Breeder Central
Luke McDonnell lives in New Castle, IN where he works as a Channel Seedsman and owns LM Ag Services. In addition, he also owns 50 sows jointly with two of his best friends, Ricky and Megan Rosenbaum in Omaha, Nebraska. They place projects currently with around 80 families across the US. Luke has two beautiful Girls, Johnie Anne 7 and Raynee 5.
One word that best describes how you work: Determined
Current Mobile Device: Anything that starts With an I
Current Computer: Mac Book
Current Camera: iPad And iPhone
First , tell us what you feel separates your business from other operations in the show pig business?
I still learn something new everyday. I refuse to discount one customer, regardless of what they buy and what there goal is, we strive to give them all the same attention. I love learning from the guys that know. A lot of times people get jealous of the who’s who. I am the opposite; I want to know how they got there and what road blocks they had to cross to get there. We don’t discriminate amongst breeds. Good livestock is good livestock.
What websites, apps or tools can’t you live without? Why?
As far as websites go, there is really only one I follow. Showpig.com. As far as why, that’s easy, It’s the one stop shop! As far as Apps, iMaps, Snap Chat and Facebook. I can’t live without iMaps and really have no desire to go without Snap Chat. I have some pretty funny friends that send pretty random stuff that makes me laugh. I love a good laugh.
How do you keep your to-list?
The people that know me best will laugh at this question. I generally have about 8 lists 6.5 of those are normally in my head and the others scattered between the warehouse, show barn and in one of the seats or dashboard of one of the trucks. I have a mental checklist that I keep really good track of, or so I think, until I find the ones that I wrote down. I then realize I need to condense my lists. Others in my life do a pretty good job of keeping some lists for me. Surround yourself with good people and good things happen!!!!!
Besides your phone and computer, what gadget can’t you live without and why?
As far as gadgets I love TV & Movies but I rarely get to see any. I love my XM Radio.
What do you listen to while you work?
Depends on what time of night or day it is. I keep some odd hours so whatever I feel like in the mornings or how late it gets at night determines what type, how loud, and what it might be. I honestly listen to absolutely everything. From CCR, either one, Elton John, Nora Jones, Matchbox 20 to T.I, Jayzee and Eminem. It’s a pretty big range!
What everyday thing are you better at than everyone else? What’s your secret?
I have never been better then anyone. I do my best, try to make it the best the first time and hope that I can help others do the same. I’ll do what I can and do it to the best of my ability and that’s all I have control over. I hope everyone is better then me at all they do. It will make me work harder to beat them.
What are you currently reading?
I’m not much of a reader, I have to drive too much. This time of the year, seed guides, boar catalogs, and Showpig.com pretty well covers it. I did, however, read Heaven Is For real and have seen the movie several times. If you haven’t seen it and you have kids or just need a recharge of faith, I strongly recommend. I get far more enjoyment these days having my girls read to me. Even though Raynee doesn’t actually read yet she can shift on the fly and that’s always more entertaining then anything I would find to read.
How do you recharge?
That’s a tough one. Since….I don’t know if I have stopped long enough to do that. I spend time with the people that make me happy. My girls, Kate, miscellaneous calls through the day from Ricky or occasional Snap Chats from the Millers or Megan and a few other ones that when I see them come up, its like Christmas and I can’t wait to see what it is. I don’t have to have much down time. It’s the little things that break the day that gives me time to catch my breath. Things like that during the day without a doubt give me a little shot in the arm. I love being in St. Louis and watching the Cardinals play, or being in Stillwater and seeing OSU play but that doesn’t happen often.
What is your favorite and least-favorite chore?
Anything someone tells me I have to do. This is horrible but I’m pretty hard headed and I like to do things at Luke’s pace and order. Those who know me best will get a smile out of that comment. It’s a bit of a standing joke amongst our friends. It all needs to get done no since in hating it. If you do then you need to find something else to do.
How long does it take you to picture, sort and write a description for ONLY one pig in an online sale?
Ricky does 95% of the pictures and I do the write ups. So as far as pictures take its better if we don’t do those together very often as we might have to have a herd dispersal. Sorting part is easy. They are either good enough or not. If we cant sell them in person we darn sure aren’t going take a picture of one to get him peddled off. As far as descriptions, it doesn’t take long. However, my fingers are slower then my brain so the proof reading portion that Katey does would take me forever.
Describe your ideal customer.
The ones that have a goal and its a family goal. Ones that ask questions and every time you are there, regardless of the pigs, you can tell they are trying. They do the things they ask about implement it and move forward. However, they don’t think to far outside the box. Lots of ideas float around on social media. Guess what, just because it’s on the internet doesn’t mean its true. Yes, I know this is a hard concept hard for many but if it seems way different, please ask first! We like families that have “Want TO” like we do. That makes it all easier. The ones that don’t complain when they get beat, they don’t get barn blind and get that in showing livestock we will lose more times then we win, but we have to do our best every time. Families will hit bad judges and have bad luck, its part of it. A wise man always told me, “This thing is a marathon not a sprint!!” (Kyle Stephens)
Fill in the blank: I’d love to see _________ answer these same questions. Lots of people fall in here. Some because they would be hilarious, others because I respect them and always want to learn. Others because, well I probably better stop there. Will Winter or Jay Winter would be my fill in the blank but if someone would type it out for him Dan Young. Heimer already went but I’m always interested in what he has to say.
What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?
Any advice someone is willing to give is the best advice you can receive. Mainly because they thought enough of you to stop and share.
I do have a couple however.
More of a saying then advice but my best Friend that we lost Nick Reimann would always say. “You gotta hit the ground running to stay ahead of these guys!” I think of that every morning when I start my day.
My Dad who past away last January suddenly would always tell me when I was in College. “Nothing Good ever happens in a bar past Midnight!” At the time that couldn’t have seemed farther from the truth. But Dad was right as usual.
People are always going to talk about you to take the pressure off their shortcomings and own issues.
If you try as hard at the work you need to do instead of figuring out how not to do it you will get a lot more done in the day.