Employee Spotlight: Tiffany Shnitker
posted on Tuesday, June 5, 2018
“When I started 24 years ago the farm I was placed at, Stumme Sow Farm, didn’t even have an office,” chuckled Tiffany Schnitker. “In the winter we would enter from outside into the farrowing office and had a temporary garden hose hooked up to take showers. We also used an air stream trailer for an office and shower. When our actual office was done we were all so excited to have a normal place to shower and eat.”
To say that there have been a lot of changes throughout Tiffany’s career would be an understatement.
“I think what stands out the most is how we breed sows now compared to back then,” recalled Tiffany. “We had around 80 boars on farm and would hand mate them with a sow. There was no artificial insemination.”
Tiffany can also recall the days that when a litter of baby pigs was born they would cut teeth, notch or tattoo their ears for identification, tail dock, castrate and vaccinate.
“I remember at the time we thought everything was so cool and innovative, but they’re either obsolete or very seldom used now,” she said. “But I think it’s the growth, introduction of new technologies and adaptation to change that has helped us get better every day.”
For Tiffany, what defines Iowa Select Farms is the company’s culture of stepping up to help each other in times of need.
“Whether it’s an employee or someone in the community that needs a helping hand, we are always there for each other,” she said. “I love seeing the faces of gratitude at the pork loin giveaways and all that the foundation does to give back. It makes me really proud to work here.”
After 24 years you might assume that a lot of Tiffany’s co-workers are family, but in her case, they truly are. Her husband, Allan, manages a sow farm near Dows and her children have also worked for the company part-time.
“The company has done a lot to support the next generation of leaders,” said Tiffany. “The scholarship program for children of employees and contractors has been a great way to support our kids and innovators of the future. I’m so proud to work for a company that has always been committed to giving back.”
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