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Chris Soules, left, discusses farming with America's Pig Farmer of the Year Keith Schoettmer, right, at Schoettmer Prime Pork in Tipton, Ind., Sept. 17, 2015.
PR NEWSWIRE/National Pork BoardTIPTON, Ind. (AP) — The National Pork Board's first-ever pig farmer of the year is from Tipton, Indiana.
The group announced Thursday morning that Keith Schoettmer is the first pig farmer to receive the board's America's Pig Farmer of the Year Award. The board says it wanted to recognize a farmer who raises pigs with ethical principles and tries to connect with consumers about how pork is produced.
Schoettmer founded his family farm, called Schoettmer Prime Pork, in central Indiana in 1987. He, his wife and employees raise about 22,000 pigs a year. Schoettmer earned the honor after an audit of farm practices and a series of written and verbal interviews. The group says he has "achieved excellence in all aspects of pig farming."
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