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SLEEPY EYE -- The Minnesota State Fair and State Fair Foundation honored a swine industry by officially naming the fair's swine barn the Robert A. Christensen Pavilion last week.
Recognizing the critical role that an improved and updated swine facility at the State Fair would play in advancing the swine industry, Christensen Farms recently made the lead gift to the State Fair Foundation's Swine Barn Improvement Project to honor the legacy of the late Bob Christensen.
Considered a visionary master of the swine industry, Christensen was an early adopter of technology to improve biosecurity and herd health, contract production arrangements, artificial insemination and genetic advancements.
Christensen built one of the largest hog production companies in the United States and one of the largest family-owned hog production companies in the world.
"The State Fair's historic swine barn has played a huge role in advancing the swine industry," said State Fair General Manager Jerry Hammer. "Generations of 4-H, FFA and open class exhibitors have shown their very best while joining with industry leaders to educate millions of fair visitors. We are grateful for Christensen Farms' continued partnership and dedication to the education and exhibition tradition at the swine barn.
"We are extremely honored to have the opportunity to make the lead gift to the Swine Barn Improvement Project in tribute to the late Bob Christensen and the Christensen family," said Christensen Farms CEO Glenn Stolt. "The Swine Barn will be renamed the Robert A. Christensen Pavilion in the family's honor, to help build on the legacy for generations to come, and ultimately demonstrate and re-emphasize the importance of Minnesota agriculture and its role in producing safe, nutritional and affordable food."
The State Fair Foundation will continue to raise funds to purchase and install new lighting int he remaining half of the building, buy new show rings and expanded bleacher seating, create wider livestock entrances, improve lighting and ventilation, repair the brick exterior and update the sound system, technology equipment and fire escape.
Over the last three years, the Minnesota State Fair invested in improvements in the swine facility that was built more than 80 years ago. Improvements included improve air quality, sanitation and ventilation, new wash racks outside to aid biosecurity, installed new windows and garage doors on the east side of the barn, replaced decades-old pens with moveable, easy-to-sanitize stalls in half the building and bought two new livestock scales.
For more information, visit https://www.christensenfarms.com/ and msffoundation.org.