Archie Kunz has six years of experience with hoops and has used all types of bedding. The style he uses has a concrete pad in the front, with beds in the back and a metal door. He said he thinks pigs are happy in hoops.

Don Lewis built his first hoop in 1992 after seeing an article in a farm show magazine. He made several mistakes: 1) he built too close behind the structure, and 2) the split wall down the middle made bedding difficult. "Hoops need to be user-friendly. You need to make it work in all conditions."

Don Struthers said his decision to build hoops included his sons and other partners. They first considered hoops for hay storage. They felt they could succeed with hoops if the Rhodes research farm was successful.