BROOKINGS, SD – The South Dakota Pork Producers Council (SDPPC) recognized the Paul Brandt Family with the 6th Annual Family of the Year Award during the Master Pork Producers Banquet.
The award was created to honor a pork-producing family who has contributed to the long-term success of the industry through leadership and pork promotion on the local, state or /and national level.
Paul Brandt and his wife, Lisa, live on a 5th generation family farm near Clear Lake, SD. Paul, and his twin brother Joel, operate Brandt Farms Inc, a diversified custom hog feeding operation, a cow/calf and feeder cattle operation, a diversified crop operation, and a seed sales business. Paul, a shareholder in Supreme Pork, Inc., which includes a 3300 head sow farm, with custom nurseries and finishers, receives pigs from this company into his custom hog feeding business. Paul is also a shareholder in Supreme Welding, Inc., a custom welding business in Clear Lake. Paul is a SDSU graduate with a degree in agronomy.
He currently serves on the Deuel County Zoning Board, the United Methodist Church council, and the Deuel County Memorial Hospital Board of Directors. He was a president of SDPPC and currently sits on the Production and Profitability Committee and the Public Policy Committee. He was involved in Operation Main Street, was 2006 Master Pork Producer, and was a Pork Act delegate or a NPPC delegate to the National Pork Forum for many years.
Lisa has been an educator for over 29 years. She is currently a 3rd grade teacher in Castlewood, SD. She loves her job and the challenges and rewards that go with it. She is the leader of the Dakota Clovers 4-H club and enjoys planning and hosting project days. Lisa also judges at achievement days and fashion review at local and state levels. Paul and Lisa have 4 kids.
Caitlyn, a graduate from SDSU with a degree in Ag Business and Ag Leadership, is starting her 5th year with the American Angus Association in St. Joseph, Mo. She is an Event Coordinator and plans and executes cattle shows around the country and develops leadership programs for the National Junior Angus members.
Jacob graduated from SDSU with a degree in Animal Science and is now full-time on the farm. He manages the 2400 head finisher barn. He is also involved with the many other duties needed on a diversified farm as well as helping with Supreme Pork duties, when needed.
Both Caitlyn and Jacob have been past Pork Ambassadors for the SDPPC.
Tanner has completed his degree from SDSU in Ag Science this fall and is returning to the farm. Tanner assists with sorting and loading of hogs in all the finishers. He has a talent for fixing equipment in the shop and likes both the livestock and crop side of the operation.
Dylan is a senior at Deuel High School this year. He is involved in football, basketball, track and band. After graduation, he will be attending SDSU to pursue a degree in an ag. related field. Dylan helps with the barn chores, sorting and loading, and helps with the cows and calving, haying and harvest.
Paul and Lisa attributes the success of their operation to the help provided by their family and the 3 full time, long term employees, and the long term committed employees of Supreme Pork. Paul’s dream is to one day involve all the kids in the farming operation in some manner.
