The Pig Adventure at Fair Oaks Farm has been received certification through the American Humane Certified program for meeting rigorous farm animal welfare standards for the daily operations on the farm.

Jon Hoek, vice president of pork production, calls the achievement a historic event for the pork industry. He says “It confirms by a third party humane organization that 21st Century pig farming and humane treatment of animals is a fact in American Agriculture.”

Dr. Robin Ganzert, president and chief executive officer of American Humane Association, presented the plaque to Hoek and his team

at ceremony held at Fair Oaks Farm in Indiana.  She notes “This is the first time American Humane is certifying an agricultural education center dedicated to showing consumers how their food is raised in modern production systems.”

Ganzert further explains, “In achieving this certification, Fair Oaks Farms demonstrates its ethics-driven commitment to transparent and demonstrably excellent farm animal welfare standards. We applaud The Pig Adventure at Fair Oaks Farms for voluntarily stepping forward to undergo rigorous auditing to earn the American Humane Certified seal of approval.”

The Pig Adventure is joint effort between Fair Oaks Farm and Belstra Milling Co., design to educate the public about pork production by showcasing the daily operations of real pig farming through an interactive viewing area. Belstra Milling made the investment to build the facility and manage the pork production at Legacy Farm.

American Humane Association created the first welfare certification program in the United States to ensure the humane treatment of farm animals. The program provides third-party, independent verification that certified producers’ care and handling of farm animals meet the science-based animal welfare standards of American Humane Association.