Wholestone Farms Providing Pork Raised by Your Neighbors

Wholestone Farms was founded in 2018 when CEO Luke Minion met with farmers who shared a vision to produce pork and be competitive with the commercial large pork producers. Wholestone is privately owned by 235 farm families across the Midwest. In Fillmore County, there are four farm families/owners: Smith Farms owned by Greg, Deb and Randy Smith of Rushford, Johnson’s Rolling Acres of Peterson, Eric Ruen of Lanesboro and Matt Hellickson of Preston. 

After feeling frustrated with the margins in the hog industry, Greg Smith joined Wholestone Farms to make raising hogs more lucrative in the long term and add value to all their animals. 

Lee Johnson of Johnson’s Rolling Acres felt it was a good investment; owning Wholestone gave the farmers a “slice of the processing side” of the industry. “The more people touching a product, the less you make,” Johnson explained. 

While a single farm couldn’t afford to purchase its own packing plant, together the farm families of Wholestone were able to purchase a packing plant in Fremont, Nebr., from Hormel Foods. In 2024, Wholestone entered into a Joint Venture Agreement with Prestage Foods, a farm family based out of North Carolina. Together they operate two packing plants, one in Fremont, Nebr., and one in Eagle Grove, Iowa. The plants each have 1,100 workers; 23,000 hogs are butchered each day at the plants totalling 5.5 million a year. 

According to Luke Minion, Wholestone is the only packing plant in which the farmers own 100% of  their pigs right up until the point that the pigs are harvested. 

Wholestone Farms ships fresh, unfrozen pork as far away as Japan. At a recent companywide meeting, representatives of a 425-year-old Japanese company enthused about the quality of pork from Wholestone Farms. They requested to purchase exponentially more product. Wholestone Farms currently distributes pork worldwide to 20 countries.

Wholestone seeks to uphold quality from breeding to processing the pork. Farmers keep detailed, daily records and logs on feed and water consumed, manure output and temperature in the barns. 

An advanced butchering process provides a quality pork product. Butchers have commented that the product does not drip when the packages of fresh pork are opened; there are no added chemicals or water in the pork. Wholestone Farms pork has better cuttability than other brands of pork.

Greg and Deb Smith have proven to be quite the ambassadors to local stores. Brad Hoiness of Preston, Harmony and Rushford Foods started carrying Wholestone Farms pork in late 2024. Hoiness appreciated getting a quality product at a good cost. At first there were issues getting Wholestone Farms product; the store’s main wholesaler wasn’t carrying the brand. Now Hoiness has been getting consistent deliveries about three times weekly. Both customers and the stores’ meat cutters have commented on the higher quality of the pork.

The pork arrives at the store in user-friendly cuts such as pork shoulders or loins. A picnic trim package is used by the store butchers to make their own seasoned ground pork.  A total of a dozen different pork boxes are available. Meat is cut and packaged in both Preston and Rushford; packaged meat is then sent to Harmony from Rushford.

Rushford, Harmony and Preston Foods have been promoting Wholestone Farms pork. In June, three outdoor events were held to educate customers; smoker grills and gift cards from Wholestone Farms were given away. Shirts and aprons worn by employees promote Wholestone. In October an in-store promotion will highlight Wholestone during Pork Month. 

When asked what additional product he’d like to get, Hoiness suggested, “Maybe smoked pork chops?” He went on to say he was very happy with what Wholestone offered, however. He applauded how the producers took a risk and are working together to compete with other processors.

Deb Smith shared that they feel so blessed to have the collaborative relationship with Hoiness. She loves seeing the Wholestone label in the local store, knowing that she and Greg are a part of it. 

Lee Johnson agreed, “It gives me a warm, fuzzy feeling to see locally grown meat in the store. People feel proud of it in the area!”

Eric Ruen added, “We are proud of our brand and our products!”

Scott Trapp, vice president of Wholestone Farms’ Sales and Marketing, commented, “We have an amazing group of owners!” He pointed out that the company logo includes, “Proudly owned by American Farmers!” 

Wholestone Farms is meeting its goal to bring the consumer closer to the farmer, especially in Fillmore County. Next time you are shopping for pork, look for the Wholestone Farms logo, knowing you are getting a great product raised locally by your neighbors.