PORK

theBACON Bringing Home

The Tosh family produces top hogs and gives back to Tennessee agriculture

Jimmy Tosh is a family man, businessman and one of the South’s top hog farmers. His family has generations of experience in farming, though not always raising pigs. Growing up on a small farm in Henry started by his grandfather, Jimmy and his family raised dairy cattle and crops. In 1955, they sold the dairy and transitioned to beef cattle. Then, Jimmy began a cow-calf herd and eventually added feeder hogs to the mix, buying young animals and feeding them until they met an acceptable market weight.

Pigs Turned Profit

After graduating from the University of Tennessee at Martin with his agriculture business degree, Jimmy knew he could make his small farm a big success.

PHOTOS: NATHAN LAMBRECHT

Jimmy Tosh, center, and his sons, Jonathan and Jamey, are the family behind Tosh Farms in Henry.

OUR FAMILY FEEDING YOURS SINCE 1913

TOSH FARMS 1586 Atlantic Ave. | Henry, TN 38231 731-243-4861 | www.toshfarms.net

“We had 300 acres and a few pigs when I married my wife, Alonna, in 1978,” he says. “Now, almost 50 years later, we’re selling a little over 1 million hogs ready for market per year, farming 19,000 acres, employing 450 people and operating three businesses – Tosh Farms for crop production, Tosh Pork for pork production, and Bacon by Gosh is the trucking business.”

Jimmy and his sons, Jonathan and Jamey, operate the businesses that all work together to be as efficient, vertically integrated and as profitable as possible. Tosh Pork will buy crops from Tosh Farms to ensure a steady supply of feed products and a market for the crops. Each stands on its own but supports the others to reduce waste, maximize time and control costs.

“We are unique in having individual companies within the entire farm,” Jimmy says. “My sons are a big part of the operation and running those businesses. Jamey is involved in the crop production, and Jonathan is involved in the trucking and technical work.”

Farming and Family

Tosh Farms is one of the top pork producers in the Southeast. They own all but one of the barns housing the sows, or adult female pigs whose purpose is breeding, and they contract finish with local farmers. That means Tosh Farms has agreements with local farmers to take care of the pigs day in and out, but Tosh owns the barns and pigs. The sows eat a custom blend of feed made of Tosh Farms crops, which were transported by Bacon by Gosh. They also partner with recycling companies to get wasted food products to add to the feed. Leftover candies, chips and breads add needed calories to the pigs’ diets without additional costs.

Farming is our top priority, but for us, it’s important to give back to agriculture and our local community.”

Jimmy Tosh, Tosh Farms

“Feed is the largest cost in raising pigs. In West Tennessee, feed costs are even higher than in other parts of the country because we’re not in the corn belt,” Jonathan says. “Utilizing byproducts from human and pet food production allows us to reduce our cost of production. This contributes to economic sustainability for the business, and environmental sustainability by using byproducts that may otherwise end up in a landfill.”

The goal of the business is to always do better than the day before and raise crops and pork sustainably.

“We are ordinary people doing extraordinary things,” Jonathan says. “We are committed to raising safe and healthy pork for our communities and caring for our employees like they are part of the Tosh family.”

Making Bacon, Giving Back

Along with producing hogs and running successful businesses, Jimmy says it’s important to make a difference for others around you. Tosh Farms is a top sponsor of Tennessee FFA, Tennessee 4-H, Weakley County Schools agriculture program, Second Harvest Food Bank, Shooting Hunger and many more organizations. “I’ve been very fortunate in my career and feel like it’s my turn to contribute to the community,” he says.

His most recent goodwill project includes the HOPE Center Ministry in Paris, Tennessee. Tosh Farms recently donated a home and 20 acres to the program helping local men and women overcome drug or alcohol addiction. Some of the people who go through the program will even come work on Tosh Farms during their after-treatment care.

“Of course, farming is our top priority,” Jimmy says. “But for us, it’s important to give back to agriculture and our neighbors.” – Hannah Nave Lewis

The pigs at Tosh Farms eat a custom blend of feed produced in a feed mill on the farm using local crops.

About the Farm

TOSH FARMS

Tosh Farms, located in Henry, is currently the largest pork producer in the state and the 30th largest pork producer in the U.S. To learn more about the farm, visit toshfarms.net.

Henry

Grilled Pork Chops with Strawberry Chutney

Prep time: 1 hour Cooking time: 1 hour Makes: 4 servings

Ingredients

4 thick-cut boneless pork chops 2 cloves garlic, minced 1 tablespoon olive oil salt and pepper, to taste

Strawberry Chutney

4 cups fresh strawberries, sliced 1 red onion, chopped 1 cup sugar ½ cup cider vinegar ½ cup fresh mint, chopped 1 teaspoon salt

Instructions 1. Combine all chutney ingredients in a medium saucepan. Stir occasionally over medium-low heat until thick, about 30 minutes. Set aside to cool.

2. Preheat grill according to manufacturer’s instructions. Brush oil over pork chops on both sides. 3. Sprinkle garlic, salt and pepper over pork. Grill until no longer pink in the center, or a thermometer inserted into the center reads 145 degrees. Serve with chutney.

Make it

Simple marinade. Flavorful chops. SIZZLE.

Find your favorite marinade at pork.org/cooking