After serving in the US Civil War, Harmon Waldo moved to Lincoln, NE and established its first blacksmith shop in 1868. Harm moved to DeWitt in 1871 and was deeded a 26-acre farm in 1882. His youngest of four sons, also named Harmon, was born just a week after his death. Their mother died seven years later, leaving the four boys orphans. To survive on their farm on the edge of DeWitt, the Waldo boys operated horse, livery, dray and other businesses. 

In 1895, the brothers purchased their first Duroc sow. She farrowed 51 pigs and raised 36 in her first three litters. The Waldo family has been in the red pig business ever since. They have exhibited at the Nebraska State Fair every year since 1903. After 1910, brothers Cliff and Harmon each maintained separate Duroc herds. In 1934, Harmon’s son Willard graduated from the University of Nebraska. By 1937, Waldo Farms had built a very good reputation and a lot of good will, had not accumulated much. So, a goal was set to have the best Duroc herd in the world and to either make the business profitable, or quit farming.   

 
While working as a Vo-Ag instructor and County Extension Agent, Willard Waldo established his own Duroc herd using selected, Waldo-raised foundation stock. Willard strongly believed in using the principles of agricultural science to improve swine breeding stock. He put his beliefs into practice by being the first or one of the first to weigh pigs at birth, weaning and marketing time. He recorded the days required to reach market weight and also developed a simple, but effective ear notching system to identify each pig. 

In 1946, the Willard moved his family to the present farm, located two miles south of DeWitt. Waldo Durocs were tops in a 1948 University of Nebraska test comparing all breeds and crossbreds. In 1956, Waldo Farms was the first US herd to have an extension agent probe the entire herd for backfat and then use the results in a selection program designed to reduce carcass fat levels in the entire population. Over the years, Waldo Farms has established a tradition of using independent evaluators and industry-wide trials to measure the performance of Waldo Farms pigs.   
 

Willard and H.O. weighing pigs in 1947

Willard’s son Max graduated from University of Nebraska and became a full partner in 1960. Under Max’s leadership, an SPF herd was established and an intensive, whole-herd performance testing and selection program was started at that time. Expansion of the operation over the next four decades has been on-going in order to maintain a competitive edge in the swine industry. Since 1970, Waldo Farms has been home to the world’s oldest and largest performance-tested registered Duroc herd. Landrace and Yorkshire herds were added in 1976. Over the years, new genetic lines have been evaluated and some selected individual sires have been used to develop lines to meet the needs of a growing customer base. Since 1983, computer-based Estimated Breeding Values (EBVs) have been used to accelerate the genetic improvement of Waldo pigs. The latest pig health and genetics technologies continue to be incorporated into Waldo products.   

1895   

Waldo family starts Duroc business with a sow named Confidence `

1903 

Harmon (H.O.) Waldo Durocs first exhibited at Nebraska State Fair
• Nebraska State fair exhibitors [1903-2001]
• Championships at state and national shows [1903-2001] 

1909

W.F. Waldo and C.W. Buck Bred Sow Sale

1912

Willard Waldo starts feeding pigs 

1914   

First Annual Waldo Farms breeding stock sale 

1922   

First Waldo breeding stock sale in new on-farm pavilion

1934  

Willard graduates from U Nebraska College of Agriculture
• Worked as an ag instructor and county agent 

1937  

Expanded Duroc operation
Started keeping performance records   
• Developed ear notching system for 400+ litters
• Weighed pigs at birth and weaning
• Counted nipples and checked for underline quality
• Calculated days to reach market weight
• Checked barrows for meat quality 

1944

Waldo wins National Duroc Swine Registry Ton Litter Contest

1946 

Biggest boar ever in Nebraska — “Heavy Set” weighed 1400 lb
Moved to current farm location two miles south of DeWitt 

1948 

Waldo Durocs top U Nebraska tests comparing all breeds and crossbreds 

1951  

Waldo Durocs top Canadian government trials vs. other breeds and hybrids 

1952

Dr. Young of Hormel Institute develops HORSFALL pig rearing unit  
Hysterectomy procedure for SPF developed 

1955

#1 Nebraska Brucellosis-Lepto Validated Herd     
Dr. Young moves comes to U Nebraska to develop SPF concept 

1956    

Probed entire herd for backfat   
Established probing of all replacement stock — continuous to present   
Dr. Robert Meade started U Nebraska SPF research herd 

1959 

First caesarian-derived WALDO nucleus herd established 

1960 

Max Waldo graduates from U Nebraska and becomes full partner 
Held last public breeding stock sale   
Started SPF herd and sold stock privately to avoid disease spread
Nebraska SPF administers whole-herd performance testing program               
• 100% of young boars and gilts weighed and probed
• Herd closed to live outside breeding stock
• Replacements selected on index of gain and backfat

First Nebraska herd to use artificial insemination (A.I.) 

1974   

Landrace and Yorkshire Herds established  

1976

Largest Duroc recorder in the world [1976-present]
10,183 Durocs raised, named and recorded— an all-time record
Geneticist Dr. Rodger Johnson starts consulting for WALDO

1979

Duroc, Landrace and York herds certified HAL-1234 (stress gene) free
Started routine littermate carcass evaluations 

1981

#1 Nebraska Pseudorabies Qualified Herd 

1983 

WALDO implements Estimated Breeding Value selection program
• Nebraska SPF EBV Index 

1985 

Second caesarian-derived WALDO nucleus herd established
National Pork Board founded 

1988 

Phased out active exhibition and sales of stock to breeders 
Total focus on producing genetics for commercial producers

1989 

Segregated Early Weaning (SEW) program implemented

1992 

Implemented BLUP EBVs selection index
National Barrow Show (NBS) Champion Truckload
 • WALDO genetics dominate NBS for years
 • 24 NBS Super Sires 

1994 

Nebraska SPF starts real-time scanning of test pigs for backfat and loin
Waldo produced 15 Champs and Reserve Champs in 16 shows entered

1995

NPPC National Genetic Evaluation Program
• ADG and F/G superiority of WALDO Durocs confirmed
• High meat quality of WALDO Durocs documented 

1998

Started evaluation and testing of Nebraska High Ovulation Maternal Line. 

1999

Ranked #1 in NPPC Japanese Quality Test Program   

2000

National Swine Registry Summary Sire Summary
• WALDO leads in rate of genetic improvement
• Superior progeny proven sires listed in STAGES

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