Last weekend, Niman Ranch, the trailblazing natural meat brand, celebrated its network of over 500 hog farmers with the 26th Annual Hog Farmer Appreciation Celebration. The event, which began in 1999, acknowledges the brand’s independent family farmers and their families. Hosted from August 23-25, the festivities took place around Des Moines, featuring farm tours, networking opportunities, and educational sessions.
The highlight of the weekend was the celebratory dinner on Saturday evening, where 600 guests enjoyed a menu prepared by renowned chefs from across the country, all featuring Niman Ranch pork. This year’s culinary team included Brian Fowler of BLACKBARN in New York City, Christy McKenzie of Pasture and Plenty in Madison, Wisc., Niven Patel from FEAL Hospitality in Miami, Samantha Sanz of Post Hospitality in Phoenix, and Andy Teixeira of Newport Vineyards in Newport, R.I.
During the dinner, the Niman Ranch Next Generation Foundation awarded over $250,000 in scholarships and grants. These funds support humane livestock production, regenerative agriculture practices, and educational pursuits for farm families. The evening also featured a keynote address by renowned animal welfare expert and autism advocate Dr. Temple Grandin and awards recognizing the longevity and quality of contributions by Niman Ranch farmers.
The weekend’s events included local farm tours on Friday and a full day of educational workshops on Saturday, co-hosted by Food Tank. The summit featured speakers from organizations such as the CDC Foundation, Alice Waters Institute, USDA, ButcherBox, National Young Farmers Coalition, and Harris Teeter. Keynote addresses were given by author and advisor Maisie Ganzler, architect Kevin Kelley, and Ertharin Cousin of Food Systems for the Future.
Paul Willis, a founding hog farmer, noted that the event has evolved into a family reunion for the Niman Ranch community over the past 25 years. Niman Ranch general manager Chris Oliviero expressed his satisfaction with recognizing the hard work of farmers and supporting their families through scholarships and grants. “This event brings to life Niman Ranch’s unique values and community spirit,” he said.
Since its inception in 2006, the Niman Ranch Next Generation Foundation has distributed over $1.7 million to support young farmers. The Foundation’s work is supported by generous donations from Niman Ranch’s community of customers, business partners, and consumers, all dedicated to humane farming practices and nurturing the next generation. Top donors in 2024 include ButcherBox, Marczyk Fine Foods, Harris Teeter, the Franklin P. & Arthur W. Perdue Foundation, Chipotle Mexican Grill, Baldor, Shake Shack, High West Distillery, Wasatch Meats, and Mary Ann’s Specialty Foods.
