Happy One-year Anniversary of The Turkey Talk Show! We reflect on the past year of this podcast and are grateful for our listeners, contributors, and sponsors, who have made this possible! In this episode, we honor the remarkable careers of Jan Johnson and Gayle Bertsch as they retire from Select Genetics after a combined 97 years in the turkey industry. Nicholas Select
Happy One-year Anniversary of The Turkey Talk Show! We reflect on the past year of this podcast and are grateful for our listeners, contributors, and sponsors, who have made this possible! In this episode, we honor the remarkable careers of Jan Johnson and Gayle Birch as they retire from Select Genetics after a combined 97 years in the turkey industry.
Sheila and Gretta reflect on diving headfirst into this venture, and how much the listener span has grown from only in Iowa, to worldwide.
We honor the remarkable careers of Jan Johnson and Gail Bertsch as they retire from Select Genetics after a combined 97 years in the turkey industry. Jan, from Minnesota, has spent his career in various turkey company's and currently works in Sales and Logistics with Select Genetics. He coordinated where poults go and supports customers across the country. Gail, from North Dakota, has devoted all 47 years of her professional life to the company, becoming a trusted, kind, and consistent presence for both customers and colleagues. Together, Jan and Gail reflect on the evolution of the turkey industry, from whole-bird production to further processing and advanced genetics, and share the lessons that guided their success, including listening closely to customers, staying honest, and working hard. Their pride in their work and the relationships they built shines through as they close an extraordinary chapter.
We also introduce the next generation stepping into their roles. Lyuba Desiantnikov, originally from Ukraine with more than 18 years of poultry experience, will be taking over for Jan and looks forward to building strong customer relationships. Kristi Degner, who grew up in Minnesota and brings 20 years of industry experience, shares her gratitude for learning from both Jan and Gail and hopes to serve customers with the same dedication and care. Both are excited to meet producers, support their needs, and carry forward the culture of teamwork and integrity that Jan and Gail helped build.
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