Recognizing Our Knowledgeable Employees

posted on Monday, December 20, 2021

The final installment of stories featuring our awesome employees is all about knowledge. These employees are a testament to the intelligence and know-how farmers bring to everything they do. The fact that we received over 60 nominations about knowledgeable employees shows that we truly have the best and the brightest here at Iowa Select Farms.

For example, when describing Rodolfo, who works as a heat check and AI specialist at Sow 8, one of his co-workers said, “He is a co-worker who knows everything about the job. He is willing to help you when you need it, and also knows how to teach you anything related to his area.”

Sometimes being knowledgeable also looks like a drive to learn more about things you don’t know. Cody, an animal caretaker at Ochylski sow farm, is a great example of this habit.

“This is a guy that is dedicated to learning more. He has grown so much since I started,” said one of his co-workers. “He takes pride in being a heat checker and strives to improve his skills by taking the extra step to research the heat check process through the swine industry studies.”

Teresa who is the assistant farrowing department head at Erickson sow farm was nominated for a similar reason.

“Teresa is such a dedicated employee! She knows her sows so well, and I am so glad to get to work with her,” said one of her co-workers. “One instance that really stands out to me is when used her free time to look up potential ideas to improve a system for our sows. Her dedication and detailed nature are so appreciated!”

It’s clear our sow farm employees are knowledgeable when it comes to animal care and always working to learn more about ensuring the health of our pigs. However, this knowledge and pursuit of information isn’t just found on farms — it’s in our offices too. Eric, our IT senior field technician, was recognized by five different co-workers and each one mentioned the depth of knowledge he brings to everything he does.

“He is SO knowledgeable in his field, and yet he has a way of not making me feel like a complete idiot just because I may not know how to do something,” said one of his co-workers. “When I can’t figure out how to print something in the right layout or format, he will help me and not seem the least bit irritated. There was one time, I could only type in capital letters, and I didn’t know why, but he simply tapped a few keys on my keyboard, and everything was all better.”

eric sits at his computer

Another co-worker said, “At times, Eric is the only member of the IT department in Iowa Falls and navigates everything from setting up a new phone and computer to resolving printer and computer issues for the entire office.  His day may be busy, but he is always willing to take the time to help you out or provide you with the needed guidance.”

To all those like Eric, Teresa, Cody and Rodolfo who do their research, never stop learning and know everything about their pigs from snout to tail, thank you for bringing your knowledge to our company.

We’ve had a blast reading through the over 400 Awesome Box campaign nominations and learning about the things that make our employees rise above the rest. As we’ve seen, they are positive, even when the going gets tough and lend a helping hand to make sure others can reach their full potential. They are knowledgeable and genuinely care about the animals, people, environment and the communities around them. And they go above and beyond in everything they do and are dedicated to working hard day in and day out.

Thank you to all our employees that live out these traits every day. Your commitment to these inherently Iowan values is truly what makes our company and employees awesome.