Why a Farmacist?

I grew up in the small East Texas town of Chandler. 

The connections to the rural culture and the land run deep here.  They indeliblely and permanently seep into your soul.
Most of my ancestors practiced some form of agriculture, though not always as a sole means of family support. My father and grandfather were both pharmacists in our little town. My sister took up the pharmacy profession, but I was pulled in another direction.  I was much more influenced by the minister at our local United Methodist Church than by my high school chemistry teacher. At age 16, that minister put me in the pulpit on the Sunday after Christmas. And I deliver the sermon that set me on a fifty year path as a preacher. 

Ministry has been a wonderful and purposeful season of my life.  In many ways it still is–I’ve just changed lanes–draw by the pull of the land and connected East Texas rural culture of my childhood. So, I’ve become a “Farmacist.”I have been asking myself, “How can I share this passion that seems so natural and purposeful?”  Perhaps this SowShare Program, based on old family land (Stillwater Farm)  in rural East Texas, is one way.

Growing More Than Pigs

Stillwater Farm is developing a profitable, regenerative farming operation centered on the raising of Iberico and Iberian Grazer pigs. This initiative integrates responsible land stewardship,humane animal husbandry, and premium food production to create a sustainable and economically viable agricultural model.  Partners who believe in this eco-healthy approach to farming and food production are sought to participate as investors in making Stillwater Farm a replicable agricultural venture.

Companion Animals

In addition to the pig operation, Stillwater Farm maintains a collection of companion and heritage animals—including donkeys, Texas Longhorn cattle, goats, andpoultry—primarily for educational, aesthetic, and personal enjoyment purposes. These animals contribute to the character and ecological diversity of the farm but are not primary revenue drivers. That’s Buck and the Parson - soil partners.

Why Iberico & Iberian Grazers   

Why did we choose the Spanish heritage breed–the Iberico?   pigs are a Spanish breed that is famous worldwide for its meat that makes for the world’s greatest prosciutto and is often referred to as the "Wagyu of Pork”.  The name comes from its unique fat that is rich in oleic acid that is also primarily found in heart-healthy olive oil.  To say the lard of this pig is heart-healthy is not an overstatement, it is the truth.  No other animal has the same oleic rich fat as does this pig.  The fat renders white and creamy and enhances the flavor of anything it accompanies incooking.  The finest chefs in the world know these qualities as well as the deep redness of the meat and the rich flavor.

The Iberian Grazer breed was established with its Iberico base to maintain the beneficial genetics while leaning into the heterosis, which improves the litter sizes, time of development and muscle especially beneficial in the hams and shoulders.  The Meishan has similar taste characteristics to Iberico and is known for large litters.  Berkshire and Red Wattle pigs are known for their muscle composition and the flavor of the pork. This is a truly new Americano Breed with a Spanish heritage that gives this hybrid pig the diversity and vigor destined to make it an American pig breed masterpiece. 

Why Sowshares?

Modern agriculture faces increasing challenges—economic pressures, industrial consolidation, environmental strain, and cultural disconnection from food systems. These forces have contributed to the fragmentation of relationships between land, farmer, animal, and consumer. Stillwater Farm believes a new model is required—one that restores connection, shared responsibility, and transparency in food production. This program represents this new paradigm.  It creates a partnership model in which individuals participate directly in regenerative agriculture, sharing both in its yield and its values. This distributed ownership approach allows for broader participation while maintaining the operational integrity, scale, and stewardship of a professionally managed farm.

The Stillwater Farm Sowshare Program

A Sowshare is a co-ownership investment in a breeding sow at Stillwater Farm.  Each sow is identified by name and number, representing a tangible agricultural asset within a regenerative farm system.  The offspring of the sow is numbered and records kept on weight gain, health treatments, feeding regimen and pasture location in a farm records application called Farmkeep.

Investment Structure

  • Investment Amount: One-time payment of $6,000

  • Term: 3 years

  • Ownership Model: Co-ownership between the Sowshare Partner and Stillwater Farm

Stillwater Farm retains full responsibility for:

  • Animal care and husbandry

  • Feed and veterinary costs

  • Breeding management

  • Pasture rotation and environmental stewardship

Sowshare Partner Benefits

Annual Pork Allocation

Each year, the Sowshare Partner receives:

  • One finished pig (≥250 lbs. live weight) selected by the farm in collaboration with the partner

  • Approximate yield: 140 lbs. of premium Iberico pork

Estimated value: $10/lb. retail equivalent = $1,400 value annually

Note: Processing costs are the responsibility of the Sowshare Partner.

Litter Revenue Participation

Sowshare Partners receive:

One-third (⅓) of the net proceeds from the sale of their sow’s offspring.  Each sale of a sow’s piglets is recorded in Farmkeep and payout happens twice annually.                                                  

Example Scenario:

  • Litter yields 8 saleable pigs

  • Total sales: $4,500

  • Partner share: $1,500

Projected Return

Over a three-year period, a typical Sowshare may yield: Pork value: ~$4,200 (over 3 years)

Cash distributions: ~$4,500 (example-based) 

Estimated blended return:  Approx. $2,700 net gain (over 3 years in pork and cash.)Returns will vary based on litter size, market conditions, and operational outcomes.

Intangible Returns

  • Regenerative land stewardship

  • Humane animal husbandry

  • Production of nutrient-dense, premium food

  • A transparent and values-based food system

  • The growth and development of Stillwater Farm (a 6th            

            generation Copeland family farm)

Program Lifecycle & Reinvestment

  • Sows enter breeding at approximately 2 years of age

  • Sows are retired from the Sowshare program after 3 years of participation

  • Sows are typically not bred beyond 5 years of age in our program

  • Most sows produce two litters annually

At the end of the 3-year term, partners may:

  • Reinvest in a new Sowshare

  • Exit the program

Herd Integrity & Management

All pigs within the Sowshare program are managed under a unified system:

  • Controlled genetics program

  • Rotational grazing practices

  • Standardized feeding protocols

  • Consistent animal welfare standards 

All of this ensures quality, traceability, and long-term sustainability.

Feeding & Nutrition

Pigs are not ruminants and require a balanced feeding approach:  

  • Pasture-based nutrition (grass, clover, roots, bugs, worms, forage)

  • Supplemental feed including:

    • ~16% protein (soy-based)

    • Corn for carbohydrates

    • Essential minerals

    • Amino acids (including lysine) 

All operational costs—including feed, labor, breeding, and care—are borne by Stillwater Farm.

Risk Mitigation

In the unlikely event of sow loss or reproductive failure during the investment term:

  • A replacement sow will be assigned to the Sowshare Partner

  • Program continuity will be maintained