BENJAMIN BARTUSEK

Ben was born and raised on a purebred swine operation near New Prague, MN. He received his B.S. degree in Agriculture Education and taught in Cannon Falls, then the Mabel-Canton school districts. As a teacher, Ben’s dairy and general livestock judging teams realized success at both state and national competitions.

Ben returned to the home farm near New Prague in 1968. At the time, he raised Poland China hogs. He actively showed and competed at the Minnesota State Fair, as well as the national breed shows. Ben added Durocs in 1969 and Spotted Poland Chinas in 1973, and phased out the Poland China breed at his farm. Ben continued to show and sell both Durocs and Spotted Poland China hogs to breeders and commercial producers until 1980.

1980 was the year of major changes for Ben, as the swine industry was making major changes. The demand for large volume, healthy, single-source genetics was paramount. That was when Ben made the decision to focus on producing high health or Specific Pathogen Free (SPF) breeding stock. Ben chose some of his sows to undergo caesarean section, establishing a Primary SPF herd that grew into one of the largest SPF herds in Minnesota. As Ben focused on the production of high health, commercially oriented genetics, and for bio-security reasons, the decision to discontinue showing at state and national shows was made.

Ben built his 550-sow herd into one of the largest SPF herds in the nation and also one of the top recorders of Duroc, Yorkshire and Hampshire genetics in the country. Ben sold both purebred boars and gilts as well as F1 gilts to commercial hog producers in the five state area.

He also provided leadership to both the Rice County Pork Producers and the Rice County 4-H program. Ben was involved as a director for the state and national SPF organizations, serving as state president for seven years and a three year term as national president.

Ben also provided leadership to the National Duroc Swine Registry Executive Committee. Ben was very involved in steering the Duroc Swine Registry during some turbulent times in the purebred swine industry. Ben was a vocal advocate of bringing together the individual breed associations into what is the present day National Swine Registry.

Industry Service

1970 – 73 Minnesota Pork Producers Board of Directors

1973 – 78 Minnesota Pork Producers Swine Test Station Committee

1983 - 91 Minnesota SPF Association Board of Directors

1983 - 91 National SPF Accrediting Association Board of Directors

1984 - 91 Minnesota SPF President

1988 - 91 National SPF Accrediting Association President

1989 - 95 National Duroc Swine Registry Board of Directors

1990 - 95 National Duroc Swien Registry Executive Board Member

1991 - 2001 MN Board of Animal Health Pseudorabies Committee Chair

1988 National SPF Accrediting Association Producer of the Year

1997 Minnesota Pork Producers Distinguished Service Award

For his many contributions to the livestock industry, Ben is a most worthy inductee to the Minnesota Livestock Hall of Fame.