Congratulations to Tom Boge for celebrating 25 years with Iowa Select Farms!
posted on Monday, April 6, 2020
Congratulations to Tom Boge for celebrating 25 years with Iowa Select Farms!
Like many of our tenured employees, Tom has quite literally worked his way through Iowa Select Farms’ production system. Since starting his career as an animal caretaker at Stockdale Sow 11, Tom has worked as a finishing manager, finishing supervisor, maintenance technician, senior finishing supervisor and even spent time as a construction supervisor.
“What I continue to love about my job is that no two days are the same,” he said. “Every week presents new challenges and obstacles to work through. I just roll with the punches, whatever they may be.”
A native of Manchester, Iowa, Tom came to central Iowa through way of Ellsworth Community College’s swine production program in Iowa Falls. Growing up on a farrow-to-finish pig farm, he knew he wanted to continue working in the industry full-time. Since then, he’s had a front seat to the industry. In his current role as a senior finishing supervisor, Tom works closely with 9 finishing managers and helps oversee the acre 675,000 pigs.
“We’ve made significant improvements on the biosecurity side of things, especially now that we’re in Beast Mode,” he chuckled. “We’ve gone from continuous flow to all in, all out. We never used to wash barns much to now washing and white washing in between groups. We’ve really stepped up our game when it comes to individual pig care and it shows in improved animal health and production.”
While making strides with his career, Tom was also on the front lines protecting the country. He is a retired Sgt. 1st Class, Platoon Sergeant, Company B, 1st Battalion, 133rd Infantry Regiment, part of Iowa National Guard’s 34th Infantry “Red Bulls” Division. Tom was deployed overseas four times to Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Iraq and Afghanistan. At one point in his 21-year career, he was deployed for 22 months. While he may not realize it, Tom’s military career and experience is on full display every day in the way he guides his team.
“I would say my style of leadership is lead from the front and selfless service,” he said. “I try to work right alongside my team, making it clear that we are equals. I wouldn’t ask them to do anything I wouldn’t do and I try to demonstrate that to them daily.”
In addition to the daily challenges, Tom’s favorite part of his job is the people he gets to work with and develop. “I’ve met a lot of good people over the years and most of what I know is from listening to those around me,” he said. “I try to share that with my supervisors and managers. If I can give them a little bit of my knowledge to make their lives easier and help them succeed, that’s what it’s all about for me.”
Outside of work, Tom enjoys spending time with his wife, Robi, and fishing with their two sons, Logan (13) and Caleb (11). As a family they’ve participated in several parades and look forward to annual trips to Adventureland and the Iowa State Fair with the company.
As far as the future is concerned for Tom, he jokes that he’ll continue to roll with the punches as long as the company will have him.
“It’s been the people that I’ve worked with and the challenge to be the best that has kept me here all of these years,” said Tom. “No matter what, there is always someone around to give you advice or lend a helping hand. I just hope to continue to be that person for my team.”
Congrats on 25 years, Tom! We’re so lucky to have an energizer bunny like you that keeps going and going and going on our team!
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