CONSTANTLY IMPROVING; MILVERTON-AREA FARMERS RECOGNIZED FOR THEIR ACHIEVEMENTS IN PORK PRODUCTION

Through the uninviting odour, under the red slated roofs, and inside the nouveau modeled kitchen lies a recipe for success.

Local pork producers Reid and Rhonda Wilson are pioneering the pork industry using fresh ingredients.

The Milverton-area farmers recently received a Distinguished Recognition Award from the OSI (Ontario Swine Improvement). The award is presented annually to recognize commercial producers for their achievements and contributions to the Ontario pork industry.

"The Wilsons are leaders in the commercial pork industry in Ontario," said OSI general manager Richard Smelski. "They are constantly looking for ways to make their operation more efficient."

For more than 30 years, the Wilsons have not only been among the most innovative pork producers, but have quietly become trendsetters for future hog farms.

The Wilson farm is known for being one of the first in Canada to install a computerized feeding system and for an unprecedented design in the loose-housing facility they built for their hogs in 2002.

Not only do the Wilsons continually come up with new concepts to make their farm more efficient, but they are self-sufficient. They farm more than 700 acres of land, yielding corn, wheat and barley that counts for 90 per cent of their feed.

"We are one of the few family operations that breed, raise and send our pigs to market right on the spot," Mr. Wilson said.

That's why a year and a half ago the Wilsons entertained buyers from Japan who were on tour in Canada inspecting conditions of pig farms.

"They like to trace their food right back to its origin. They wanted every detail on what we used in the barn, for bedding, for feed, for sanitation; they don't miss a thing," said Mr. Wilson.

Ask the Wilsons what makes a good pig farmer and the answer is simple.

"Attitude," they both chimed. "We try to do our own things, but are glad to help other people out," Mrs. Wilson said.

"They are silent leaders," said Mr. Smelski.

It is this attitude that got the Wilsons to where they are today, but like many things in life, it wasn't easy.

Housing around 5,000 pigs, the Wilsons are fortunate in never having had a disease impact their herd -- mainly because of the tight bio-security they practice and having a closed herd.

In 2000 they shut the door on their herd with the exception of purchased boars. In 2003, they took the final step and completely sealed the herd, resulting in a much improved health status. Sixty per cent of their pigs' matings are natural and the remainder are through artificial insemination, using semen from OSI Genetics.

"It's simple. We treat them (the pigs) well and they treat us well," Mr. Wilson said.

Ten years ago, the Wilsons' main barn burned to the ground, resulting in the farm being shut down for a year.

"We had the farm re-populated, but we basically lived off the bank for a year," Mr. Wilson said, chuckling, adding that it was really just a blip in the great scheme of things. "We built back up and went from there."

Including themselves, the Wilsons have four full-time workers on the farm: their son Nick and another student they employ.

Although the farm has received recognition of late, the Wilsons believe it's the people around them who make it happen.

"In an operation like this you can't do it yourself," said Mr. Wilson. "It's the people around us that make the difference."

But they did accept some of the credit.

"Reid is really good at what he does," said Mrs. Wilson.

He replied, "Well, if you've been doing something for 30 years and you're not good at it, then something is wrong,"