Road To Success
Enthusiasm. Evolvement. Eagerness. These words can be used to describe the personality and attitude of young and energetic individuals who are always ready and willing to wake up in the morning and hit the ground running in order to succeed in whatever they pursue. Those three words can also accurately describe two amazing people within the Texas Pork Producers Association. Whether it’s in their barns, at stock shows, a TPPA event, or the phone, as always it was a pleasure to sit down with Wayne and Leslie Harman to talk about their passions, pigs and the future plans for Harman Farms. The Harman family lives in Perryton, Texas, where they have raised competitive show pigs for the past 10 years in addition to farming wheat and milo. Their ties to the stock show industry run deeper than just raising and selling hogs. The Harman’s own and operate LH Enterprises LLC, which focuses on formulating and manufacturing innovative feed supplements for show animals. Wayne’s family has strong stakes in the hog industry, allowing Wayne to grow up in the business and cultivate a drive for it. In the 1950’s Wayne’s father, Wyatte Harman, Ph.D., purchased his first gilt through the Sears program and later worked as the swine herdsman while he attended Texas Tech University; and his uncle, Levon Harman, still raises Poland pigs today. Wayne and Leslie established Harman Farms in 2005, when they purchased four gilts with the goal of raising show projects for their two sons, Robb, now a 22-year-old at West Texas A&M and Reed, 19, who is currently a student at Texas Tech University. Over the years, Wayne and Leslie’s love for the show pig industry has grown by leaps and bounds, and in return so has their operation. Today, Harman Farms encompasses approximately 100 sows and 18 boars, with breeds including: Berkshires, Chesters, Polands, Crossbreds, plus the family’s favorite breeds, Spots and Durocs. They farrow the majority of their sows from July to the first of September, but also have litters in March and April, with a few December litters targeting World Pork Expo. When it comes to the running of Harman Farms, there is no doubt that these two are a perfect combination. Wayne and Leslie work endlessly, evaluating hogs, studying pedigrees and learning new techniques, ensuring they stay on top of their game and are as progressive breeders as they can be. This hardworking duo has learned how to work together to make Harman Farms a success. When asked how they make it all work, Wayne was quick to answer, “As you know, we are a team and that’s why we admire each other. Each of us plays to our strengths to make it work.” Leslie explained, “We work together and discuss all major decisions including marketing plans, breeding, farrowing plans, feed ration decisions as well as capital improvements. Lots of brain storming goes on here before a decision is made.”
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Focused on Success
It is safe to say that they have their routine down pat. Wayne takes the lead in not only caring for all of the weaned babies in the nursery and chip barns, but he works with their client base assisting them in purchasing, feeding and breeding decisions, along with collecting and selling semen on their boars and everyday maintenance. Leslie is in charge of farrowing and tending to the babies while they are in the crate, while maintaining the farm’s paperwork, finances, registering litters, and creating breeding and farrowing schedules. Furthermore, the ads, boar catalogs and website for Harman Farms is created solely by Leslie. It goes without saying that running this many sows and raising the quantity of show pigs that Harman Farms does, is a round-the-clock time commitment. While the constant to-do list may seem draining to some, to Wayne and Leslie it is just another day for them to wake up and spend the day doing what they love with each other. “The show pig operation had grown to a level that it was a full time job for both Wayne and myself,” explained Leslie. “We have really enjoyed seeing the benefits of our work, and that we can enjoy this together.” Prior to being an employee of the show pig industry, Leslie was a school teacher for 22 years, where she instructed junior high to college-age students in various science courses. Once she retired from teaching in a classroom, Leslie still continued teaching online college classes, but retired from that last year. A major reason why their system works so well is because both Wayne and Leslie genuinely love their roles within the operation. One of Leslie’s favorite parts of raising hogs is working with the sows and their litters. Wayne always looks forward to meeting other show pig enthusiasts, to discuss finding the pig that best fits their needs, and guiding them through the management and feeding process. Exploring new and different breeding combinations and seeing how the offspring turn out is another exciting part for this operation.
Barrow Champions
Based off their track record, the Harman’s are doing quite well at their jobs. Staying true to building structurally correct, well designed hogs that are square hipped and stay within themselves, has certainly resulted in a long list of accomplishments. A few of their career highlights include raising the Grand Champion Barrow at San Antonio in 2013 and watching Reed drive the Supreme Champion Gilt at the 2007 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. Within the Certified Texas Bred Registry program, the quality and consistency of their hogs has allowed Harman Farms to finish in the ‘Top 10 Breeders’ for the past five years. In the most recent years, they ended the stock show season ranking fifth in 2012 and third in 2013 and 2014. Even though they admit that hanging banners is a great feeling, the most satisfying part of their job is helping and seeing youth succeed. “The best part for us is working with a kid all season long to help them realize their goal, whether it’s having a breed champion or winning showmanship at their county, making the sale at a major or driving a class winner,” said Wayne. “It’s all about helping the kids realize their goals and seeing it finally “click”. We all get caught up in chasing the banners, but sometimes making the sale at a major is just as big of an accomplishment for a kid that has shown at majors his whole career and never made the sale.” Like any operation or business, success comes with challenges. The hurdles for this specific swine farm include implementing a stronger biosecurity plan, getting the right pig in the right feeder’s hands, and building an effective marketing platform. Currently Harman Farms host three on-the-farm sales each fall, which focuses on marketing their top end barrows for the spring majors. Existing and potential clients can stop by the farm any day to purchase gilts by private treaty. Wayne and Leslie are planning to sell their spring litters by private treaty as well. Additionally, last fall the farm participated in several online sales and were cosigners in the Ring of Success, Circle of Gold, Major League, Perfect Timing and Fall Classic sales. Obstacles they work to conquer is getting their name out to prospective buyers and expanding their clientele base. To build name recognition, Harman Farms is always looking for creative advertising trends and additional marketing channels.
Wayne and Leslie are quick to acknowledge that they did not get to where they are today on their own. “There have been several people who have been a big influence and helped us become successful breeders,” said Leslie. The two people who helped the Harman’s get started, and who were always there when problems occurred were Levon Harman and Randy and Scott Huseman. Another helping hand comes from JoBonney LeCompte. JoBonney is the agriculture education teacher in Perryton and has built one of the most successful swine programs in the state, with his kids always finishing in the top end at the majors. “His strong hog program sets a benchmark that our hogs have to meet,” explained Wayne. “This really forces us to continually evaluate and improve our show pigs and especially the sow herd, which is another difficulty Wayne points to. “Predicting future trends and having our sow herd in a position to be competitive as trends change can be tough. One of the hardest things for us is shipping productive females that lay down, farrow and do a great job of raising their pig, that don’t fit the trend anymore.” Stephens Farms has also played a role into the evolvement and success of Harman Farms. “We first saw the Stephens kids show in 2006 and we quickly realized that we needed to change our showing and training techniques here,” explained Wayne. “That allowed our kids to have success in the early years. We continued to watch and study their cutting edge marketing techniques, some of which we use today.” Mike Clay gave another piece of vital advice that the Harman’s still keep in mind. “One day we were talking with Mike about boars, selling semen and matching boars with sows,” said Wayne. “Mike said people have got to make a decision on whether they’re going to be a breeder or just a reproducer. That saying has always stuck with us; making us think about pedigrees, good traits and faults in the boar and sow, to think things through and work hard to build better pigs.”
Gilt Champions
Rain, shine or a blizzard Wayne, Leslie and Barkley love working and playing with their hogs!
A long and successful future is on the horizon for this family. Harman Farms plans to continue living and running their operation by the family’s motto: “Focused on Success” by raising highly competitive show pigs that are offered at a competitive price while maintaining honesty and integrity. Wayne and Leslie look forward to farrowing out countless more great litters and working with more amazing kids who share their passion. What Harman Farms strives for is more than banners, buckles and trophies; it’s to have a lasting and positive impact on young people they work with. They’ll tell you “there’s no better field than agriculture for that,” and I think everyone reading this would agree. “Youth involvement with show pigs can instill values, dedication and social skills. Ag is the basis of work ethics and people can also gain a better understanding of where their food comes from,” Leslie describes. She too points out that last point exactly is a problem our industry is facing right now. “A big challenge is representing the industry so that the 98 percent of people not involved in production agriculture know and understand our food production methods. Our job as agriculturalists is more than just raising livestock and growing crops; we also have to educate the general public and keep them in the loop on our way of life. We can’t let the activists be the major influence and prevent us from producing the food that the world needs.” In the short time I have been a part of TPPA, Wayne and Leslie have been a valuable part to the development of the association, and myself as its leader. Since becoming members in 2005, both of them instantly became advocates for the swine industry and have now jumped head first into our association’s activities. Wayne currently serves on the Certified Texas Bred Registry committee, while Leslie works on the Conference Planning and Youth Development & Education committees. Aside from their leadership responsibilities to TPPA, the Harman’s can always be counted on to listen, consider and brainstorm new ideas to keep our association growing, as well as pitch in whenever and wherever help is needed. Harman Farms sponsors the Reserve Supreme Champion trophy for the Stars of Texas gilt show at the San Angelo Stock Show. This summer their dedication to the Texas swine industry will be recognized at our annual conference, where they will be honored with this year’s “Producer of the Year” award. Wayne and Leslie are also active in the hog industry on a national level. Wayne serves on the board of the National Spot Swine Association, in addition to their memberships in the National Poland China Association, National Chester White Association and the National Duroc Association. Needless to say, TPPA is very grateful for the dedication, drive and determination Wayne and Leslie Harman have for the show pig industry and its youth.
Advice Taken, Now Offered... The power is in the sow so start with good females.
“Don’t raise more than you can sell.” Rory Duelm
Have a plan – where are you going to farrow, what age do they need to be, how will you sell them, do you have the money to do this (research costs) and can you lose that money if things don’t work out.
Have a goal!
Be realistic about working with livestock – sometimes it’s a success and sometimes it’s a failure. Don’t give up if it is something you really love – learn from your successes and failures and try it again next year.
It’s going to take lots of hard work and dedication.
Find a mentor who can help you!!!
Wayne and Leslie love spending time ouside gardening, hunting and enjoying beautiful West Texas sunsets!
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Wayne & Leslie Harman 12498 CR 16 Perryton, TX 79070 harman-farms.com
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Wayne: 806.202. 2175 harman.farms1@gmail.com Leslie: 806.202.2176 Laharman1@gmail.com