Employee Spotlight

Meet Hernan Altunar Altunar, Farm Manager at Liberty Livestock, who recently obtained his Permanent Resident Visa from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Achieving this milestone wasn’t easy—Hernan persevered for five years. With the unwavering support of colleagues like Nicole Paulsen, Alexandra Larios, and Joe Hadley, his dream is now a reality.

At PIPESTONE, we live and breathe our core values: Integrity, Caring, Commitment, Growth, and Teamwork. This year, we’re taking a closer look at each value, exploring what they mean to us and how they shape our organization. Our values are the foundation of who we are and how we work together.

At PIPESTONE, we live and breathe our core values: Integrity, Caring, Commitment, Growth, and Teamwork. This year, we’re taking a closer look at each value, exploring what they mean to us and how they shape our organization. Our values are the foundation of who we are and how we work together.

Ingris Rivas was recently named a 2023 Master Pork Producer at the 55th Annual South Dakota Pork Congress in January. Ingris’s journey began in August 2017, marking the start of her career in swine production at PIPESTONE. South Dakota Master Pork Producers are recognized for their outstanding contributions to the state’s swine industry.

A standout star at PIPESTONE is Seth Holmstrom, who serves as the Manager for Elm Valley Farms. Starting as a Pipestone Emerging Leader in November 2018, Seth honed his skills at Big Sioux before landing the role of Site Manager at Elm Valley in March 2019.

Integrity, Caring, Commitment, Growth, and Teamwork – these are the core values of Pipestone. They serve as a road map for all employees in pursuing the company mission of Helping Farmers Today Create the Farms of Tomorrow.

While our priority at PIPESTONE is healthy pigs, our passion is the people who empower us. The growth and development of our team holds significant focus and is found in each of our core values – Integrity, Caring, Commitment, Growth, and Teamwork.

Monte plays a pivotal role in the success of new farm start-ups, adeptly training team members and swiftly tackling challenges with his resourcefulness and positive demeanor. He is the go-to person for solutions, and his determination makes him an invaluable asset to the team.

Each summer, PIPESTONE provides the opportunity for college students from all over the nation to gain real-world experience within the swine industry. This year, PIPESTONE welcomed 14 interns from 12 different colleges to work within 7 departments. These departments included production, information technology, nutrition, research, public relations, marketing and veterinary services.

⇒ In support of our Core Values of integrity, caring, commitment, growth and teamwork, employee safety is our top priority. Along with the great responsibility we have of caring for our animals, we understand that there are inherent risks to people safety within the swine production industry.

Nicole embodies our core values through her commitment to employee satisfaction, evidenced by low turnover rates and top-tier benefits. Her dedication to fostering growth, ensuring safety, and providing necessary tools for success make her a deserving recipient.

One of the core values we live by at Pipestone is Caring. Caring means caring for our team members, animals and communities. Our charitable efforts aim to make a difference in the lives of our local and global community members.