South Dakota Ag Connection - Codington Co. Producer Earns Pork All-American Award

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Codington Co. Producer Earns Pork All-American Award
South Dakota Ag Connection - 02/13/2018

Charles Rossow of Florence was honored by the South Dakota Pork Producers Council (SDPPC) with the 2017 Pork All-American Award at the Master Pork Producers Banquet during its 49th Annual Pork Congress in Sioux Falls.

Through the Pork All-American award, the South Dakota Pork Producers Council acknowledges pork producers or industry members who have established themselves as dedicated, involved business people and leaders in their communities.

Charles started farming in 1973 at the age of 15 with his mother, after his father passed away. She had sold the pigs off, but his love for them stayed. In 1978, he purchased 4 purebred Yorkshire gilts and started a farrow to finish operation. Later on, he switched to a 60-head sow farrow-feeders in 1990. In 2010, he moved into a farrow-show pig avenue to have a quality and reasonably priced pigs in his area. He chose to do this to keep youth involved in the swine industry as there is not many operations in this area of the state(.or,) Using AI now to vary the different breeds and multis. Rossow is also PQA certified.

As well with the pigs, he has a 720-acre wheat, corn and soybean operation along with cow/calf heard.

Charles keeps busy in the community by serving as President of the local Codington, Clark, Hamlin county pork producers group. He does many grilling's on a local, state and out of state for promotions.

Charles has stayed very active by serving on the Personnel committee, Membership and Association Services committee, Budget committee which he chaired for 5 years when he was on the Executive Board of the SDPPC. He is currently on the Annual Meeting and Trade Show committee. He ran the Watertown Farm Show Bred Gilt Show and sale and did 2-day grilling's of pork at the Watertown Winter Farm Show and served in the 4-H food booth.

Charles worked with local 4-showmanship ag in Codington County local achievement days and all-around showmanship. Served on the South Dakota 4-H trust fund committee as a pork representative. He also serves as a board member on a Farm Mutual Insurance Company, presently chairman. Served on the Codington County Planning and Zoning board and has been on the township board for 39 years. He was also awarded the Outstanding Farmer award by the Jaycees.

Charles and his wife Marcy have 2 sons. Bradley, who is a truck mechanic, and his wife Nicolle have 3 kids; Karson, Kaiden and Kamryn. Their other son Andy is a welding instructor at Lake Area Vo-tech in Watertown. Charles is looking forward to seeing and helping his grandkids showing pigs and helping old grandpa out in the future on the 100 years plus, 4 generation farm.

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