October 2025 - Journal_FINAL_e - Flipbook - Page 14
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HANSEN FARMS:
FAITH, FAMILY, &
Healthy Pigs
Dan and Bonnie Hansen began farming in Carroll,
Nebraska, in 1977 with little more than faith,
determination, and a dream. Gradually they built a
small but resilient operation that now 昀椀nishes 26,000
hogs annually, row crops, and even an on-farm feed
mill. “We started from scratch,” Dan said. “And we’ve
been growing for 40 years—together.”
Today, their son Tony and his wife Melissa, along
with their three kids, are working to carry that legacy
forward, blending family values with modern swine
practices while planning for the next generation.
“God has opened doors for us. Every step, whether it
was expanding or transitioning management, He has
provided the right people and the right timing,” Tony
said.
The Hansens had always sold hogs to Hormel, but
after that market closed, a former contact reached
out. “About a year later, we got a call that Pipestone
Partners had some shackle space and were looking
for a family farm,” Tony recalled. After meeting with
Terry Wolters, the family agreed to ship about 26,000
hogs a year. “That was a huge answer to prayer for us,”
he said. “Shortly after we signed on with Pipestone
Partners, we were actually in need of a different
nutritionist. After looking into the company a bit more,
we found out Pipestone has a nutritional company and
a vet service side, and every door just seemed to open
up for us. As a small family farm in northeast Nebraska,
Below: Father and son team, Dan and Tony Hansen. “Land is
hard to buy, and even harder to sell. So when you can pass it on to the next
generation, well it makes me very happy,” said Dan.
Dan and Bonnie Hansen of Carroll,
Nebraska are true partners in the
operation. “Bonnie was key to the
success of the farm,” Dan re昀氀ects.
“She didn’t just work alongside me—
she helped guide our decisions and
ensured we were running the farm
as both a family operation and a
business.”
14 | PIPESTONE JOURNAL
