Good Eggs

Every month, the management team nominates a team member who goes above and beyond for the prestigious “Good Egg” award.

November 2024 Good Egg of the Month

Adrian Armenta, Flock Service, Green Meadow Organics

Congratulations to November’s Good Egg winner, Adrian Armenta! Adrian is a member of the Flock Service team at Green Meadow Organics and has been working at Herbruck’s for almost 1 year!

A day on the job at Herbruck’s for Adrian includes house maintenance, checking for mortality and ensuring the house is neat and organized. He also completes calendar work, checks feed and water and reports any bird or equipment issues within the house. To be successful in this position, it is important to be responsible and pay attention to details. You must follow the rules, listen to your supervisor and not be afraid to ask questions. His favorite part of working at Herbruck’s is checking to make sure the birds are taken care of and in good health.

When he is not at work, Adrian enjoys traveling, watching movies and playing video games. He plans to travel to Mexico to see his family this winter! Thank you, Adrian, for all of your hard work and service!

November 2024 Good Egg of the Month

Donna Spaans, QA Technician, Main Farm

Congratulations to November’s other Good Egg winner, Donna Spaans! Donna is a Quality Assurance Technician at Main Farm and has been working at Herbruck’s for almost 7 years!

A typical day at Herbruck’s for Adrian includes checking the wash water for the correct temperature and pH levels and monitoring glass and brittle plastics, water hardness, and cooler refrigeration temperatures. Donna also checks the inline and offline eggs as well as product coming off the grader for accuracy of dates and specialty egg integrity. She analyzes product samples to check for egg deficiencies and ensure the product we are putting out is the highest quality.

To be successful in this position, it is important to work fast and have mental flexibility, integrity and time management skills. There is a lot of “behind the scenes” work that QA Technicians do! Her favorite part of working at Herbruck’s is her helpful coworkers who work well as a team!

When she is not at work, Donna enjoys hanging out with her 3 children and the family dog. Her kids are very active in sports and keep her busy with regular games and practices. Thank you, Donna, for all of your hard work and service!

October 2024 Good Egg of the Month

Anna Antonino, Flock Service, Main Farm Production

Congratulations to October’s other Good Egg winner, Anna Antonino! Anna works in Flock Service at Main Farm Production and has been with Herbruck’s for 1 year!

A “typical” day for Anna starts by having a team meeting with her supervisors and doing stretching exercises before beginning the day of work. Throughout the day, she checks water, feed and most importantly monitors the well-being of our hens during the day. Anna’s favorite part about work is caring for the birds and seeing all the many different eggs we produce at Herbruck’s. In order to succeed in this position, Anna knows that it is important to be a team player, have good attendance and truly understand the value of the work because the bird’s wellbeing is very important.

Outside of work, Anna loves to watch movies, cook food and go to Starbucks. She also enjoys building Lego models! She is planning on going back to Vienna to visit her family soon and would also like to visit Switzerland someday. Thank you, Anna, for your hard work and service!

October 2024 Good Egg of the Month

Kevin Rowley, Feed Truck Driver II, Hennery

Congratulations to October’s Good Egg winner, Kevin Rowley! Kevin is a Hennery Feed Truck Driver and has been working at Herbruck’s for almost 3 years!

A day on the job at Herbruck’s for Kevin includes loading trucks, feeding numerous houses throughout the day and also helping out in the Mill when time allows. To be successful in this position, it is important to always keep a close eye on the roads when driving, and anticipate what is next throughout each day. His favorite part of working at Herbruck’s is the team he works alongside and the fact that the job always keeps him moving.

When he is not at work, Kevin really enjoys working on old cars. Currently, he has two that are keeping him very busy! Thank you, Kevin, for all of your hard work and service!

September 2024 Good Egg of the Month

Erik Vanderlip, Sanitation Supervisor, Main Farm Processing

Congratulations to September’s Good Egg winner, Erik Vanderlip! Erik is a Main Farm Sanitation Supervisor and has been working at Herbruck’s for 5 years!

A day at Herbruck’s for Erik includes a thorough evaluation of the work that needs to be completed. He checks to make sure all employees scheduled are accounted for. Erik assigns tasks to everyone on his team and throughout the night checks in with his teammates to see if they need any materials or tools to accomplish their jobs. To succeed in this position, you need to be confident and have the ability to stay calm in handling all situations. Organizational skills and being a hard worker are also very helpful as they help structure the team for success. His favorite part of working at Herbruck’s is his flexible schedule which allows him to balance outside life. He also enjoys the challenging work atmosphere.

When he is not at work, Erik likes working out, walking his dogs, riding his quad and motorcycle and cruising in his Jeep. Currently, Erik is saving up for a vacation for next spring to see family in Tennessee! Thank you, Erik, for all of your hard work and service!

September 2024 Good Egg of the Month

Ryan Abrahams, Processing Maintenance Technician, Blue Springs Egg Farm

Congratulations to our other September Good Egg winner, Ryan Abrahams! Ryan works as a Processing Maintenance Technician at Blue Springs Egg Farm and has been with Herbruck’s for 3 years!

A ‘typical” day for Ryan includes completing his morning checks, making sure the line is running, and drinking lots of coffee! He also does preventative maintenance to ensure the line runs smoothly throughout the day. Ryan likes the variety of tasks involved with his job because completing different tasks every day pushes him outside of his comfort zone.

Success in his role requires flexibility, positivity and being a team player. His role requires helping teammates out a lot. When he’s not working, Ryan enjoys spending time with family, playing basketball and making digital music with his kids. He will be traveling to Jamaica for a family vacation soon! Thank you, Ryan, for your hard work and service!

August 2024 Good Egg of the Month

Jeff Hearth, Main Farm Distribution Driver

Congratulations to August’s Good Egg winner, Jeff Hearth! Jeff is a Main Farm Distribution Driver and has been working at Herbruck’s for 2.5 years!

A “typical” day for Jeff includes waking up early in the morning to spend time reading the bible. The first thing he does when he arrives at Herbruck’s is complete the load safety precheck of his trailer and then heads out to deliver eggs. He typically makes 6-8 stops per day and drivers up to 500 miles. For a person in this position to succeed, they need to be willing to be a team player, have a positive attitude, have patience and be durable. Jeff’s favorite part of working at Herbruck’s is the care the company shows for employees.

When he is not at work, Jeff enjoys hanging out with his wife, volunteering in his local community and fishing. A highlight for him this summer is a week-long church camp at Cedar Lake. Thank you, Jeff, for all of your hard work and service!

August 2024 Good Egg of the Month

Rosa Rodriguez, Green Meadow Organics Flock Service

Congratulations to another August Good Egg winner, Rosa Rodriguez! Rosa works as a Flock Service team member at Green Meadow Organics and has been working at Herbruck’s for 1.5 years!

Rosa’s day begins by attending a daily safety meeting and checking on the house she will be working in for the day. She checks for issues in front and inside of her house for zip tie and lighting issues. She also completes a mortality check as well as sick/injured bird recovery assessments. Rosa’s position also includes cleaning the causeway and a great deal of daily calendar work. For someone to be successful in this role they must have a sharp eye when observing the birds and closely follow all of the guidelines and reporting protocols within the house.

Rosa has big plans for an exciting trip to Peru in the near future! Thank you, Rosa, for all of your hard work and service!

August 2024 Good Egg of the Month

Brad Dubridge, Green Meadow Organics Sanitation Supervisor

Congratulations to another August Good Egg winner, Brad Dubridge! Brad works as a Sanitation Supervisor at Green Meadow Organics and has been with Herbruck’s for 9 years!

Brad begins his day at Herbruck’s by preparing supplies and Personal protective Equipment for the team. He oversees the team and helps out wherever he is needed. He also completes reviews of the plant throughout the day by walking around with USDA to ensure everything is clean and approved to run eggs. Succeeding in this role requires having a strong will and the ability to handle stressful situations. He enjoys the variety of tasks throughout the day and the relationships he has developed with his team members.

Outside of work Brad likes fishing and spending time with his family. He has a cruise to Australia coming up in February! Thank you, Brad, for your hard work and service!

August 2024 Good Egg of the Month

Seth Parks, Rector Road Flock Service

Congratulations to another August Good Egg winner, Seth Parks! Seth works as a Flock Service team member at Rector Road and has been with Herbruck’s for 2.5 years!

A ‘typical” day for Seth includes maintaining the health and wellbeing of the birds to make sure they have everything they need to grow. Seth also monitors sick or injured birds and collects all mortalities. He maintains excellent housekeeping practices by mopping and performing daily cleaning routines. He really enjoys learning more about the birds and brainstorming different ways to make tasks easier and more efficient. He also likes working with his fellow team members.

Success in his role requires a willingness to learn more about the job daily. When he is not at work Seth likes to ride his bike, lift weights and hang out with family and friends. He is currently saving up his time off for a future vacation. Thank you, Seth, for your hard work and service!

July 2024 Good Egg of the Month

Troy Bernard, Distribution Driver

Congratulations to another July Good Egg winner, Troy Bernard! Troy works as a Distribution Driver at Main Farm and has been with Herbruck’s for 10 years!

A “typical” day for Troy starts between 4 – 5AM with a DOT pre-trip inspection. He then finds his first load, gets his paperwork and hits the road. Troy spends the majority of his days driving from one destination to another delivering Herbruck’s eggs. He generally makes between 5-7 stops per load, which takes around 10-12 hours per day. At the end of his day Troy completes a post-trip inspection of his truck and trailer, so that the next driver is all set for their shift. Troy likes the level of trust the Herbruck’s team gives him to do his job without micro-managing and he enjoys the relationships he has built with his customers. Troy has found patience to be very important in this position.

Outside of work, Troy likes to cook and loves watching the Detroit Lions and the Detroit Tigers live as well as attending rock concerts. He has four concerts to go to before the end of summer! Thank you, Troy, for your hard work and service!

July 2024 Good Egg of the Month

Ed Lincoln, Hennery Assistant Production Manager

Congratulations to another July Good Egg winner, Ed Lincoln! Ed works as a Production Assistant Manager at The Hennery and has been working at Herbruck’s for 22 years!

For Ed, working at the Hennery has been much different lately compared to any other time. Many things have changed a great deal due to depopulation. He is currently working on remodeling Houses 13-21 and getting ready for the new birds to arrive in the fall. Ed’s favorite thing about his job is working with other team members. He feels a real sense of purpose at the Hennery and enjoys the challenges that come with the job. In order to succeed in this position, Ed believes you need to have patience and the ability to overlook someone’s flaws and help them push through them and learn.

Outside of work, he likes to spend time with his grandson John and drive go-carts together. He also likes working in his yard. Thank you, Ed, for all of your hard work and service!

July 2024 Good Egg of the Month

Jared Liggett, Main Farm Production Flock Service Supervisor

Congratulations to another July Good Egg winner, Jared Liggett! Jared works as a Production Supervisor at Main Farm and has been with Herbruck’s for 3 years!

A “typical” day for Jared includes checking ten-minute data then assigning his employees to their tasks, talking about a safety topic with his team, checking feed & water, gathering data on the flocks such as body weights, and ensuring the team completes production goals. For a person in this position to succeed, flexibility is needed. With every day being different and having to supervise a team of unique employees, he must be able to change and repeat new situations. His favorite thing about this job is that every day is different, with many tasks to complete and new problems to solve.

Outside of work, Jared likes to fish, hunt, camp and hang out with friends. He recently went on a fishing trip to Canada! Thank you, Jared, for your hard work and service!

July 2024 Good Egg of the Month

Samuel Montero, Rector Road Production Manure Team

Congratulations to July’s Good Egg winner, Samuel Montero! Samuel is a Rector Road Manure Production lll team member and has been working at Herbruck’s for 8 years!

A “typical” day for Samuel includes taking a shower and grabbing his PPE to start inspecting the coops before running the equipment to make sure everything is all set to go. After completing his coop run, he cleans equipment and feather catchers, removes manure from the manure load out and washes the outside of the barns. Because we are currently not transporting manure, Samuel has been helping to stockpile manure which limits people coming onto the farm and protects our birds. Attention to detail is essential!

Samuel loves learning new things on the job. Outside of work, he enjoys organizing his house and spending time with his wife and grandchildren! Thank you, Samuel, for all of your hard work and service!

April 2024 Good Egg of the Month

Rebecca Clements, Topeka Feed Mill Assistant Manager

Congratulations to April’s Good Egg winner, Rebecca Clements! Rebecca works as the Feed Mill Assistant Manager in Topeka, IN, and has been with Herbruck’s for 4 years. A “typical” day for Rebecca starts with scaling in/out both ingredient and feed trucks, handling and entering in paperwork, preventative maintenance around the mill, and ordering and keeping micro bin inventory stocked. Rebecca’s favorite thing about work is that every day is different. There is always something going on and it never feels boring! A person in this role should always double check their work and be a great communicator with members both inside and outside of their team.

Outside of work, Rebecca enjoys spending time with her family and taking time to read in her free time. When the weather is warmer she enjoys being outside, working around her flower bed, and playing cornhole. Rebecca and her husband are currently renovating their house, so they have no vacation plans for this year.

Thank you, Rebecca, for all of your hard work and service!

April 2024 Good Egg of the Month

Scott Borgman, Main Farm Production Quality Assurance Practitioner

Congratulations to April’s other Good Egg winner, Scott Borgman! Scott works at Main Farm as a Quality Assurance Practitioner and has been at Herbruck’s for a little over 2 years!

A “typical” day for Scott includes working with the production department to ensure that everything they do lines up with the newly developed SQF code for production. For a person in this position to succeed, the ability to be adaptable to any situation, have a good attitude and willingness to continue learning is very important. Scott’s favorite thing about work is meeting people in different departments and learning about their role in the process.

Outside of work, Scott likes to travel, do home improvements, and watch sports on TV. Scott spent Christmas in the Bahamas, but he would like to rent a Lake Michigan beach house for a long weekend this summer! Thank you, Scott, for your hard work and service!

March 2024 Good Egg of the Month

Paul Nash, Main Farm Production Maintenance

Congratulations to March’s Good Egg winner, Paul Nash! Paul works in Production Maintenance at Main Farm and has been working at Herbruck’s for 43 years!

A “typical” day for Paul starts with checking the feed, water and ventilation. Paul walks through the fronts and backs of the houses, labels Chlorine and Parafos barrels, does maintenance on machines and repairs belts. Paul’s favorite thing about work is the people. He also likes working on machines and stopping egg droppage. In order to succeed in this position, showing up everyday, working hard, and having a good attitude are crucial. Outside of work, Paul loves to hunt, golf, and play horseshoes. Paul plans on traveling to Tennessee soon!

Thank you, Paul, for all of your hard work and service!

March 2024 Good Egg of the Month

Aurelia Carle, GMO Production Flock Service Supervisor

Congratulations to March’s other Good Egg winner, Aurelia Carle! Aurelia works as a Flock Service Supervisor at GMO Production and has been with Herbruck’s for 27 years!

A “typical” day for Aurelia starts with attending a safety meeting and coordinating with the coop and floor egg employees to make sure they know their tasks and have the materials they need to start their day. Aurelia checks feed, water, ventilations, and makes sure there is no mortality left behind in the houses. For a person in this position to succeed, knowing and understanding bird health, being willing to help employees in the houses and listening to what the employees need is very important. Aurelia’s favorite thing about work is taking care of the chickens.

Outside of work, Aurelia likes to go shopping, spend time with her granddaughters, go to the movies and garden. Aurelia is planning to go to Mexico in 2025 to visit family! Thank you, Aurelia, for your hard work and service!

February 2024 Good Egg of the Month

Andrea Coulier, Green Meadow Organics Employee Developer

Congratulations to February’s other Good Egg winner, Andrea Coulier! Andrea works as an Employee Developer at Green Meadow Organics and has been with Herbruck’s since 2022.

A “typical” day for Andrea starts with translating for the morning meeting, sending over attendance reports, and filling feed tickets. Andrea also does safety walk throughs around the farm, ensuring employees are wearing their PPE and using LOTO when working on machines, helping employees complete their monthly safety training, and checking timecards and inventory around the farm. For a person in this position to succeed, they need to be fair with all employees and not take sides as well as making sure the employees understand the company rules, training, and expectations. Andrea’s favorite thing about work is helping employees and supervisors communicate with one another. The language barrier can be difficult so she is always happy to help.

Outside of work, Andrea likes to shop, play cards, spend time with her kids and husband, and go ranger riding. Andrea plans to go to Florida for spring break! Thank you, Andrea, for your hard work and service!

February 2024 Good Egg of the Month

Ray Crippen, Chickery Maintenance

Congratulations to February’s Good Egg winner, Ray Crippen! Ray works in Maintenance at the Chickery and has been with Herbruck’s for 12 and a half years.

A “typical” day for Ray starts with checking over everything mechanical in each of his barns and making sure that everything is working correctly. Ray enjoys that every day is different and there is always a new task or problem to accomplish. It is satisfying to know that everything he does is to benefit the birds. Ray also loves to watch the baby chicks grow. In order to succeed in this position, it is important to be mechanically inclined and always striving to find better ways to complete tasks.

Outside of work, Ray loves to hunt, fish, play sports, and spend time with his family and friends. Ray and his family plan to travel to Jamaica this year! Thank you, Ray, for your hard work and service!

January 2024 Good Egg of the Month

Ryan Reister, Rector Road Service Crew Supervisor

Congratulations to January’s Good Egg winner, Ryan Reister! Ryan is a Service Crew Supervisor and has been with Herbruck’s for 12 years.

It is Ryan and his team’s responsibility to ensure houses are cleaned and ready for the next batch of chicks and then complete the initial chick placement and care. A “typical” day for Ryan starts with checking in with his team to make sure they have a game plan and all the tools needed for their job. It is typical for Ryan and his team to have more than one project at once, so he must stay aware of deadlines to ensure they are prepared for the next batch of chicks. Ryan’s favorite
thing about work is interacting with his team, he loves to see them grow their skills and find further opportunities in the company. Working through several roles and having an understanding of what they take, makes him more understanding as a supervisor.

Outside of work, Ryan loves to golf. He also spends a lot of time helping coach his son’s basketball and baseball teams. Ryan and his family are planning to go to Florida in 2024! Thank you, Ryan, for your hard work and service!

January 2024 Good Egg of the Month

Erik Vanderlip, Sanitation Assistant Supervisor

Congratulations to January’s other Good Egg winner, Erik Vanderlip! Erik works in Sanitation as an Assistant Supervisor and has been with Herbruck’s for a little over 4 years.

A “typical” day for Erik is coming in and getting stations ready for the day, making a game plan for the team members to successfully complete the daily tasks, checking in on people throughout the night and getting any necessary equipment ready for the team to use. Erik’s favorite thing about work is the atmosphere and feeling like he is part of something. Erik excels in all of the areas that are necessary for someone in this position. He has good
leadership and communication skills, a level head under pressure, and a great deal of respect for others.

Outside of work, Erik loves to workout, go on trails, and ride his motorcycle. He plans to go to Vegas and visit his boys in Tennessee in the near future. Thank you, Erik, for your hard work and service!

Good Egg of the Year 2023

Rich Spaans, Hennery Processing Maintenance Supervisor

Congratulations to December’s Good Egg winner, Rich Spaans! Rich is a Processing Maintenance Supervisor at Hennery and has been with Herbruck’s for 16 years.

A “typical” day for Rich starts with making morning rounds to check refrigeration systems, making sure his team has everything they need for their daily and weekly projects, taking calls, following up with outstanding issues, coordinating with contractors, and assisting the team with any issues they come across. Rich’s favorite part about work is that it is always something different from day to day. In order to succeed in this position, it is important that you come to work every day with a good attitude and are willing to lend a hand or provide advice.

Outside of work, Rich loves to spend time with his family, tinker with equipment in the garage and hang out with friends. Rich is planning a trip to Kentucky in September. Thank you, Rich, for your hard work and service!

Good Egg of the Year 2023

Ernesto Mena, Green Meadow Organics Service Crew Supervisor

Congratulations to November’s other Good Egg winner, Ernesto Mena! Ernesto is the 2nd shift Service Crew Supervisor at Green Meadow Organics and has been with Herbruck’s for 2 years.

A “typical” day for Ernesto includes coordinating where his crew will be working for the afternoon, picking up the afternoon mortality, and getting them loaded into the incinerator. After the lights go out in the houses, he and his crew pick up floor birds that have stayed on the floor to ensure they have feed, water, and are off the floor for the night while also cleaning out manure in houses throughout the night. For a person in this position, treating your employees with respect is very important. Ernesto’s favorite thing about work is picking up the birds at night, which is a very important job to help the birds up into the roost so they have feed and water.

Outside of work, Ernesto likes to go to the park with his kids and go to the casino, even though he doesn’t always have the best luck! Ernesto plans to go to Puerto Rico this month. Thank you, Ernesto, for your hard work and service!

Good Egg of the Year 2023

Enrique Bautista, Main Farm Production Maintenance

Congratulations to December’s other Good Egg winner, Enrique Bautista! Enrique works in maintenance at Main Farm production and has been with Herbruck’s for 12 years.

A “typical” day for Enrique starts with checking the feed, water, and ventilation. He then does a 10-minute data check to keep an eye on reefs to insure proper egg count. Enrique also does preventive maintenance work and helps out where he can in the flock houses. For a person in this position to succeed, they need to do the work that needs to be done to maintain houses, stay positive, and be present every day. Enrique’s favorite thing about work is coming in every day and doing his job; it keeps him busy throughout the day and he likes the people he works with as well as helping them.

Outside of work, Enrique likes going shopping and out to eat with his family. He also enjoys working on the cars he has. Enrique plans to go to Mexico in January to visit and enjoy some time with family. Thank you, Enrique, for your hard work and service!

Good Egg of the Year 2023

Juan Vaca- Ortiz , Rector Road Maintenance and Manure Supervisor

Congratulations to November’s Good Egg winner, Juan Vaca-Ortiz! Juan is the Rector Road Maintenance and Manure Supervisor and has been with Herbruck’s for over 10 years.

Juan oversees the Maintenance and Manure departments at Rector Road, so there is always a project in motion. One day he might be training a maintenance team member on troubleshooting heaters or repairing a manure breakdown, and the next day he may be working on schedules for his team. Juan’s favorite part about work is that there are new challenges that he and his team are trying to improve. There is always something to learn. In order to succeed in this position, it is important that someone can listen and follow instructions but more importantly, having a good attitude and willingness to learn.

Outside of work, Juan is always working on some type of project at home and also enjoys camping, riding his side by side, and kayaking with the family. Juan hopes to get in a couple more camping trips before winter comes. Thank you, Juan, for your hard work and service!