The Parks Companies began its journey in livestock marketing in 1976. Lawrence Parks, President of the Parks Companies, learned how to buy and sell livestock as a young boy from his grandfather, Lloyd Parks, and his father, Gary Parks, and has been doing so ever since. The guidance from Lawrence’s family inspired him to create his own swine marketing business. After establishing the business in his hometown of Oakwood, Illinois, he went on to purchase two additional locations in Illinois in 1987 and 1994 and then expanded to North Carolina in 1995 and westward to Iowa in 1998. After Iowa, it was very logical to continue the western growth plans with additional operations in Nebraska in 1999, two locations in Canada in 2000 and Minnesota in 2002.
The Parks Companies currently has 18 livestock marketing facilities operated by The Parks Companies located in the United States and Canada. The Parks Companies market all types of livestock, but specialize in swine marketing with a focus on cull sows, finishing culls, market hogs and feeder and weaner pigs. The Parks Companies also diversified itself through operations in livestock transportation, trailer wash facilities, roaster pig harvesting and swine finishing buildings.
Lawrence and his wife, DeAnna, have five children: Lawren, Hayden, Haylee, Marissa and McKenzie. Many of the kids currently have roles within the company. With their involvement, they represent the fourth generation to serve the livestock industry.
