For Chris Winter of Wincreek Farms in Boyden, Iowa, farming has always been a family affair. Alongside his wife Courtney, their three children—Cambry, Caylyx, and Casen—and his parents Paul and Kim, Chris has built a life rooted in agriculture, community, and a shared passion for raising pigs.
Chris reflects on the evolution of their operation: “We built our first barn in 2007 as custom growers. For seven years, we focused on growing for others. Over time, we expanded, built more barns, and started owning more of our pigs.” By 2017, Wincreek Farms had shifted to full ownership of their pigs and added custom farming into their business model. “It was a nerve-wracking leap, but we felt that owning our pigs was necessary to grow and remain competitive in the industry.” Today, Wincreek Farms finishes around 62,000 pigs annually, utilizing both their barns and partnerships with other farmers in the region.
Their journey into sow ownership took another significant step in 2022 when they purchased shares in a Kansas sow farm managed by Pipestone. “We had never owned our own sows before,” Chris shares. “It’s been a great experience. It’s given us consistency in pig health and pricing, making it easier to plan and market our pigs.” The pigs from this sow farm make their way to farms in northwest Iowa and southern Minnesota. Since a lot of the shareholders are local to these areas, it keeps things close to home, which is important to Chris.
Partnering for Success
Collaboration with Pipestone has been a game-changer for the Winters. Chris emphasizes the benefits of their relationship: “Through tools like FarmStats [a service offering production records and benchmarking], we’ve gained valuable insights into our operation. Comparing our performance to other farms helps us identify areas for improvement. We’re not always the best, but we’re always striving to do better.”
FarmTeam, another Pipestone service, has also significantly impacted Wincreek Farms. This program provides trained professionals to help manage labor-intensive tasks on farms, making it easier for producers to focus on other priorities. “Adding FarmTeam employees has allowed us to share the workload. It’s no longer just my dad and me doing everything,” Chris explains. “They handle key responsibilities like feeding, pig care, and maintenance, so we have time to focus on other important aspects of the operation, like the farming and strategic growth.”
For Chris, the relationship with FarmTeam employees has grown beyond simple day-to-day help. “This change has given us more time for family while building strong relationships with our team. They’ve become like family,” he says. “It’s incredible to see how invested they are in the success of our operation. They take pride in their work, and that kind of commitment is invaluable.”
FarmTeam has also brought an added layer of expertise to Wincreek Farms. “The training they receive means they’re up-to-date on best practices and biosecurity measures, which is critical as we scale up,” Chris adds. “It’s not just about having an extra set of hands—it’s about having knowledgeable, dedicated people who care about the animals and the farm as much as we do.”
A Vision for the Future
The Winters’ dedication to biosecurity and pig health is a cornerstone of their operation. “We’ve grown from finishing 15,000 pigs in 2017 to 60,000 today. Maintaining biosecurity is critical,” Chris explains. “Our FarmTeam employees are split into groups to focus on different pig stages, and we take every precaution—changing boots and coveralls, controlling disease risks—to ensure healthy, high-quality pigs.”
The journey hasn’t been without its hurdles. From navigating the market fluctuations of 2018 to weathering the COVID-19 pandemic and the challenging market of 2023, resilience has been key. “We’ve faced so much adversity, but each challenge has taught us something. We’ve survived, and it’s given us the confidence to climb any mountain as a family and as farmers.”
Looking ahead, Chris envisions continued growth for Wincreek Farms with sustainability in mind. “Our dream is to become a self-sustained farm, raising enough crops to support our pigs. Sustainability is about caring for the environment and leaving something better for the next generation. It’s about ensuring that our kids inherit a farm they can be proud of and continue to grow. And why wouldn’t you want to do that?”
