LIVESTOCK HELPS YOUNG COUPLE FARM-FULL TIME CALEB AND TARCIE CORZINE – ASSUMPTION, ILL. Caleb and Tarcie Corzine have had many exciting changes in their lives. The addition of a new 2,400 head wean to market hog barn in September 2016 allowed Caleb, a fourth generation farmer, to farm full-time. The young couple welcomed their first child in November 2016. The new barn has allowed Tarcie to work part-time off the farm, while raising their daughter. Caleb farms with his dad, Curt, raising corn and soybeans in Shelby County. They also operate a trucking and excavating business. Since returning to the family farm in 2009, Caleb had been looking for opportunities to expand their farm, but high land prices and volatile crop prices have made that difficult. The Corzines decided to contract with the Maschhoffs to raise small pigs to market size. “I’ve always wanted to farm. My dad started farming right out of high school, and I wanted to follow in his footsteps. We looked at contract pork production as a way to expand and diversify our farm. Using this business model really helps a young farmer like me stay on the farm. We receive a steady income source, and it helps reduce our risk.” – Caleb Corzine REAL WORLD