As a young man, Eric Meyers was planning for a career teaching and coaching. Now more than two decades later, Meyers knows education was indeed his calling, but instead of sharing his teaching skills in the classroom and on the ball field, he is coaching the next generation how to raise healthy pigs.

Pivoting to a career in pork production, Meyers began working as a caregiver and worked his way up to farm manager for The Maschhoffs’ Holbrook Farrowing Farm near Holbrook, Nebraska.

“I went to college to be a teacher and a coach. It wasn’t exactly to teach or coach this, but I love doing it. I love seeing people grow. I love seeing people learn,” Meyers says. “I'm always learning and teaching and watching other people learn and grow. I really enjoy that.”

A Nebraska native, Meyers grew up surrounded by agriculture with both his grandfather and uncle raising pigs.

“Growing up working with our family farm definitely influenced me,” Meyers says.

Of utmost importance to Meyers is pig health, which includes providing the pigs a hospitable environment to live in with food, water, proper ventilation and medical care when they are sick or injured. To that end, Meyers welcomes Zoetis pork production specialists and veterinarians into the pig barns to offer their insights into pig health, protocols and production efficiency.

“The pork industry goes through a lot of checks and balances to make sure that we're taking care of these animals. That's our number one priority, period,” Meyers says. “These animals are like our own. We take care of them to produce food for the world. We care for these animals very much. They are our livelihood. If we don't properly care for these animals, then we don't have a livelihood.”

Remaining competitive in the industry requires the adoption of technological improvements as they are developed.

“I've been in this industry for 27 years and I've seen a lot of change and innovation,” Meyer says. “I've gone from hand-feeding pigs to using feed systems that tell you which animal is ready to be fed and how much food she needs. What's great about this industry is that it is ever-changing. Just when you think you know everything about it, you learn you don't.”

Equally important to Meyers is maintaining solid relationships with his crew on the farm and in the industry.

“Having a good relationship with my crew and with the people that provide products to us is crucial,” Meyers says. “There's no way I can expect production to happen if my crew doesn't trust me, feel like they know me and can trust that what I'm expecting them to do is what is supposed to be done. And we can't do this without great products to maintain pig health.”

He adds, “My crew is like my family. We spend a lot of our time together, probably more so than we do at home. It’s crucial that we have mutual respect and get along. It is so much easier to get the job done when everybody trusts each other and trusts that everybody is doing their job.”

Meyers says he loves providing food for millions of people, including his family. “That is why I keep doing this job,” he says.  

To learn more about how Zoetis is honoring Meyers and other pork producers, caregivers and pork professionals dedicated to raising and caring for healthy pig, visit www.Heritage-Feeds-Tomorrow.com to read our Champions of Care content series.

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