Malcolm and Nick drive the business, emphasizing the utmost importance of all the people involved and developing relationships to run such a large and complex enterprise. “I work hard to stay relevant on key topics, but don’t worry too much about details as I have total trust in my team, having developed the relationships,” Malcolm says, joking “I don’t do chores anymore.” Yet chores are where the dreams started. An uncle had pigs and Malcolm started at a young age helping with the animals. “I fell in love with the pigs, and found I could impact and improve how they perform,” he says, adding “I never dreamed I could have this kind of career.”
The dreams continue to expand. By the end of 2025, the family-owned business will have seven sow farms in operation, meaning that they raise the baby pigs through weaning. Some are sold to other partners, while 330,000 go on feed in their own barns. “Last year, we weaned 560,000 pigs and next year will be on pace for 700,000,” Malcolm says. Pigs are also sold as breeding stock, and 260,000 are sold annually to processers like Indiana Packers, turning into delicious pork products.
Passion for both people and pigs led to involvement with Fair Oaks Farms, recognized as the top agritourism destination in the Midwest where visitors can explore how animals are raised and crops are grown while enjoying a variety of activities and tasty food.
“Mike McCloskey (Fair Oaks founder) and I live about a mile apart, and 14 years ago he called and asked if we would be willing to help expand the animal experience,” Malcolm says. The Dairy Adventure was in place, and with the Belstra Group’s help and leadership, the Pig Adventure came online. “We designed this to essentially be a museum on top of a pig barn,” Malcolm says. “We wanted people to be able to see clearly what goes on in a barn.” Today, between 75,000-85,000 people go through the Pig Adventure, including via live streaming. “The facility was built with the intent of being able to broadcast, and today a kid in a public school in New York City can essentially go nose-to-nose with a baby pig and ask questions,” Malcolm says. This type of education opens doors to consumer appreciation and understanding of where their food comes from.
Helping advance education is a passion on many fronts, as Malcolm is a Trustee for Purdue University. A Distinguished Ag Alumni honoree from Purdue’s College of Agriculture, Malcolm is finishing his ninth year as one of 10 Trustees that guide Purdue. He is the chair of the academic and student affairs committee of the Board of Trustees and is passionate about the Purdue experience for all 53,000 students in the system. “We trustees take this role seriously and work together on ideas and solutions. I never dreamed I would have this opportunity,” he says.
Malcolm also gives of his time to interact with Purdue students, speaking in cross cultural classes, sharing insight and mentoring students. As part of conversations, he helps to de-mystify farming, sharing the message that “big” is not bad. “We all go to McDonalds and expect the same fries every time, it is a standardized system,” he points out. “We want the same consistency in pig products, and our job is to bring consistency in a system. I actually think the term ‘factory farm’ is a pat on a back because that means you are saying we are bringing excellence all the time.”
The future of Belstra Group Farms is bright, with Nick sharing his father’s passion to continue their agricultural leadership. “I was a big dreamer when I was young and now have a son with that same dream,” Malcolm says, also being sure to point out how proud he and wife Donna are of their daughters Megan and Jenna who have successful careers and are also passionate about agriculture. They are also blessed with eight grandchildren.
Overall the success of the family-owned enterprise is its team of people. “We are thriving with each other and love each other, our success is only possible because of people and by the grace of God,” Malcolm says.