Christensen Farms and Feedlots, one of the nation's largest hog producers, Wednesday named Glenn Stolt as its new chief executive officer.

Stolt succeeds company founder Robert Christensen, who died of a heart attack in November at age 51. Christensen started the firm after graduating from high school, growing it into a family-owned business with over $500 million in annual sales and about 1,200 employees.

Stolt, 46, joined Christensen Farms as its chief financial officer in 2010 and has been interim CEO since Christensen's death. Stolt previously spent 20 years in various senior positions at G & K Services and Toro.

He's a New Ulm native with undergraduate and graduate degrees respectively from Minnesota State in Mankato and the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul.

MIKE HUGHLETT