In Polo, Illinois, the Deuth family farm has been a fixture since 1902. Today, the farm hums with activity but what drives the operation is a deep love of livestock and a family legacy passed from generation to generation.
John Deuth, along with his sons, Daniel and Michael, carries on the family tradition of Deuth Farms. “My great-grandfather bought this farm in 1902,” John recalls. “He made it go, and that laid the foundation for the diversified livestock operation we have today. When I came back after college in the 1970s, that’s when we really got into the hog side of things.”
“We’re livestock people. My dad loves livestock, and he passed that along to us,” Dan says. John encouraged his sons to take their 4-H projects and turn them into something bigger. “That 4-H experience was huge. It helped us pay for college and taught us how to manage an enterprise, even at a young age,” Dan adds. “It gave us hands-on experience and a respect for the animals and the business side of farming.” That early encouragement paved the way for the fifth generation to consider farming as a profession.
After college, both Dan and Michael returned home with fresh ideas and energy. “A lot of the people we went to college with didn’t have the opportunity to come back and farm,” Dan says. “Our dad encouraged us to do that—and, more importantly, made sure there was a place here for us.” Coming home meant not only continuing the family legacy but modernizing and expanding it. Today, the brothers feed 55,000 pigs a year, partner on an additional 20,000, and manage a 140-head Angus cow/calf herd. Crops—including corn, soybeans, wheat, and alfalfa—support both the livestock and the business.
Refining the Operation
The shift to a wean-to-finish hog operation began as part of a broader effort to streamline and grow. “When Daniel and Michael wanted to come back to the farm, I needed to expand the hogs,” John recalls. “So, we bought some shares in a sow farm managed by Pipestone and converted our farrowing to nursery.” The change also simplified labor, improved herd health, and allowed the family to start looking more closely at their performance numbers. Before long, benchmarking gave them a clearer picture of how they stacked up. “The records were really important…we could benchmark ourselves against other farms,” John says. “When we started out, we were in the bottom row a lot, and we had to challenge ourselves to make changes—and we did.” Using FarmStats, the family can dig into their production records and see what’s driving performance in their barns. The program now gives them quicker access to their data and quarterly comparisons.
“With real-time data, we can see where we might need to cut back or identify opportunities to improve efficiency—and make adjustments immediately,” Michael explains. “Before, we might have waited until the end of the year to analyze results, which could delay implementing changes by 18 months. Now, the information flows much faster through the system. Within a week or two after marketing, we have updated data we can act on. It’s a huge difference—decisions that used to take months can now happen almost in real time.”
For the Deuths, data isn’t just numbers on a page—it’s clarity in the midst of chaos. Working with FarmBooks, the family uses accurate financial reports to turn uncertainty into actionable insight. “When you go to the bank and say, ‘Here’s my financials,’ they say, ‘These are the best financials we get from any Ag customer.’ Well, that’s pretty important if we need to build another hog building or grow the business,” Dan says.
When talking about the farm’s financial health, even their veterinarian plays a key role. “He’s more than just a veterinarian talking about herd health,” John says. “He’s very in tune with the business side of it, seeing when we can cut costs or improve performance. So, he’s a financial asset too.” By working closely on herd plans, diagnostics, and vaccinations, the family has been able to fine-tune protocols and catch issues earlier. “They’re looking at our numbers right along with us,” John adds. “Sometimes they catch things we don’t see yet, and that helps us make better decisions. It keeps the pigs healthier and the operation more efficient.”
Herd health has always been a major focus for the Deuths, and their long relationship with Pipestone Veterinary Services has been key. “Dr. Feuerbach has been with us since we got out of college, almost 20 years now,” Michael says. “He’s always pushing us and challenging us to do better. That kind of long-term relationship is huge for a farm our size.”
Growing the business takes more than just hard work—it requires someone to focus less on daily chores and be more available to focus on strategic planning and improving the operation. So, about three and a half years ago, the Deuths brought David, a member of FarmTeam, into the operation to help manage the growing workload. “My dad had some health problems, the operation was expanding, and we were strapped for labor,” Dan explains. David quickly settled in, taking on day-to-day chores and pig care responsibilities.
With David handling the nursery and routine hog care, Dan can step back from day-to-day tasks and concentrate on the bigger picture. It’s really freed me up to expand the operation and focus on areas where we can improve the business.”
Generations at Work
Looking back, the multigenerational connection runs deep for John. “It’s just neat. I remember working with my dad and grandpa, and I’ve been able to watch them do the same,” he says, nodding toward Daniel and Michael. “They’ve taken the farm to a whole new level—certainly more than I could have done on my own.” That confidence extends to the future. “I’m confident the farm is in good hands with Daniel and Michael. They seek out good advice, and I love seeing that. Most of the people we work with at Pipestone are down-to-earth, farm-minded people—people we enjoy doing business with.”
That love for livestock is woven through every generation. “We’re always kind of pig people,” Dan says with a smile. “Pigs are incredible animals. You see them grow and change so fast, and each one has a little personality. Plus, these sows are weaning 33 piglets per year. What other animal can do that?” Paired with a long-term mindset, that passion has guided the Deuths for decades. “If you want to pass the farm on to the next generation, you have to have a strong business,” Dan explains. “Pipestone has given us opportunities we wouldn’t have had otherwise—helping our operation grow and stay strong for the future.”
At the heart of it all is family. Their wives play an essential role, holding everything together so Dan, Michael, and John can focus on livestock and crops even during long, busy days. Farming for the Deuths has always been a shared effort, with each generation contributing and passing on a love for agriculture. From 1902 to today, the farm has grown five generations strong, with a sixth already learning the ropes. For the Deuths, the story of the farm isn’t just about pigs, technology, or production—it’s about building something together, supporting one another, and leaving a foundation that will endure for generations to come.
