Johann Ertl was born and raised in Großhündlbach, but he has lived in the neighbouring town of Rappoltskirchen for a long time. He met and fell in love with his future wife Anneliese Hamburger at the office of the regional pig breeding association.
The two married in 1972 and soon their five children Irmgard (49), Angela (48), Johannes (46, who now runs the farm), Elisabeth (41) and Susanne (40) were born. Most of them are now married and live close to their parents, and six grandchildren are also part of the large Ertl family.