Take It Easy (As You Can)

September 11, 2026

By Gretchen Westdal Centers

Farming has no easy outs. There are early mornings and late nights. There are commitments and sacrifices. There is bounty, legacy and a longstanding dedication to getting the job done right. Nuanced solutions meet complicated problems. 
 
Katie Holtz and her family understand this intimately. On a century farm in Templeton, Katie’s dad, Dave Klocke — a lifelong pork producer — saw a gap between what they were doing raising purebred swine breeding stock and the direction the industry was headed. In the early 90s, Klocke transitioned the operation from a smaller, corporate-contracted facility to a larger, fully self-owned pork business. 
 
During this transition, he noticed the lengthy breeding process was affecting litter viability. So, in 2013, Klocke was driven to find an easier way to ensure his animals thrived. From that problem, he developed a solution: the AI Saddle. 

Solutions Stem from Bucket Time

The AI Saddle is a hands-free breeding saddle for artificial insemination in sows. It’s a lightweight harness that works with the sow’s own physiological pace, rather than the farmer needing to intervene at times that don’t work for the sow. It reduces physical strain and stress and minimizes human interference. The farmer doesn’t need to stand behind the sow during the 5–10-minute process, which allows them to pay greater attention and focus on herd health. 
 
“We always joke that my dad doesn't have hobbies — he doesn't golf or ride motorcycles; he just loves farming and working with livestock,” laughs Katie. “If he hadn't been a farmer, he probably would have been an engineer because he loves creating things. When he sees a problem, he looks around to see what’s on the market first. If nothing exists, he spends what we call "bucket time" — sitting quietly on a bucket in the barn, observing how a sow moves, eats and operates.”
 
That bucket time, while not always easy to find in the hectic days of farming, has yielded additional innovations. Since inventing the AI Saddle, Klocke and his family have created Pig Easy, LLC. In addition to running their row-crop farm, PigEasy is focused on providing farmers with a comprehensive line of products that support pork production.  
 
“Improving efficiency on the farm is a huge component of PigEasy,” explains Katie. “It’s not about eliminating labor; it’s about freeing up animal caretakers so they can focus on what matters most: taking care of the livestock. Often, farm workers are so busy putting out fires that it's hard to slow down and focus on individual animal care. Our goal is to eliminate the tedious, repetitive tasks so caretakers can dedicate their time to animal welfare.”

Mealtime Simplified

Through their products, they aim to help farmers give everything they can to their animals in care and attention. The MealMeter feed dispenser is a prime example of how Klocke saw a problem and developed a solution. He was at a regional conference, and one of the sessions talked about how feed intake is critical for sows, especially during reproductive cycles, and for increasing their litter sizes. The brainstorming began, and after some bucket time, the MealMeter was born. 
 
For pork producers, the balance of feed intake requires nearly around-the-clock monitoring, and that is nearly impossible for any producer. The MealMeter is a simple device that gives pigs full control over when and how much they eat. Mounted directly onto standard feeding tubes, it acts as an on-demand dispenser that releases small amounts of fresh food only when a sow nudges it.
 
By letting sows eat on their own schedule rather than relying on strict human feeding times, the MealMeter ensures pigs get the vital nutrition they need during crucial stages — like nursing newborn piglets or recovering after weaning. Because food is only released when the pig actively wants to eat, fresh feed doesn't sit around getting dirty or spilled, dramatically cutting down on waste while ensuring every sow stays healthy and well-fed.
 
This dedication to efficiency and animal welfare propels the company forward. “Everything on our product line is something we use on our own farm and invented out of a direct need,” says Katie. “Over the last five years, our primary focus has been on the MealMeter feed dispenser and the new technology we’ve developed around it. Looking ahead, our goal is less about expanding the product catalog and more about refining our technology to help farm labor become more efficient, allowing caretakers to identify and assist sows that need help much faster.”

More Solutions, More Time 

Katie and the rest of the PigEasy team are passionate about supporting farmers and the vital work they do. Since it is a job that requires around-the-clock diligence and solutions that need to be tailored to each farm’s needs, PigEasy dedicates a good chunk of their time checking in and talking with farmers about how their work is going and the solutions they need to be successful. 
 
“Because we have clients across the country and Canada, I have the privilege of visiting many different farms,” says Katie. “Every farm I visit impresses me with how passionate the employees are about caring for their animals. Because pork production can feel isolating, it’s important to me that producers feel supported. Experiencing different farm systems also helps us refine our equipment designs so they integrate seamlessly into various operations.”
 
With the different PigEasy products they have available, all of which help create efficiencies, farmers are able to spend more time on the other tasks that fill up their days and the crucial elements that keep the farm open, like biosecurity. In her time visiting other farms throughout the country, Katie was struck by just how unique each operation but they all had the same strict adherence to keeping their animals safe and disease-free. She’s passionate about advocating for farmers and dispelling any misconceptions people have about animal welfare.  

“Because biosecurity is critical on sow farms, animals are housed indoors, and farms have strict ‘Stop’ signs to keep outside diseases away,” explains Katie. “Sometimes consumers misinterpret those biosecurity measures as hiding something bad, when in reality, it's strictly about keeping the animals safe and healthy.”

A Family Business

Like many family farms, everyone is involved in one way or another, and there is a shared goal to make their operation a success. Katie’s brother Ben runs the farm's day-to-day operations and coordinates manufacturing and shipping of PigEasy products. Her parents, Dave and Karen, are instrumental in all aspects of the business. Even her other brother Ross and sister Katie — both of whom are in medicine — still pitch in where they can. 
 
“My parents set a great example because they never forced us into anything,” Katie shares. “They let us develop our own talents. My older brother always wanted to farm, while my younger sister became a NICU nurse and my younger brother is a local family doctor. I loved the farm, but I wanted to handle PR and communications rather than drive a tractor.”
 
Katie and her brother take the same approach with their kids. 
 
“My brother’s son follows him around the farmyard and keeps his own garden — you can tell he has the farming bug,” she laughs. “My kids express interest here and there, but I want them to pursue whatever they are passionate about. Regardless of what career path they choose, growing up around a family business teaches problem-solving, responsibility and work ethic that sets them up for success as adults.”

Photos courtesy of Klocke Family Farms