Our Story

Hello, we are Greg and Jess Pothast. We started Grassy Run in 2022. Why, you ask? Well, in 2019 we decided to raise some feeder pigs. Since then, we have raised pigs every year, with more and more people wanting to heritage purchase pork from us. We started the Grassy Run business to manage expenses and taxes. Along the way we found out a few things. We like pigs, raise quality pork, and some quality family time has been spent in, and around the barns.

Fast forward to now, we now have heritage feeder pigs, and our kids are in 4H, showing show pigs. This is an exciting time for us, as we are now offering show pigs. Pigs for show have a little different vibe than with feeder pigs. We won't get into the details here, but we are now breeding pigs for show.

Our two kids love pigs, and while they are not technically our "management staff", they help a lot, and have fun interacting with the pigs. Our pigs get fun interactions, sunshine, pets, water play on hot days, play-time balls, fresh water, and feed than is locally grown, ground, and sourced here in northwest Ohio.

Here at Grassy Run, we do a few things different.We are small scale, selling pork for personal and small business use. We responsibly use vaccines and medications when needed. We don't use any growth enhancers of any type. Our pigs can spend time outside and get sunshine and fresh air. Side note here, some pigs (we have a few) that love to play in the rain.We focus on lifestyle and product quality, rather than high efficiency and profit.

Greg grew up on a medium sized farm in Ohio. His family had dairy cows, pigs, grain and a tomato farm. He was raised working with the animals, and the responsibilities of providing care. He went to college, met his awesome-o wife, who happened to be Air Force Active Duty. He thought he could do this "love-thing" and traveled the country for his wife to fight bad guys, or help people fight bad guys, whatever. Eventually, she got out, we had kids, moved to Ohio, got some property, built a barn together and are raising some oinkers. Life is good.

What started out with our first pigs in the picture above, which then turned into continuous year, raising pigs for friends and family.

As a family we decided we need our own barn. Something small, something manageable, and something ours. While other people were seemingly frantic, losing their minds during covid, we constructured a pole barn. Yes, every concrete, screw, measurement, and cut. it tooks some time, but we got it done, and have been working in it for three years now. Frankly, our family bonded over this project! Go team!

There's a reason zoos have pigs. They are fun. Kids often enjoy hanging around pigs because pigs are friendly, curious animals that can be fun to watch and interact with. Many children are fascinated by the pigs' playful behavior, unique sounds, and muddy habits. Our pigs are approachable, used to pets, fed, and played with. Who doesn't like a good water play sesh!? Wait, are our kids closer to pigs than we think...maybe?