Martin County Pork Producers Hall of Fame
The Hall of Fame was created to recognize individuals whose lifelong commitment has strengthed pork production in Martin County. These individuals represent the values of hard work, innovation, stewardship, and community involvemnet that define our organization. Each inductee has played a signifigant role in advancing pork production through farm leadership, industry service, mentorship, and community engagement. Their contributions have helped shape the strong pork industry presence that Martin County is known for today.
Martin County Pork Producer 2026 Hall of Fame Inductee: Larry Becker- LB Pork
Larry Becker’s involvement in agriculture began early through 4‑H and the Fairmont FFA Chapter. In 1959 he began raising and selling purebred Chester White boars and exhibited gilts and boars at both the Martin County Fair and the Minnesota State Fair from 1959–1963. Through his FFA work he earned his Chapter and State degrees and later received the prestigious American Farmer Degree in 1966.
Larry attended the University of Minnesota College of Agriculture from 1963–1966, earning a Technical Certificate in Agriculture. He also served in the Minnesota National Guard from 1966–1972. In 1970 Larry began farming in partnership with his father, Walter Becker, raising Farmers Hybrid pigs along with the crop operation. In 1979 he purchased the farm and continued expanding and improving the swine enterprise.
Over the years the home site evolved with multiple improvements including finishing barns in 1975 and 1986, a slatted farrowing house and nursery in 1977, a gestation barn in 1987, and an additional farrowing house in 1992. Larry’s wife Linda retired from her career as a pediatric nurse and managed the farrowing house for more than 30 years, using her nursing skills and strong work ethic to help build a successful farrowing operation.
Larry was an active member of the Martin County Pork Producers and could often be found grilling pork patties at the Martin County Fair and many community events. He also helped establish Camalot Breeders and Fairmont Artificial Breeders (FAB), cooperative efforts that supported pork producers throughout the region.
In 1995 LB Pork, Inc. was formed in partnership with sons Lonny and Lynn Becker. Larry served as the guiding patriarch as the operation expanded from marketing roughly 10,000 hogs annually in the mid‑1990s to a large multi‑site production system today. Family has always been central to the operation, with sons Lonny and Lynn and grandsons Levi and Luke continuing the agricultural legacy.
The farm received several honors including the MN Pork Environmental Steward Award (1999), Martin County Good Neighbor Award (2000), MN Pork Farm Family of the Year (2003), and University of Minnesota Farm Family of the Year (2008). Larry considers himself fortunate to have spent a lifetime producing high‑quality pork while working alongside family and fellow pork producers.
Martin County Pork Producer 2026 Hall of Fame Inductee: Duane Behrens- Pork Behrens
Duane Behrens’ involvement in the pork industry began in 1965 when he and his wife Myrna Behrens received a gift of twelve gilts from Duane’s parents. Their first farrowing facility was an old chicken barn with wooden farrowing crates.
In 1971 the family moved to the home place after the passing of Duane’s father. The dairy barn was remodeled and converted into a farrowing facility with 28 farrowing crates, and the herd soon grew to around 60 sows.
As the operation expanded, a new 56‑crate farrowing barn and nursery was constructed in 1978. Myrna played a major role in the operation, assisting with farrowing and caring for the baby pigs.
In 1982 the farm hired Craig Asmus as a full‑time employee to help in the hog barns. During the first year with Craig on board, the number of pigs weaned nearly doubled.
Until 1985 the operation focused primarily on selling feeder pigs. At that point Duane decided to begin finishing pigs, working with neighboring producers who built finishing barns and helped care for the pigs.
In 1988 a crated gestation barn was constructed, bringing breeding and gestation management to a new level of efficiency and comfort for the herd.
By 1994 larger-scale production was expanding in the region. After many meetings and discussions, Duane and Myrna decided to participate in a 1,500‑sow farrowing unit with KBQ supplying the sows. The pigs were then finished through a network of rented finishing barns operated by local producers.
In 2012 the farrowing site was sold and their son Kevin Behrens began managing the finishing operation full time, continuing the family’s involvement in pork production.
Duane credits much of the success of the swine industry in Martin County to the veterinarians and staff at the Fairmont Veterinary Clinic, whose guidance and support were invaluable to producers throughout the region.
Today Duane and Myrna are retired and remain grateful for the opportunity to have been part of the Martin County pork industry. They continue to feel blessed and proud of the role their family played in the growth of pork production in the community.
Martin County Pork Producer 2026 Hall of Fame Inductee: Daryl Bartz- Lilly Creek Farm
Daryl and Carol Bartz began their farming career in 1963 when they subleased land and started raising pigs. Daryl purchased twelve slaughter sows from Edwin Hilgendorf and began producing pigs in a simple facility, with the first pigs marketed to Hormel in Sherburn.
In 1967 the Bartz family moved to their present farm where they began renovating existing chicken barns and hog buildings to support their growing swine operation. Their early farrowing facilities used rebuilt crates while sows were housed in older buildings.
In 1969 they constructed a new farrowing barn with four rooms containing sixteen crates each. As the operation expanded, a 500‑sow gestation barn was built in 1985. During the 1980s the operation continued to grow with a finishing barn capable of housing 7,500 pigs along with rented finishing space adding another 3,600 pig spaces.
Daryl was known for innovation and collaboration within the pork industry. The first Weigh Tronix automated feed system with an air system to fill bulk bins was installed on their farm. Daryl also assisted with development of several large swine production projects including Camalot Breeders, Wacoma, Line Ridge, Center Creek Pork, and Fairmont Artificial Breeders.
Daryl served on the Fraser Town Board and the Triumph State Bank Board. Both Daryl and Carol remained active supporters of Martin Luther High School, Martin County Pork Producers, and Zion Lutheran Church.
Their daughters Connie and Kristy also helped with farm chores including clipping piglets’ teeth, giving shots, loading pigs, and yard work while Carol especially enjoyed combining during harvest.
The Bartz family farm received the Martin County Good Neighbor Award (2003), Environmental Steward Award (2004), and Minnesota Pork Farm Family of the Year (2006).
Martin County Pork Producer 2026 Hall of Fame Inductee: Lonny Schwieger- Schwieger Hogs
Lonny Schwieger grew up on the family farm west of Northrop alongside his siblings Doyle, Maureen, and Dale. From a young age he gained hands‑on experience working with dairy cattle, hogs, chickens, and crop production with his father, Reinhard, building the agricultural foundation that would guide his life’s work.
Lonny graduated from Fairmont High School in 1966 and was an active member of the Fairmont FFA Chapter where he earned the prestigious Minnesota Star Farmer Award. Following graduation he served six months of active duty in the National Guard before returning home to farm with his father.
Together they raised corn, soybeans, and alfalfa along with a sow herd. As the swine industry transitioned from outdoor production to confinement systems in the late 1960s and early 1970s, Lonny recognized the opportunity to develop equipment solutions for producers.
This led to the creation of Hen‑Way Manufacturing in 1979. The company designs and produces swine confinement equipment and quickly built a reputation for practical, producer‑focused innovation. Lonny received patents for AquaFeeders and helped develop hog scales used by producers to better monitor livestock performance. Hen‑Way later expanded with a new facility on County Road 39 in 2000.
Lonny and his wife Jeanne raised their three sons—Darren, Dean, and Derek—on the family farm. In 1983 he built a gestation barn and began farrowing in confinement at the home site, continuing until 2007. The family farm continues today with strong wean‑to‑finish production throughout Martin County and Minnesota.
Lonny helped co‑found Fairmont Artificial Breeders and became a part owner of Camalot Breeders while also being involved in several other swine production sites in the area. He served many years with the Martin County Pork Producers and helped support the growth of the pork industry in the region. In 2004 the Schwieger family was honored as Minnesota Pork Family of the Year.
