Objective
The Pipestone Emerging Leaders (PEL) program is an accelerated training initiative designed to cultivate future leaders within Pipestone Management. Participants engage in comprehensive development through online courses, hands-on farm experience, and focus on areas such as farrowing, gestation, and gilt development.
Role and Responsibilities
- Learn and develop individual and leadership skills in all areas of production and employee engagement
- Enhance leadership, management, and organizational skills to effectively interact with employees at all levels and stakeholders.
- Gain practical experience in top swine facilities, learning specialized skills necessary for smooth workflow and becoming proficient in animal husbandry to reduce herd stress and maximize production.
- Relocate to various locations and states to broaden horizons and experience different management styles and production facilities.
- Learn and follow all production, safety, human resources, and biosecurity protocols to maximize sow and gilt production efficiency.
- Develop the ability to communicate effectively with area employees and farm management, providing daily input on production and animal health concerns.
- Complete production paperwork accurately and timely and understand how individual performance affects the organization's finances.
- Adhere to all biosecurity, animal welfare and safety protocols and work with team members to ensure compliance.
Qualifications and Education Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in Agriculture or equivalent experience
- 2+ years of experience in swine production
- Strong leadership and team management skills.
- Strong organizational and problem-solving abilities
Work Environment
- Farm-based setting with exposure to livestock, odors, dust, and varying temperatures in rural areas
- Requires hands-on animal handling and manual labor.
- Noise levels that require hearing protection in some areas
- Gestation, farrowing, and small swine care processes
Physical Requirements
- Standing, walking and ability to be on feet 8 to 10 hours per day
- Frequent bending, reaching, squatting and kneeling
- Frequent use of one or both hands/arms to grasp or pull
- Frequent lifting of objects weighing 3-20 pounds
- Occasional bending while pulling and/or lifting objects weighing up to 50 pounds, or requiring up to 50 pounds of force to move
Additional Requirements
- Must be able to work weekends
- Must have reliable method of transportation to get to work and assigned meetings
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree in Agriculture or equivalent experience
- Two or more years of swine production experience
- Strong leadership and team management skills
- Strong organizational and problem-solving abilities
- Ability to work weekends
- Reliable transportation to work and assigned meetings
- Ability to perform hands-on animal handling and manual labor
- Ability to stand and remain on feet for 8 to 10 hours per day
- Ability to lift or move objects weighing up to 50 pounds
What We Do
PIPESTONE is a mission-driven organization dedicated to helping farmers today create the farms of tomorrow. Founded in 1942 as a veterinary clinic, the company provides expertise and resources in pig health, management, nutrition, research, and marketing. It offers world-class sow management and veterinary services to hog, bovine, and companion animal producers across the Midwest.
