GDU Manager Doug gives back to the community
posted on Friday, May 13, 2016
“I do it to give back to the community,” said Doug, the manager of N118 and G043 Lucas located near Derby, Iowa. Doug, who’s been with Iowa Select Farms for 21 years is referring to the time and dedication he gives to serving as a volunteer firefighter for the Mount Ayr Fire Department.
Responding to 60-70 calls a year, it’s not uncommon for Doug to get a call in the middle of the night from the fire station alerting him and his team to race off to a house or grass fire, an accident scene to help control traffic, or extract a passenger out of a wreckage using the jaws of life.
“Training is an important part of being ready and prepared,” said Doug, who maintains his Level 1&2 Firefighter NFAP standards along with his training and certifications for CPR, confined spaces, grain bin rescue, surface to ice water rescue, haze mat and his driver/operator license for large rescue vehicles.
Doug is also a volunteer for the Midwest Regional Dive Team, the rescue team that covers a 300-mile radius around Clarinda and responds to accidents that happen in a body of water or recovers evidence for state and federal crime investigators. “It takes monthly training to stay certified, but it’s worth it because we just might be able to save someone’s life,” he says.
“It’s being so close to an accident or trauma is hard sometimes,” admits Doug, who’s been serving in these capacities for over 8 years. “It’s especially hard when I know the person and their family.”
Doug started with Iowa Select Farms in 1996 as the manager of Scott Township, the Research farm located near Ellsworth. Wanting to move closer to his parents, Doug moved to Mount Ayr and transferred to the Malloy 1&2 GDU, then managed Lynch where he oversaw a depop/repop for Sow 17. Once completed, Doug moved to Blanchard/Rasmussen GDU where he selected replacement gilts for the system. Today, Doug manages N118 and GO43 Lucas where he supplies the gilts for Sow 118, the back-up multiplication farm. When asked about what keeps him going, he simply states, “I really like working with pigs, and Iowa Select Farms is a good company with good benefits.”
But his supervisor, Randy, had a little more to say about Doug’s contribution to the billion pound journey. “He never lets me down, or anyone down for that matter,” said Randy. “He’s very dependable and he never says ‘no,’ no matter how much work it is. He’ll go in early if need be and makes sure things are done right. We really count on him a lot,” adds Randy. “He’s always willing to help anyone who needs it.”
In addition to serving as a volunteer firefighter and on the dive team, Doug is the President of the Thrivent Financial for Lutherans South Tri-County Chapter, a service group that raises funds to give back to community organizations. “Between my job, my community responsibilities and also a commercial lawn mowing business, I keep busy,” laughs Doug. “But I wouldn’t change it for anything.” #billionpounds
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