The Perfect Balance of Farming and Family
posted on Friday, April 20, 2018
“The flexibility that this job provides is the perfect addition to my busy life as a farmer, husband and Dad,” said Scott Neubauer, who oversees two finishing farms for Iowa Select, one of which he owns and the other that he contracts. “I especially appreciate the freedom during spring and fall when my schedule is quite hectic.”
For Scott Neubauer and his family, partnering with Iowa Select Farms was the perfect way to diversify their farming operation and give Scott the opportunity to come home.
“I was working at UPS loading trucks,” explained Scott. “I enjoyed the job, but missed being on the farm. I knew it wasn’t feasible to come back since Dad is still heavily involved, so adding livestock seemed to be the perfect answer.”
Since 2012, Neubauer has been caring for the nearly 7,000 pigs at two wean-to-finish farms near his family’s Century Farm in Radcliffe.
“I’m the fifth generation to live on this farm and I love that this job allows me to raise my children in the same place that my great-great grandfather purchased more than 100 years ago,” said Scott. “His name, Henry, is painted on our barn and is also my son’s name. Farming is a family tradition for us and it’s cool to think that I’m helping continue our legacy.”
In his role as a contractor, Scott is responsible for the day-to-day operations and animal care at his farms. From sorting animals and daily observations to pen management and providing necessary treatments, he is very thorough and detailed in his work.
“Working with Scott as one of my contractors is great,” said Josh Simon, Scott’s finishing supervisor. “He has a strong work ethic and gets the job done to the best of his ability, even when things don’t always go according to plan. He’s one of those guys that you never have to worry about because he’s organized, communicates well and always does the right things for his pigs.”
In addition to livestock, Neubauer has diversified his family’s farming operation with sweet corn, peas and an oat cover crop.
“Anyone that farms knows it’s a bit of a gamble,” chuckled Neubauer. “We’ve recently diversified our operation even further, but I really appreciate the steady income that Iowa Select provides for our family. They were a huge part in making it possible for me to come back home.”
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