EPISODE 140 – CREATING A FARROW TO FINISH OPERATION WITH KELLY WORTHINGTON
Kelly Worthington and her husband, Jon Lendvoy bought their farm in the Fall of 2010 just east of Carstairs. Kelly was an avid horse girl with always the desire for breeding and Jon an outdoorsman, hunter and fisherman. Not long into renovations, they decided they wanted to do some grass steers. Like most people, they went to the auction and bought some 600lb steers. They learned quickly that they didn’t know their background, health and parentage. After doing research and wanting to provide their co-workers, family and friends with a healthier beef choice, they found Galloway cattle. Galloways perform outstandingly on grass and with their ability to internally marble, grain was not required.
As their beef program grew, their customers always asked if they did pork. It was never an option as they did not enjoy the mess they always heard pigs made, the rooting, hard to contain in a fenced area and the aggressiveness the adults potentially could have.
In 2015, they found out about a new breed of swine that had arrived in Canada, Kunekune Pigs. They were well known for their gentle demeanour, easy to contain, and the best no rooting. Kelly and Jon knew instantly this pig breed would work with their grass-fed beef.
In 2018, they started producing their very own Rare Kunekune Pasture Pork and are proud to be the first retail supplier in Western Canada. They took their pork a step further and in 2020 started offering Charcuterie products. On top of selling retail cuts, whole and half sides of pork, their pork is also carried with YYC Growers in Calgary, The Farm Table in Carstairs and Local Lane in Didsbury. Their herd has grown to over 200 Kunekunes with a strong emphasis on pasture pork and selling Kunekune pasture pork breeding stock. In early 2020, Kelly was appointed to the Board of Directors of the International Kunekune Hog Registry. She has been so fortunate to have an amazing mentor to help support them in their journey and truly believe in paying that forward to their breeders and being there for them and being that mentor to them.
With the urgent need to expand their pork production and having outgrown their little Carstairs Farm, Kelly and Jon purchased a 157-acre property West of Didsbury in January 2022. They are excited for all their new 2022 adventures!
This episode is sponsored by:
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