Maintenance Team Tackling Training and Special Projects | |
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We’re spotlighting our maintenance team as they continue to raise the bar by balancing significant projects and a new training schedule while focusing on efficiently and effectively closing out tickets submitted by the farm teams.
Our maintenance team operates at a high capacity today, with 51 technicians consistently closing out over 1,400 monthly tickets. They are making good improvements in efficiency, consistently achieving a 15% month-over-month increase in completed jobs.
But it’s not just about speed. "It's about doing the job properly so it’s not reopened and keeps the farm operating as it should," says Dan Childs, Director of Maintenance.
The team stays focused on performance metrics, which helps ensure quality workmanship, efficiency and biosecurity. Each month, they review and measure data points that capture thorough task completion and site cleanup, maintenance truck biosecurity inspection pass/fail rates, distance to the job site, and time spent on a farm.
“We’ve reduced our travel time by 17% through better planning and coordination, which means our technicians are at the farms helping support our people and pigs, and less time behind the wheel.”
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Investing in People through Training and Certification
This summer, the maintenance leadership team set up hands-on training stations in Iowa Falls, Afton, and Rockwell City, where they conducted focused sessions on plumbing, electrical, welding and hydro cleaning.
Last week, the sow maintenance team gathered for specialized cool cell training. Future sessions are planned for electrical motor training, Hercules training, and heater maintenance.
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Technicians Concurrently Tackle Major Projects
The maintenance team is also completing projects in addition to the day-to-day ticket workload. These include replacing cool cell pads, installing windbreaks at sow farms, and supporting depop/repop efforts—all critical efforts to strengthen the farm’s structural ability to keep disease out.
Additional biosecurity initiatives include completing a comprehensive 15-point walkthrough checklist at the sow farms. This checklist ensures that essential tools and systems—such as bait boxes, functional heaters in D&D rooms, stainless steel sinks, working drains, and more—are in place to support the effective implementation of biosecurity processes.
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In Case You Missed It (ICYMI) | |
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Top Notch Tactics Training 5 Released
The fifth edition of Top-Notch Tactics (TNT) is now available on Tools.
This training is required for anyone who regularly interacts with pigs to continue promoting top-notch pig care 24/7/365. As we have discussed in previous TNTs, you are the host and the foundation of animal care. We know that through good animal care, we can achieve our #ONEMOREPIG goals!
The online series is posted on Tools via the Training Icon on your homepage. After reviewing the training, please complete the verification form. TNT can be completed individually or in groups. The deadline to complete the fifth TNT is Friday, August 30th.
English PDF
Spanish PDF
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Iowa State Fair Family Days a Success
Thanks to all employees who made it to the Iowa State Fair! Special thanks to the entire human resources team for overseeing the registration process and the farm managers and supervisors who helped with the scheduling and ticket distribution.
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Thank you, Pork Tent Volunteers!
A big thanks to the employees who helped staff a volunteer shift at the Iowa Pork Tent. Volunteers grilled chops, flipped burgers, filled meal orders, pulled trash and wiped tables - all while welcoming thousands of fairgoers to the Iowa Pork Tent. Funds raised from sales at the Iowa Pork Tent are put towards public affairs, government relations and advocacy for the Iowa pork industry.
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Q2 SelectPride Sow Results
- Thayer Sow 029
- Thorsen Sow 024
- Sows 112
- Sows 116
- Kielsmeier Sow 012
- Peterson Sow 006
- Hooper Sow 044
- Fonken Sow 026
- Stockdale Sow 011
- Ringgold Sow 028
Most Improved Greenfield Sow 010
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Deb and Jeff Hansen Foundation Thanks Veterans
During the recent Iowa State Fair, the Deb and Jeff Hansen Foundation thanked the veterans who participated in the Iowa State Fair Veterans Parade, organized by the Iowa Department of Veterans Affairs.
In the parking lot, "My Veteran Hero" totes were handed out to veterans waiting for the parade to start. These totes contained state fair essentials such as water, sunscreen, a breakfast sandwich and hand sanitizer.
Also included was a handout promoting the My Veteran Hero Program. You can nominate an Iowa veteran any time using this form—we’d love to fulfill nominations from you for any friend, neighbor or family member who has served our country. Please nominate!
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May 8% Club Announced
The 8% Club recognizes managers and caretakers who achieved a mortality rate of 8% or lower. Congratulations to the following farms on earning a spot on the May 8% Club roster!
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F680 Fairfax
F503 Jackson
F015 Wininger
F270 Lansink
F832 Sievers
F934 Forest
F163 Luce
F939 Irish
F814 Heritage-5
F831 Albert
F512 Poland
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F895 Robinson
F624 Plover East
F504 Hajen
F271 Weir
F655 Adaza
F205 Coon Valley
F225 Halverson West
F250 Roose South
F253 Pralle 2
F418 Manilla
F797 Raven
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Words of Thanks
Jeremiah Hall, Director of Multiplication and Gilt Development, gives his team a shout out for decrease in weekly multiplication farm mortality, which dipped down to a .25%. This is a result of increased focus on individual animal care and separating the flows.
Do you want to give thanks to someone in the Weekly Update? Please send it to Abby Fausch at afausch@iowaselect.com.
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Joke of the Week
What do you call a pig that does silly things to get attention?
A Hamster!
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This Week's Years of Service
Check out all of the employees below celebrating their work anniversaries this week and last week. If you see these folks out and about, be sure to congratulate them!
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23 Years
Clint Whittington, GDU Manager
13 Years
Brett Spicer, Animal Caretaker Multiplication 542 Three Fires
7 Years
Eric Risley, Sow Farm Manager Sow 012 Kielsmeier
6 Years
Bob Sobotka, Animal Caretaker Multiplication 042 Kerrigan
Trent Myers, Sr. Wean-to-Market Supervisor
3 Years
Julisa Sanchez, Assistant Farrowing Department Head Sow 002 Rout
Jerry Luhring, Employee Transport Driver
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2 Years
Troy Weber, Nutrient Service Manager
Jackie Carter, Warehouse Assistant
Kourtney Nachazel, Supply Delivery Driver
1 Year
Jose Campos Garcia, Animal Breeder Sow 006 Peterson
Miguel Moctezuma Villar, Animal Breeder Sow 019 Union Union County
Julisa Madai Ramirez Perez, Animal Breeder Sow 021 Davis Sow
Miguel Ble Romero, Animal Breeder Sow 044 Hooper
Monica Perez Flores, Animal Breeder Sow 021 Davis Sow
Yin Gomez Demeza, Animal Breeder Sow 044 Hooper
Ingrid Solis Salmeron, Newborn Pig Specialist Sow 020 Clarke
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Internal Job Openings
Looking for a new role within Iowa Select Farms? Check out what you may have missed last week. To see a list of our current and new job openings and information on applying, click here or contact Human Resources at 641-648-4479.
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On-Call Maintenance Schedule
Stay up-to-date with the on-call maintenance schedule and never lose track of its location. This schedule can be found here, and it will continually be updated in real-time.
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