Sycamore in DeKalb County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

DeKalb Swine Breeders

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, July 9, 2023

1. DeKalb Swine Breeders Marker

Inscription. DeKalb Swine Breeders grew from the shared vision of two companies, Lubbock Swine Breeders Inc. (LSB) of Lubbock, Texas, and DeKalb AgResearch, Inc. (DeKalb) of DeKalb, Illinois, that synergistically combined to transform agriculture. LSB began developing its total confinement system for large-scale hog production in the early 1960s. The average inventory of a U.S. hog farm was only 50 hogs. LSB principals Euel Liner and Roy Poage developed a new, unique system of producing hogs in large numbers in total confinement. This innovative system carefully controlled all aspects of the rearing environment, from conception through maturity. Following its success in boosting yields through hybridization of corn, chickens, and sorghum, DeKalb embarked on hybridizing swine production in 1968. But it became apparent that controlling disease was critical to produce hogs in large numbers. DeKalb identified LSB as the nation’s leading producer of swine breeding stock, with its proprietary confinement system. DeKalb and LSB principals met in 1971, concluding there was clear business logic for a merger. In 1972, LSB and DeKalb merged their

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swine businesses into DeKalb Swine Breeders (DSB) with Roy Poage as president. Within 15 years, DSB, headquartered here, became a world leader in swine breeding. In the process DSB transformed the U.S. swine industry. By 2005, average inventory per farm increased 18-fold to 900 hogs, as swine producers adopted the total confinement techniques first developed by LSB, then refined and expanded by DSB.

Erected 2017 by DeKalb Area Agricultural Heritage Association • The Illinois State Historical Society.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Animals • Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the Illinois State Historical Society series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1972.

Location. 41° 57.874′ N, 88° 42.97′ W. Marker is in Sycamore, Illinois, in DeKalb County. It can be reached from Aberdeen Court 0.1 miles south of Bethany Road, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2045 Aberdeen Ct, Sycamore IL 60178, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Northern

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, July 9, 2023

2. DeKalb Swine Breeders Marker

Illinois.

It is also in the American Midwest

and in the Corn Belt.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Sherret S. Chase (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); DeKalb Ag (approx. 0.2 miles away); DeKalb Poultry Research, Inc. (approx. 0.6 miles away); DeKalb County Farm Bureau (approx. 0.6 miles away); Chicago and Northwestern Depot (approx. 2.1 miles away); DeKalb County Civil War Memorial (approx. 2.3 miles away); Sycamore Historic District (approx. 2.3 miles away); DeKalb County Vietnam Veterans Memorial (approx. 2.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Sycamore.

Regarding DeKalb Swine Breeders. DeKalb Swine Breeders no longer exists, its corporate identity disappearing amid a raft of mergers and acquisitions:
• 1999: DeKalb Swine Breeders is acquired by Monsato, which renames it Monsato Choice

DeKalb Swine Breeders Marker Left image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Matthew Stevens, August 30, 2026

3. DeKalb Swine Breeders Marker Left

Genetics.
• 2007: Monsanto Choice Genetics is bought by Newsham.
• 2008: Newsham is acquired by Groupe Grimaud.
• 2013: Groupe Grimaud and Pen Ar Lan join to create Choice Genetics (later shortened to Choice).

Also see . . . Roy Poage: The Grandfather of Modern Swine Production. After earning a geology degree, Poage and his father-in-law T. Euel Liner bought a 60-acre pig farm with plans to sell breeding gilts to commercial producers. (Jennifer Shike, Farm Journal's Pork, March 3, 2021) (Submitted on August 16, 2023, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

Nearby Justice Huskie Statue image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Matthew Stevens, August 30, 2026

4. Nearby Justice Huskie Statue

This huskie statue is located on the other side of the building entrance to the marker. On its back it features paintings of Swen Parson Hall (NIU campus building) and the DeKalb County Courthouse in Sycamore. It is a part of the Huskies on Parade project.

Credits. This page was last revised on September 4, 2026. It was originally submitted on August 16, 2023, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 1,373 times since then and 151 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 16, 2023, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. 3, 4. submitted on August 30, 2026, by Matthew Stevens of Washington, Illinois.