DUSTIN COLEMAN: HE CAME FOR THE JOB, HE STAYED FOR THE BIGGEST VALUE
Pork producer Dustin Coleman wasn’t raised on a farm, but he represents the pork industry well as a member of Missouri Farmers Care’s 2026 Race to the Plate Farm Team, an advocacy partnership with the St. Louis Cardinals made possible by Missouri Pork and partners across Missouri agriculture. Dustin owns Coleman Quality Pork near Middletown in Agri-Ready Designated Pike County. He now has 15 years of industry experience and believes the biggest value in the pork business is relationships.
Dustin, his wife Holly, their son Grayden, and daughter Brylee enjoyed Race to the Plate together. From photo shoots to farm visits from Fred Bird, one memory stands out for Dustin.
The Value of Race to the Plate
“Throwing out the first pitch in Busch Stadium was a cool experience for this baseball fan! I’m glad our family was there together,” Dustin remembers. “The Race to the Plate represents relationships. The Fishers and many other industry colleagues came to the first-pitch game to support us. Because of the videos we made about pork, members of our community reached out to connect. The conversations I had with the other farmers in the campaign started new relationships. We connected with consumers that saw a farmer’s face and began to understand how much we care for our product.”
The Value for Families
In 2011, Dustin was a furloughed welder. He and Holly were preparing to welcome their daughter. Dustin’s relationship with the owners and employees at Fisher Hog Farms earned him a job on the farm. When Dustin’s welding job called for him to return, he paused.
“I was raised by my grandparents. My grandpa was my biggest mentor. He passed when I was young and I didn’t have anyone to teach me things. It was really important to me for my kids to be raised by their mom and dad. I was commuting 15 minutes from home and didn’t have to worry about money,” Dustin began.
“I was really enjoying what I was doing. I was less stressed. It was rewarding to work every day for a family that treated me respectfully. I couldn’t trade in the value of the relationships with a small crew that was like family. The atmosphere of the job at Fisher’s meant happiness and flexibility for me,” Dustin shares.
Dustin purchased Fisher Hog Farms in 2021.
Producing Value
Today, Coleman Quality Pork is a breed to wean farm. They breed sows, birth litters of piglets, and oversee the health and growth of piglets until they are ready to leave their mothers and the farm. Dustin’s business is independent; he oversees contracts to deliver 1,500 weaned pigs each week to other family farms.
“Relationships: that’s the whole business motto. This farm has been selling pigs to one customer for at least 15 years. That’s a valuable relationship,” Dustin says. “Being humane and patient is important to us.”
Creating Value Through Ownership
“I was once an employee that didn’t know the difference between a gilt and a boar so I’m not afraid to interview a potential employee that has never been around a pig. I am thankful for my journey in the pork industry and I am willing to help a new employee start that journey,” Dustin says.
“My role as an owner is to have open ears for the ideas of my employees and learn to delegate. I still need to meet colleagues in the pork industry and learn from them. I am blessed with a crew of 9 on the farm. I have no worries that the farm is in good hands with them.”
More About the Coleman Family
“My favorite part of the business is loading out weaned pigs. Not just because that’s how we get paid, but because that’s where I see my quality, finished product moving to the next step in the process,” Dustin shares.
The Coleman family donates their time to support a Christian women’s shelter in their local community. Each spring, they donate hogs to local 4-H programs. Dustin represents his fellow pork producers by serving on the board of Missouri Pork, a partner of Missouri Farmers Care.
What is the Race to the Plate Farm Team?
The Farm Team is an advocacy partnership between the St. Louis Cardinals and Missouri Farmers Care. The Farm Team meets baseball fans to connect them with agriculture through radio, print, farmers in the stadium, videos, and social media content. Meet the Farm Team at https://mofarmerscare.com/cardinals/
Race to the Plate Partners
Missouri Farmers Care’s 2026 Race to the Plate was brought to you by Missouri Beef Industry Council, Missouri Corn, Midwest Dairy, Missouri Farm Bureau, Missouri Pork Association, and MFA, Inc.
Info: Agriculture, including food, feed and forestry, contributes $131.8 million in value-added products, over 2,400 jobs, and adds $149.5 millionto household incomes in Agri-Ready Designated Pike County according to the 2021 Missouri Economic Contribution of Agriculture and Forestry Study.
What is Agri-Ready County Designation?
Agri-Ready County Designation is a voluntary program that recognizes counties committed to supporting and growing their agricultural industry. To qualify, a county must agree to support agricultural stewardship, growth, and economic interests. The designation helps counties promote themselves as agricultural hubs, attracting and supporting agribusiness. More information can be found at https://mofarmerscare.com/agri-ready-county-designation/.
As of January 2026, 82 Missouri counties have been designated Agri-Ready.
IWhat is Missouri Farmers Care?
Missouri Farmers Care unites the state’s agricultural community to support the men and women who provide the food and jobs that sustain Missouri. With the partnership of the Missouri Cattlemen’s Association and 45 other member organizations, MFC works to ensure all Missourians understand the truth about modern agriculture, food production, and the farm families behind it. https://mofarmerscare.com/