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JBS Donates 20 Hogs to PCR-I

By Bradshaw, Sarah on October 01, 2020

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This month's pork donor is JBS. We would like to thank Jacob Vestal and JBS for the generous donation to our schools. 

Jacob Vestal graduated in 2012 from PCR-I schools. He then attended NCMC and earned an Associate of Arts degree. After graduating from NCMC, Jacob attended Northwest Missouri State University and obtained a bachelor's degree in Ag business and a minor in animal science. While in college, Jacob worked for Doug Hyle at the hog barn and that's how he got his feet wet in the hog business. After college, he was hired by Professional Swine Management where he worked for a year and a half in a sow barn in La Plata as an assistant farm manager. 

In November of 2017, Jacob accepted a position with JBS as a field manager. JBS is a family of proud brands with rich traditions. JBS USA includes operations in the U.S., Mexico, Canada and Australia. Their diversified platform includes beef, pork, poultry, lamb, further processed and consumer ready protein offerings, hides, leather, variety meats and rendered products. JBS started with humble beginnings as a small, family-owned beef company started by their founder, José Batista Sobrinho (JBS), in the rolling savannas of Goiás, Brazil, in 1953, to their evolution into the world leader in protein with operations all around the globe, JBS has been guided by the same core values. Determination, Humility, Discipline, Availability, Sincerity, Simplicity and Ownership.

These values have led JBS from a single packing plant in South America, to the leading provider of meat protein in the world. 

Jacob's territory ranges from Bloomfield, Iowa to Edina, Missouri, and over to Cantrell, Iowa. His job is to visit the hog farms regularly to make sure the pigs are being taken care of. He looks for diseases and helps solve any problems. He works with excel spreadsheets via email to let the company know when pigs are ready for processing. 

Jacob shared that rural farms are so important. Small scale farming promotes communities, creates jobs, and improves the health of the land and the people. The farm to school connection is vital as well. It enriches the connection communities have with local food producers by changing food purchasing practices as schools. 

Jacob learned so many valuable life lessons growing up on a farm in Livonia, Missouri, and being a part of FFA at PCHS. It is encouraging to see students participating in 4-H and FFA and getting involved in farming and learning about livestock from a young age. 

Aside from saving our school district money, due to the hogs being donated, Jacob hopes that students and staff with taste the difference. There is such a distinction between local processed pork and pork you purchase in the store. 

When asked what prompted Jacob to reach out to the school to make this donation, Jacob said he and his company wanted to do their part to make a difference for our community with their quality pork. They encourage community members to donate money to the school to help pay for the processing fees. 

Thank you again, JBS and Jacob Vestal! We appreciate your generosity!