Friday Feature: Ben & Mitch

This summer, Klocke Farms and PigEasy were fortunate to add a couple members to the team. Their involvement with PigEasy varies, but as with everyone else in our operation, they are a part of just about everything.  

Welcome to PigEasy and Klocke Farms, Ben and Mitch!

Ben Klocke and Mitch Tiefenthaler began working for Klocke Farms and PigEasy this summer.

Ben

No, this is not my brother Ben that I’m talking about here, and yes, there have been some confusing moments.

Ben Klocke (the other Ben Klocke in Carroll County!) started working with Klocke Farms in July.

We knew early on that one of the Bens would need a nickname. After much deliberation, Ben Klocke (new Ben Klocke) accepted the nickname of “FJ”. Can anyone guess what “FJ” stands for? Let’s have an informal contest; the first one who figures it out and comments below gets a free t-shirt! (Karen says keep it clean!)

Ben’s main focus is Klocke Farms’ day to day tasks, but does help with PigEasy production.

Mitch

Mitch joined the team in August and hit the ground running getting up to speed with PigEasy operations and products in addition to taking part in Klocke Farms.  While Mitch has spent a lot of his first few months in a tractor helping with harvest, he has taken on the role of PigEasy inventory, order management and shipping. 

Post-harvest, Mitch’s main focus will be PigEasy; we look forward to streamlining our system with Mitch’s help!

Now that we are finished with harvest, we often look back and wonder how the heck we did it all without these guys.

Have a great weekend,

Katie

The Kitchen Table

Friday Feature:

The HUB of our house has always been the kitchen table.  When outstretched to capacity, it is a 113 inch massive Farm Table. 

It started as a place for candlelit dinners when we were first married, a place to gather with friends for coffee, the little artist’s workbench for different crafts, the laundry folding table, the homework station for the young ones, the central place for prayer, the base for pictures of family celebrations.

A typical look at our "desk" set up.

The kitchen table has always been my place to do bookwork -  a convenient way to multi-task – keep an eye on the kids, watch the cookies in the oven and listen for the drier bell to go off.  Not to mention, you can spread your work out easily.  With the start of PigEasy, the Kitchen Table has become a hot commodity. 

You usually think of everyone having their “seat” at the table ready to eat.  Now Katie and I have our “seat” at the table for business.  It is a good location for Dave to pop in to answer questions and Ben to pick up order sheets.  We have gathered around the table to have product naming contests, have prepped some of our products for production, and yes, we still eat at our table. Preparing for lunch includes shoving the piles to the other end.

It is with some excitement that we will be moving the PigEasy office to a new location in town.  It is very exciting to have less clutter and less distraction – but I am going to miss the activity around the kitchen table. 

We are used to having a “mobile office”.  It may be a meeting in the shop, brainstorming on the long drives, or the “feet up for 10” in the living room.  We now have an “official office” in our future, but I have a feeling the HOME BASE of the KITCHEN TABLE will still be an active location for PigEasy developments.  And if any encouragement is needed, the cookies fresh out of the oven always seem to work.

Post-brunch product naming contest.

- Karen

Friday Feature: Clint, Aaron & Al

While I’m laying here on the couch recovering from recent back surgery, I thought I’d write a little something about a few people who are very important to PigEasy’s success.

Clint

Clint is one of our most seasoned employees.

Clint is a Templeton native who began working with Klocke Farms part time when he was a teenager.  Clint came on board full time after high school and is vital to both Klocke Farms and PigEasy.

With his ability and experience, Clint’s input with PigEasy manufacturing and our products has been essential.  He treats the business as his own and ensures that each job is a job well done.  In addition to PigEasy and general farm work, Clint is our construction man and he also keeps the shop and equipment organized and clean, which is not an easy task when working with us Klockes!

Aaron

Aaron began working for PigEasy and Klocke Farms last August and is quickly coming up to speed on the farm and PigEasy product line.  He handles a lot of the manufacturing and packaging for PigEasy.  Aaron also helps on other various jobs with Klocke Farms.  He is very eager to learn how and why we do what we do to understand our process better.  We’re lucky to have someone with that much enthusiasm.

You can find Al and Aaron working hard in the Klocke Farms and PigEasy shops.

Al

Al began working with Klocke Farms part time a handful of years ago. He helps with loading pigs and does the daily chores in the finishing barn and helps with loading out. He also assists with various tasks on the farm and is willing to step in and help when needed.  His years of previous experience at the local co-op have helped in many situations on the farm and we value his input.

I once heard that the key to success and happiness is to surround yourself with the right people and I believe we have done just that.

Have a great weekend!

-   Ben