Ag Forte team addition: Welcome, Winner Jacobson!
As we all know, one of the main parts of our organization is our turkeys and our farm operations. We have hundreds of employees working out on our farms, and numerous languages spoken at most locations. In Minnesota alone, we have English, Spanish, Somali, and Karen speaking employees. As of 9/20/2016, about 28% of our North Division breeder employees and managers speak Karen. Therefore, it is critical that we are able to communicate with each and every one of them and bridge any communication gap that could possibly be out there. This is where Winner comes into play. Winner has recently moved here from Michigan and will be starting out as the Karen Liaison working alongside our breeder service group for Ag Forte. He will be working closely with the HR department and has been busy meeting all sorts of folks, getting out on the farms, and of course – learning about the operational side of our turkey business too!
If you see him, please give him a warm welcome to our organization! (Winner pictured above)
Congratulations, Michelle Behl!
We would like to announce and congratulate Dr. Michelle Behl for recently earning her PhD in Poultry Science from Texas A&M University. Michelle has been employed with Willmar Poultry Company/Ag Forte for nearly 10 years and is currently a member of our Technical Team in the role of Hatchery Specialist. She received her BS from University of Wisconsin- Madison and her MS from Texas A&M University prior to completion of her PhD. Michelle’s knowledge and contagious enthusiasm towards her job has proven to be invaluable in Ag Forte’s success as an industry leader.
Michelle lives in Spicer, MN with her husband John, and her two daughters Abby (8) and Adriana (10). (picture above)
Great Work, Dave Fernandez!
Dave Fernandez, one of our prized Ag Forte Veterinarians, recently had his 10 year anniversary in June. Below is an image of him next to his poster presentation on Cecal Cores in Poults at the American Association of Avian Pathologists (AAAP) annual meeting in San Antonio. Below that is Dave receiving a years of service award from Ben Wileman (Director of Global Tech Services). Thank you Dave for your outstanding work and commitment!
MinnWest Strategy Meeting
Here is the MinnWest Team strategizing on the competition at Taste of Work Up! Cooking up some good old Man Cave products!
September Years of Service
We want to congratulate the following individuals who celebrated Years of Service anniversaries in the month of September.
Name | Years | Company | Month | Day | Year | Position Description | State |
Huisinga, Theodore G. | 65 | Life-Science Innovations | 9 | 1 | 1951 | Chairman of the Board | MN |
Haust, Margaret D. | 10 | Life-Science Innovations | 9 | 5 | 2006 | Controller FSE/WPF/LOG | MN |
Glimsdal, Andrew J. | 5 | Willmar Logistics LLC | 9 | 6 | 2011 | Maintenance Supervisor | MN |
Har, Tho. | 5 | Ag Forte | 9 | 15 | 2011 | Catcher | MN |
Rueda, Alisia | 10 | Ag Forte | 9 | 17 | 2006 | Egg Picker | MO |
Crouch, Russell G. | 10 | Ag Forte | 9 | 17 | 2006 | Farm Manager Lovers Lane | MO |
Tennill Jr., Terry N. | 10 | Ag Forte | 9 | 17 | 2006 | Semen Driver | MO |
Kingrey, Robert S. | 10 | Ag Forte | 9 | 17 | 2006 | Serviceman | MO |
Rocha III, Tomas | 10 | Ag Forte | 9 | 17 | 2006 | Milker | MO |
Turney Jr., Ralph E. | 10 | Ag Forte | 9 | 17 | 2006 | Farm Manager Oak Grove | MO |
O’Hara, Mike E. | 10 | Ag Forte | 9 | 17 | 2006 | Farm Maintenance Level 2 | MO |
Higdon, Horace G. | 10 | Ag Forte | 9 | 17 | 2006 | Farm Maintenance Level 1 | MO |
Castillo Salas, Jose M. | 10 | Ag Forte | 9 | 17 | 2006 | General Labor | MO |
VanDegrift, Randall J. | 10 | Ag Forte | 9 | 17 | 2006 | Farm Manager Center Creek | MO |
Salazar, Felicia S. | 10 | Ag Forte | 9 | 17 | 2006 | Egg Picker | MO |
Dodd, Shirley R. | 10 | Ag Forte | 9 | 17 | 2006 | Egg Picker | MO |
Feith, Lance M. | 10 | Ag Forte | 9 | 17 | 2006 | Farm Manager Spring River | MO |
Martinez, Maria | 10 | Ag Forte | 9 | 17 | 2006 | Egg Picker | MO |
Parrigon, Caroline K. | 10 | Ag Forte | 9 | 17 | 2006 | Laundry | MO |
Kingrey, Patrick H. | 10 | Ag Forte | 9 | 17 | 2006 | Back Crew | MO |
Perch, Gary J. | 10 | Ag Forte | 9 | 17 | 2006 | Farm Maintenance Lead | MO |
Azouri Vargas, Alfredo | 10 | Ag Forte | 9 | 17 | 2006 | Milker | MO |
Garcia, Victor A. | 10 | Ag Forte | 9 | 17 | 2006 | Farm Manager Clear Ridge | MO |
Avila Becerril, Joaquin | 10 | Ag Forte | 9 | 17 | 2006 | Inseminator | MO |
Stewart, Evelyn E. | 10 | Ag Forte | 9 | 17 | 2006 | Warehouse Supervisor | MO |
Almaraz Gonzalez, Jose L. | 10 | Ag Forte | 9 | 17 | 2006 | Inseminator | MO |
Swanson, Timothy J. | 10 | Willmar Logistics LLC | 9 | 18 | 2006 | CDL Poult Driver | MN |
Schlagel, Pamela R. | 10 | Life-Science Innovations | 9 | 22 | 2006 | Executive Administrative Asst | MN |
Martinez, Mark A. | 10 | Ag Forte | 9 | 25 | 2006 | Egg Picker | MO |
HR/Employee Services
The Human Resources/Employee Services Team specializes in benefits and payroll, compliance and policy, employee relations, legal compliance, and company & employee overall well-being. We are located on the first floor of Life-Science Innovations on the MinnWest campus at 1800 Technology Drive. We look forward to working with you!
Please message us via email at employee.services@life-scienceinnovations.com or give us a call at
320.222.9515 or 888.320.9750 extension 2515
Recruiting Corner
WOWZA! Our department has been bursting with opportunity over the past few weeks! We appreciate your employee referrals and especially your patience as we work to find the BEST and RIGHT fit for our current openings. At times finding the perfect fit isn’t always a fast process. Thank you for understanding! Our website is updated on a weekly basis, so please encourage your referrals to apply online to a specific opening at http://life-scienceinnovations.com/employment/
You are welcome to message me personally at michelle.falling@life-scienceinnovations.com | or just give me a call at O: (320) 222-9790 M: (320) 441-8596 with any questions about the open positions posted or to discuss your personal career development. Thanks for trusting me to help you through the recruiting process!
Have a great week!
– Michelle Falling, MN Affiliates Recruiting Specialist
Openings
Current status of all organizational openings.
Welcome New Employees

Nyssa Davila
Tecla Gallardo
Central Aurora Poult Service Tech Toe Treat
Rene Castillo
Jarred Hedrick
Central Aurora Wash Room
Juan Reyes Juarez
Christopher Rios
Carlos Rueda
Robert Griffith
Victor Agustin Rozario
Dakota Brown
Jesus Zamarripa
Central Division Catcher
Zunette Martinez Perez
David Lopez
Elaine Pina
Vanessa Hernandez
Felix Feliciano
Wenona McClellan
Elmer Santiago Santana
Central Division Egg Picker
Julio Gonzalez Rodriguez
Central Division Milker
Paul Odell
Shane Allen
Central Division Vaccination Crew
Vincent Boswell
East Danville Poult Service Technician
James Gordon
Jose Pacheco Santiago
Guesh Reda
Cesal Estela
Thomas Semiday
East Division Catcher
Edguar Rios Valladares
East Harrisonburg Back Crew
David Castro
Juan Lopez-Collazo
North Division Catcher
Cristobal Jimenez Torres
Sa Chok
Jose Miramontes
Angel Hernandez
Paw Htoo
Hassan Hussein
Ahmed Said
Fredrick Farmer
Soe Moe
North Division Egg Picker
Juan Villarin Cruz
North Division Farm Sanitation
Keith Ceroll
North Division General Labor
Roberto Escalera Romero
Carlos Ortiz Hernandez
North Division Milker
Winner Jacobson
North Division Serviceman
Erin Klaassen
North Division Tom Lab
Soe Taw
Aji Loa
Hser Eh
North Division Vaccination Crew
Zachary Bowman
Russell Nathe
North Foley Hatchery Sanitation
Daniel Johnson
North FoleyGeneral Labor Service Room
Leon Richards
North IPH Back Crew
Miraida Rivas Rodriguez
North IPH Gender Technician

Brook Nelson
Elevator Operator

Anthony Tobkin
Account Manager
Dylan Kalkbrenner
CNC Operator

Jay Lindblad
Service Technician
Larry Levin
Warehouse Worker

Roxana Bran Munoz
Assistant Line Supervisor
Saw Kas
Hsa Thay
Keh Moo
Goe Say
Eddy Moo
Naw Ku
Eh Klay
Lineworker
Isaac Bakker
Sales and Marketing
Salvador Ramos Zuno
TVF Supervisor Trainee

Jorge Gonzalez Rosa
General Labor
Christopher Hagen
Mill Supervisor in Training