Cracking the Code of Poultry Genetics: Steve Welch on Shaping the Future of Egg Production and Personal Triumphs

Imagine waking up to a world where hens are super-producers, laying 500 eggs over 100 weeks without a break! Steve Welch of Hendrix Genetics joins us to unfold the story behind this poultry prowess, offering an eye-opening perspective on the leaps in poultry genetics that are reshaping the industry. It's not all about the birds, though; Steve's own narrative is equally compelling, charting a course from a novice in the field to a leading figure in U.S. layer distribution. His tale is a testament to the growth and passion that fuels the sector and serves as a beacon for those forging their own paths through uncharted territories.

Holding the microphone with Steve, we venture into a discussion that reveals the intricate tapestry of animal breeding – a field where salmon and shrimp share the spotlight with our feathered friends. We dissect the genetic advancements that hold promise against foes like the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, while also celebrating the achievements that have brought us to the 500-egg milestone. Steve's insights illuminate how this trait is making waves in different markets, providing a glimpse into both the triumphs and the delicate balancing act breeding programs must perform.

Our chat transcends the technical, as Steve shares the hard-won life lessons behind his rise to success. His personal journey is a raw narrative of overcoming adversity, battling substance abuse, and embracing fatherhood, all of which molded him into the role model he is today. It's an intimate look at resilience and redemption, serving as an inspirational soundtrack to anyone seeking to break molds and redefine success. Join us for a conversation that's as much about heart as it is about hens, and walk away with fresh insight into the world of poultry genetics and the human stories that enrich it.

Connect with Steve Welch - https://www.linkedin.com/in/steve-welch-60a44211/
https://www.hendrix-genetics.com/en/

Sponsorship - The Poultry Leadership Podcast is proudly sponsored by Prism Controls http://www.prismcontrols.com

Hosted by Brandon Mulnix - Director of Commercial Accounts - Prism Controls
The Poultry Leadership Podcast is only possible because of its sponsor, Prism Controls
Find out more about them at www.prismcontrols.com

Transcript

Brandon Mulnix: 0:26

Welcome to the Poultry Leadership Podcast. I am your host, Brandon Mulnix, and on today's show I hope to get to the bottom of the question what came first the chicken or the egg? Our guest for today is Steve Welch with Hendrix Genetics, and he's been around the poultry industry for quite a while and maybe he has the answer. Welcome to the show, Steve.

Steve Welch: 0:47

Good afternoon, Brandon, and thanks for having me. So any suggestions on which came first? Isn't that the age old question? Of which one came first? I guess you can't have an egg without a chicken, but you can't have a chicken without an egg either. So from my standpoint, I think the chicken came first, but I think that's still to be determined.

Brandon Mulnix: 1:09

All right. Well, maybe a different guest at a different time will be able to answer that question. But, Steve, tell us about who you are and your family and all that fun stuff to help connect with the listeners.

Steve Welch: 1:19

Okay, so my name is Steve Welch. I've been in the industry for about 30 years now, something like that. I started in 1993. And, to be honest with you, when I started the industry I had no poultry background whatsoever. At Highline started on their research farm and kind of worked my way through there and left there in 2011. Did a couple other gigs with Hogs Flat Georgia Poultry, saw the equipment, which was great. A lot of great experience for the three years I spent there.

Steve Welch: 1:55

And then I realized I missed live poultry. So I had an opportunity to come in as a salesperson for some Tarian poultry who sold a couple of Hendrix's breeds at that time and, uh, worked with them for a short amount of time until hendrix isa really really started here in the us. So but yeah, that's kind of. That's kind of the background. Quick background there I live in iowa, not too far from des moines, a little town called perry, which, unfortunately, everybody has probably heard about over the last couple months with unfortunate things that have happened here, but anyway. So I have a wonderful wife and two amazing kids that have been my worlds from the day that they were born. My son was born in 97 and really kind of sparked a big change in me that has led to kind of where I'm at today.

Brandon Mulnix: 2:44

Very exciting Hendrix Genetics. Tell us a little bit about what you do for Hendrix Genetics and who they are.

Steve Welch: 2:51

Yeah, so I am currently the Director of Sales and Marketing for Hendrix ESA here in the US. So it's Hendrix ESA LLC which is really the distribution arm in the US for Hendrix Genetics per layer. So Hendrix Genetics is a multi-species animal protein breeding and genetic and technology company based out of Voxmere, Netherlands, and of course, we are all, like most people in the industry, passionate about animals and, of course, us animal breeding. So, like I said, we are multi-species. So we have breeding programs mainly in laying hens, turkeys, traditional poultry, swine, salmon, shrimp and trout. We are one of two of the largest animal protein companies really in the world. Like I said, our largest competitor would be the EW group that Highline International falls underneath of as well. I think our two companies make up somewhere around 90% of the layer genetics in the world somewhere around there.

Steve Welch: 3:57

So we've been around for a long time. We have about a hundred years worth of genetics in our program and really kind of how I guess I'll transition to where we we've been. Hendrix been around for a long time started off, but, as we know, Hendrix genetics today really started somewhere around I believe and don't quote me on this somewhere between 2000, 2005 and they started building this distribution. In 2015, when I started, it was the very beginning of distribution direct distribution underneath Hendrix Genetics. So before that we had a few different distributors Centurion Poultry was one of those that I mentioned and we still have a couple distributors in the US. We are just the main branch directly off of Hendrix Genetics. So we would be comparative for anybody that's listening, because they probably know this quite well we would be comparative to Highline America as a distributor for Highline. So we're the same on the Hendrix.

Brandon Mulnix: 4:59

Wow, I learned something new there the fact that you know we have a poultry genetics company that also works with trout and shrimp and that is. I guess that makes sense. Genetics are genetics. Whether you know, cross species in certain, so many different ways. That's that's incredible. I guess trying to make genetics for a good shrimp cocktail, that's not your specialty but it definitely is in the Hendrick line. That's pretty cool.

Steve Welch: 5:30

You know, it's one of the things, brandon, to be honest with you, when I came over to Hendricks in 2015, it was really kind of that full passionate about animal breeding and the variety of species that we actually had here at Hendricks.

Steve Welch: 5:40

That kind of drove me in this direction. You know, when I started with Hendrix, we were just starting to build a new hatchery out in Nebraska and I took over as project management out there getting that started, getting some of our cooperator barns building, and then I did that for not quite a year and then we transferred that responsibility, right as we were pulling concrete to the hatchery, to another gentleman and I moved into the planning department and took over planning and did that for a couple of years and then had an opportunity to go into sales. I've always said I'm a production guy, I'm not a sales guy. I am a horrible sales guy. I'll tell everybody that. But I am passionate about production and passionate about customers. So you know there was just this great opportunity to see a company grow within the US and really compete in the US on a larger scale. I wanted to be part of that and I mean we have a lot of backing with the size of it.

Brandon Mulnix: 6:39

Well, Steve, you have a great personality for fitting in with all of those other salesmen that are in the industry, so you camouflage yourself pretty well there.

Steve Welch: 6:48

A lot of great people in this industry.

Brandon Mulnix: 6:51

Oh, absolutely, Steve. Pretend I'm a new customer just getting started with a farm. Can you share the basics of genetics and why is it important to me as a customer?

Steve Welch: 7:01

Really, when we look at genetics, we're looking at breeding performance and we look at multifaceted right.

Steve Welch: 7:07

So we're looking not only at the long-term performance of that bird, we look at sustainability, innovativeness and we look at multiple traits within each one of those birds and improve traits. So we're trying to get the most value out of that bird or out of that species with the most sustainable program that we can right. So when you're looking at genetics, we're trying to improve eggshell livability, life of flock, persistency of lay. You're looking at how early a bird can lay, how many eggs, feed consumption and those are all kind of the main traits that we've always looked at over the years. Like those are ongoing traits that all of us are trying to improve and get the best genetic material right. We're trying to get that best bird. But there are a number of factors these days that we look at that we wouldn't normally have looked at in the past and a lot of that's environmental. So now, with more animal welfare challenges out there, with cage and cage-free, no-beak treatment, male calling, we are now implementing some of those traits within our genetic group.

Brandon Mulnix: 8:20

And how can we influence birds, birds and in particular for us layers in each one of those traits to to make sure she, uh, she, can perform under each one of those conditions I mean starting a farm today is, if I'm hearing you right, is I mean you guys get to take all the history and all the knowledge and and get that bird to just be at top performance, be sustainable and as a farmer starting today, I get to take advantage of that. I don't have to go back to ground zero and get the first bird off the ark, so to speak, and say, hey, I've got to produce cage-free eggs out of you and your species just happened to be caged for the last 50. Is that what I'm understanding you're saying?

Steve Welch: 9:01

Yeah, that's correct. So we are at the start of the chain and because of that, we have an influence on the outcome. So, yeah, you don't have to put the time and effort. That's what we do, right? So there is I mean, there's no doubt, there are things that we can create this genetically perfect bird, or what we believe to be as perfect as possible, but there are environmental factors, there are management practices that can interrupt exactly what we're trying to accomplish. So, if you follow some of the recommendations that are put out, but we have to keep in mind that all of those management practices can sway the outcome, and that's why we have, you know, depending on when we look at genetics too, we're really trying to develop a bird for the industry, but really for a region as well.

Steve Welch: 9:53

So we look at all the different varieties of birds or breeds of birds that we have, and you know whether it's a North America bird or a US bird or a bird in Mexico. We want to make sure those birds perform, and there are some birds that will perform better in those areas than other areas. So we do look at it from a very, very logistic approach of we need a bird that fits this market. What can we do genetically to make sure that she fits? Because here in the US we're always looking for a large egg. That's our goal. That's one of our top goals that we produce as many large eggs as possible. But that is not the same for every country. There are countries that enjoy medium eggs. The US is a white egg market and you've got other countries that are brown egg markets. So it's really concentrating on where we can drive those genetics and support each one of those regions. All right, listeners where we can drive those genetics and support each one of those regions.

Brandon Mulnix: 10:43

All right, listeners, if you didn't get something out of that, then I might as well just tune off this podcast, because I got a lot out of that. You know, I think of, you know where the farms are just in the US, and I'm assuming the would be. The latitude and the environment just within the US changes quite a bit and you've got to have some pretty good specifics around that and what feeds available. Forums. Thank you, Steve. Thank you a lot. So, Steve, what's some of the biggest breakthrough in genetics recently last five, 10 years?

Steve Welch: 11:12

Really, for us one of the largest is this persistency out to a hundred weeks in a single cycle without molting. So that really has been our push for at least the last 10 years, if not even a little bit longer than that. That's really one of the biggest pushes and we're there. So we are looking at 500 eggs, 500 eggs per bird at 100 weeks. It happens consistently. There are areas again where we don't see that consistently One either because of the economics of the country that we're in just people not used to you know, we're a multi-market or we were a multi-market here in the us, so all birds were we're kind of forced, not forced, but we have this molting aspect and not a lot of people that are going to a single cyclops 90 plus weeks.

Steve Welch: 12:00

We see that now more than we do uh, more than we did uh 10 years ago and I think think our average when I started looking at some of our birds where we're at on average we're about 93 weeks, 92, 93 weeks of age. There are some people that are holding them out to 100 weeks here, but it's still not as common here as it is say in Europe, sounds like a great efficiency and sustainability.

Brandon Mulnix: 12:21

if you can get a bird that can not need to be molted to go that far and produce that kind of quality of egg, that's really cool. So a question that I have and this is with HPAI being the topic of seems like every newsletter, every e-blast, everything that the industry is talking about are there ways to combat HPAI with genetics?

Steve Welch: 12:44

To be honest, I don't know if I can answer that question. I'm not for sure. You know the industry is talking about are there ways to combat HPAI with genetics? To be honest, I don't know if I can answer that question, Brandon. I'm not for sure. There are a lot of things we can do in genetics. You know we look at the genome and DNA and we make selections based off of that.

Steve Welch: 12:57

We currently don't do any GMO within the layer industry. We don't do any GMO products. It's all selective breeding based off of traits and DNA traits. So I don't know you would really have to talk to a geneticist, a real geneticist, about whether we can do anything on HPAI. We do talk about virus resistance, and can we create birds that are more resistant? We do see between different breeds that it looks like some of our birds, or some birds, are more resistant against diseases or viruses than other birds. They at least handle it better. Maybe they're a little more robust than others. But whether we can actually create a bird that is not susceptible to HPE I can't answer.

Brandon Mulnix: 13:45

I appreciate your honesty on that one. It's always interesting as you travel around and go to the different conferences and technology summits. It's one of those topics. Can we breed it out of the birds or make them more resilient? Until then you get into the whole vaccine world. Can we treat it out of them, so to speak, as well?

Steve Welch: 14:03

Let me go back with just one thing. You were asking about some of the last five years, some of the traits or some of the breakthroughs that we've seen, and I really want to kind of play on what we've done over the last 40, 50 years and the progress that's been made by all the genetic companies. And so if you look at egg production on its own and I think you can go back to about 1960, let's just say 1960 or so eggs are hen housed. There were about 230 eggs per hen housed back in 19-. Wow, 230 eggs per hen house back in 19. And I know today, if you look at just 2010, by 2010, we were up to 370. So we can make a lot of progress. So who knows from today what we'll see in 10 years, 20 years? And we see really kind of a quicker progress today than what we did, than what we saw back in 1960. So and I'm not exactly for sure how how much quicker that progress is like I I can't define that for you, a geneticist can, but really the speed is and you can see that just as innovative as all the companies are, even when you're looking at electronics. Look at how quickly on electronics we have improved over the years and that just continues to speed up. We see the same things on genetics.

Steve Welch: 15:20

But really the problem with genetics is this balanced program right, so it is slower. I think we're somewhere between a 2% and a 3% increase year over year. On genetics is what we see 2% to 3% improvement. But we have to make sure that's a really maintained balanced program. We do know in genetics if you change one thing on one side, you make an improvement here, you have the opposite effect on another. So it's trying to figure out what traits are those that we're affecting and that's why it's a lot more about a slower, balanced program when we're looking at especially when we're looking at our birds, because we don't want to interrupt any of those traits so we can make a quick change. So on egg size, we could concentrate just on egg size. But if we did that and we lose sight of, say, feed consumption, we could destroy our feed consumption here in the US. So we can't do that. We know where we need to be. So it's slow as far as in that aspect.

Brandon Mulnix: 16:20

And you mentioned that 500, that number, 500, and that's the goal, that's the golden egg goal. Is that what you're saying?

Steve Welch: 16:28

Well, it was for us. So 500 eggs at 100 weeks, single cycle, that was kind of Hendrix's goal and we've reached that. Like I said, we have a 500 egg club. I'm not for sure how many companies are now in that. In the US we know there are two companies that have hit that 500 eggs in 100 weeks. In Europe there are a lot, lot more and we continue to see the increase in the number of companies that reach out 500 egg milestone.

Steve Welch: 17:00

What is really amazing to me is we know that there are brewers in our current pedigree programs that lay an egg a day and you can't get much better than that until we get a two eggs a day. Maybe that's the next dream, but really it's an egg a day. Maybe that's the next dream, but uh, really it's a. It's an egg, an egg a day. And and I think if you would ask anybody, even though I came in the industry and in 93, will we ever get to an egg a day? I think everybody had hoped to the hope that. But how realistic was that going to be?

Brandon Mulnix: 17:31

and it's realized today well, when you can make a square or rectangular egg, then egg counting will be perfected, I believe, and packaging might be even better because you don't have to worry about them rolling around so much. But you work on that, Steve.

Steve Welch: 17:47

Okay, I don't know if the industry wants that.

Brandon Mulnix: 17:50

I don't know if the industry wants that either, but we always laugh when it comes to the egg counting topic. It's when you have them rolling around on the belts and you're like, well, that's what they do. They roll.

Steve Welch: 17:59

I mean they're gonna go forward backwards whatever way they want to gravity's effective yeah, and then one of the other big things for the industry you know over the last couple years is and for us, which is a huge concern, uh, around the globe is uh mail calling of day-old chicks, and all of our companies are working on that. There are definitely technologies that can do that. Whether it's commercially viable on a big scale, like it is for the US market, that's still questionable. I think there's some markets for that. We will get there for sure. There's no doubt we'll get to the point where we don't have to worry about male culling. We'll be able to identify them in the shell prior to setting eggs. But I mean, that's really I know that's not necessarily a genetic solution. We are looking at genetic solutions for sure. Will that come to fruition? I believe at some point in time that will, that there'll be a genetic solution there. How that looks is yet to be determined.

Brandon Mulnix: 19:03

Yeah, that's definitely a hot topic that I've started recently being introduced to as the technology summits have happened, all the technology around it but it's a sustainability plan. It works well with the animal rights folks as well. Kudos to you guys for continuing to work on that as well. All right, as someone who's been around the industry for a while you're just getting started 30 years in. What advice would you have for people just getting started, whether that's a college grad, a vendor or someone that just got promoted into a management position?

Steve Welch: 19:37

I don't know if any of my advice is good advice, brandon, let me give you a little back down so, and maybe this will help somebody out. You know I look at it from a very simplistic point of view. I'm a production guy but I'll be honest, I do not have a college education. So back before I started, right after high school in fact, in my younger days, I was a bit of a handful, and most of my co-workers, in fact most people that know me, know that. I think my family and friends at that time, when I was young, 15, 16 years old didn't think I would probably live to be past 18 or even maybe 20 years old at about the most. And here I am, 51 years old and I've been able to surpass everything. I think everybody ever thought about me.

Steve Welch: 20:24

So I was a little rambunctious back in the day. I really didn't know what I wanted and decided at one point in time, as I was building vending machines, that I was going to get into electrical engineering. That was my, that was my goal and started school for that early on. And as I still worked and I'd really so, I left that position of building vending machines to start in the poultry industry at Highline on their research farm without having a lick of experience in poultry. So I worked there as I went to school and ended up dropping out of school realizing that maybe electrical engineering was not my thing. And I met a really great geneticist at Highline named Neil O'Sullivan. And Neil for this young kid to come into a farm that's never had any experience with poultry, really of took me as under his wing and and uh, I really wanted to learn. It was interesting to me, really wanted to learn, and he was great he would. He would tell me anything I wanted to know. For the most part, I mean, as long as I asked the questions, he was there. And so as I moved my way through that company, I looked at mentors within that company and leaders within that company that would support that. It was so interesting to me everything that we were doing and everything that could be done with poultry. I wanted to know everything.

Steve Welch: 21:46

So my first thing is be enthusiastic about what you're doing, regardless of what it is. I think that's one of the things that kind of set me off early, not just in the poultry industry, but even early on in my working career. I've always been kind of enthusiastic and want to learn. What else is there Like, give me everything. So, as you're starting off, be enthusiastic. Second thing look for a great mentor, look for somebody that will support you and lead you in the right direction. So I said, you know I left the research firm will support you and lead you in the right direction. So I said, you know I left the research forum, I moved into production and I worked on a flock service crew, which does not sound like, you know, a glamorous job, but I loved it because I got to handle a lot of birds and you know I got so good I could pick out one breed versus another breed just by characteristics and humbling that bird, and there's a lot of people in the industry that can do that.

Steve Welch: 22:36

I learned a lot about different blood types and how to differentiate on blood typing, and I was allowed to learn as much as I wanted to. And then I had the support from those people and really I'm going to name those people too, because they were vital to where I'm at today. So when I moved into production, of course I got to know Dennis Casey, who was the president at the time, who supported me. There wasn't as much direct contact with Dennis, but he was always willing to talk to me. And then the two other guys were a guy named Travis Flusher. I guess there's three guys Dave Marsh, travis Flusher and Tom Moore. And if it wasn't for those guys, I probably wouldn't be where I'm at today. But those guys pushed me and they allowed me to work everywhere and I did everything. I drove truck, I worked on flood service, I worked on a hatchery, I worked on egg processing, I worked in the lab for a very short amount of time and they just allowed me to do a lot of things with no guarantee. There was no guarantees, there was no true like management training. So it wasn't management training, it was just.

Steve Welch: 23:37

I was looking at other opportunities, talked about leaving there at one point in time and they said listen, we don't want you to leave. What do you want to do? We'll let you learn whatever you want. And so I just traveled around the country and learned a ton and met a lot of amazing people. So enthusiastic, mentor, and don't be afraid to learn. Like, if it's not your job, don't say it's not your job, make it your job.

Steve Welch: 24:01

Like one thing I hated and really I had these people that the co-workers that would say stuff to me and they're like why are you doing that? That's not your job? Well, because I want to know it. I want to know I may not ever do that again, but I want to know what you do and how you do it. I know it's not my job, but I'm going to make it my job today because I can. So don't be afraid to look at different opportunities. And then one of the other things is don't necessarily listen to your coworker, and this is what I'm going to say.

Steve Welch: 24:31

So, as you move through the chain and a lot of people see this, and I saw this not just for myself but for a number of other leaders within our industry you become friends with your co-workers and at some point, as you're kind of developing through the company, some of those people may not be developing just because they're stuck at what they're doing or don't want to develop, whatever it is. That's fine, but there's resentment that can come and people question your reasoning. And now you're becoming this. You know lack of a better term a suck up or kiss up, and you know you're getting favored. Now Ignore that. Ignore that If people can't uplift you, then find people that can and will uplift you.

Steve Welch: 25:15

Don't listen to those negative aspects of oh, you're going to forget where you came from. Just work your way through it, man, that's it. I mean, those early stages are really what kind of pushed me through this industry and I've had great opportunities because of that and I keep looking for those people that can support me, that will support my vision of where I want to go. I want to be successful and being successful, I redefine probably every day and at some point I may just say you know, I'm good here, this is where I'm fine with where I'm at. But I know today I still want to move forward and I'll redefine what that success looks like tomorrow.

Brandon Mulnix: 25:57

That is incredible advice. Listeners if you didn't know Steve's story because he didn't share it with you that he wasn't a college grad man, he's got the school of hard knocks. A college grad man, he's got the school of hard knocks. He's definitely got a master's degree in how to navigate through work, how to navigate through working with others and also some of the most important things out there. And that's enthusiastic curiosity, never, never, saying it's not your job, because that might be the moment it does become your job, and to be curious and to learn. That's all really cool stuff. So, thank you, Steve. That was great advice. Leaders oftentimes are people that have overcome something hard in their life. What is one of the hardest things that you've overcome?

Steve Welch: 26:43

Oh, there's a, I guess there's a. There's a number of things that I could, I could, but I've never really been shy about what I've been through in my life because I've always wanted people to maybe not have to go through what I've went. But I've had some tough times in my life, no doubt about it, and there are a number of things you know. When I was 16 years old, I went to a drug treatment program for almost a year, which really kind of set this whole thing off for me. After I got kind of, after I got sober in that program, came back to Perry, finished up my last couple of years of high school. I had some great mentors there while I was in that program came back to Perry, finished up my last couple of years of high school. I had some great mentors there while I was in that program.

Steve Welch: 27:35

But I will admit I wasn't done having fun and there were things, you know, the next two years still, that I did. I stayed away from drugs though, which was always a good thing, but I was still rambunctious, no doubt about it, and I didn't really think highly of myself. So I guess that's kind of the biggest thing is getting over that. That, you know, are you never going to be anybody? You know, after treatment I looked at the friends that I was hanging out with and the people that I was running around with and what I was really doing with myself, and just realized I wasn't doing much. I needed to do something with my life. I didn't want to be this burnout, this guy that lived with his parents all of his life and didn't really accomplish anything. So my mindset, I think, early on, was one of those biggest things and what really excelled me.

Steve Welch: 28:28

After that, of course, I put some years in, but when 97 came and we had my son and it almost didn't happen, we'll just go with that. It almost didn't happen. We couldn't be happier that he is here today with us. But I saw his face when he was born. I was there when he was born and it all clicked that I have to do better for him, and it was.

Steve Welch: 28:52

I mean, it was a start of something great, the way I looked at myself. I knew I had to be somebody for him, for him to look up to, and so I started on this great journey to prove to him that I could be a good dad and that he could follow in somebody's footsteps if needed. And then we have my daughter. You know, four years later, if anybody out there that's ever had a daughter knows how quickly they can wrap their, wrap their daddies, around their fingers. So they have been, you know, just getting to that point that I have this amazing family and this amazing wife who has stuck through with me over the years when she shouldn't have. I should probably be alone, but she is this amazing woman that I've got to spend 30 years with now, which is crazy to think she's been with me that long. But yeah, so, like I said, it's all that mindset that I can be something better than what I am today.

Brandon Mulnix: 29:49

Steve, thank you for sharing that story of the things you've overcome. I mean, I would have you know you put the disclaimer on it. You're not bigger, better than anybody else, and that's just your humbleness coming through here, buddy. But dude, if you would have been back to your 16 year old self and looked at yourself today like if I put you in some sort of time machine and could take you back, do you regret that time period or is this something that you grew from?

Steve Welch: 30:22

You know, I've been at a set a lot and there are things that I did that I wish I wouldn't have. Do I regret it? I don't know. I learned a lot. I learned a lot from it. So I don't know if I'd really want to change it now, knowing what I know today, what I want to change it? Because, yeah, I put myself in some positions that I know other people haven't had the chance to experience and I learned a lot. I think I became, you know, straight, wise lack of a better term and I don't know if I'd be there today.

Brandon Mulnix: 30:49

Well, you can't have a testimony without a number of tests in your life, and you've overcome, you've passed those tests for sure.

Steve Welch: 30:57

So there's always a test to come.

Brandon Mulnix: 30:59

Oh yeah, it's just, you're now more wise and a little less, probably, reactive to those tests and emotional. To those tests. You're able to say, hey, I've survived this, I've survived this, I've survived this, I, this is this, is this. This shouldn't be that much that difficult. And they're real. I mean you, none of us have perfect lives. We just keep striving, striving for that, that next level and those next opportunities, and with it there's going to be bad stuff happening. We all have people in our lives that are going to pass away one day and we got to worry about that. You turn the corner and you, you have tear a knee up. It's not hard to do that, and as you get older in life, there's so many things that you're going to have. But but yeah, just sharing your story is going to help somebody in this industry, because you're not alone.

Brandon Mulnix: 31:44

I've met so many guys and gals in our industry that what amazed me was the level of education isn't there. They just didn't go to college or they barely passed high school. So, as I share struggles of raising a boy, in today's world they're like dude, just be patient. And so there's many folks in our industry that are going to grasp at your story and say, hey, you know what he's real. He survived, he's successful, even though that success is redefining itself every day, which is awesome. So we have to do so. That's really cool. So, Steve, as you look forward 24, 25, you know a future. What excites you Well?

Steve Welch: 32:24

I guess the first thing since we're talking about poultry really the growth of our company here in the US. You know we've come a long ways in the short amount of time that we've been here. It hasn't even been 10 years yet 10 years next year actually from where our distribution started in the US and where we're currently at. So that excites me every day and my team knows that. The people I work with, our entire company knows that, and I can't wait to get to the next step. We define that step every year, but I know in 2015 what the idea was and we're still reaching for that goal.

Steve Welch: 33:02

We have a plan for that and yeah, so, as far as work goes, it's the growth of our company over the next few years and getting to where we want to be Personally at some point, hopefully having some grandchildren. So if my children ever listen to this, they need to get busy now. But really that does excite me. I never thought I'd be excited about getting old. I don't know if anybody is ever excited about that, but I'm excited that there's an opportunity to have grandchildren sometime in the future.

Brandon Mulnix: 33:33

So I'm not even going to bring up those words because I still have a daughter at home and a son at home, so I don't even want to talk about that.

Steve Welch: 33:40

So yeah, so sorry. So there's one thing, you know, I was thinking about as you, as you were talking there, and we were talking about my, my experience and and, uh, college stuff. And there is one thing, especially for anybody that would be listening, kind of on a higher scale management scale, ownership scale there was a time period in this industry I remember this huge push and I have nothing against college man, we told my kids they have to go to college and they went and they're doing amazing. So I will support college at any given time. But I do want to say college isn't for everybody. There are a lot of amazing people out there and they've really just needed opportunity to shine.

Steve Welch: 34:20

And I think that sometimes we put, like I said, I don't want to say college isn't important, but I think there's times we put too much emphasis on needing a college degree for some of the positions within this industry, and I don't think that's necessary. Companies that look internally into their own people I admire, because we don't always get that. Now, this industry has been great. There's no doubt about that. Like I said, they've supported me and I've seen a lot of people grow in this industry without having that background. But it is one of those things. I don't hear it as much today as I did a few years ago, but really, man, look at those bright stars that you have, even though they don't have the education.

Brandon Mulnix: 35:03

Degrees don't matter when it comes to getting to know your people and what challenges them, what the spark that makes them go, because you could find that in somebody and they'll grow on their own if they get that spark or that confidence, or have that mentor in their life, as you mentioned earlier. Great piece of wisdom. So is there anything else that I didn't ask you that you want to share with our audience today?

Steve Welch: 35:26

I don't know. There's a lot of things, but where do we go, brandon? No really. You know, our customers are just. The people in this industry in whole are great people. It's a great industry to be a part of. I am proud to be a part of it. You know, people ask what I do and I get excited. I think my wife gets tired of hearing the same thing. But I get excited about being able to explain the industry and what I do. But I normally start that conversation off with I sell chickens and it's amazing hours and hours of conversations that I had from that simple statement and explain what we do. I wouldn't want to be anywhere else. I love the people in this industry. We have some of the greatest customers ever. We have some of the greatest people ever, always being innovative and thinking forward, and so I'm excited every morning that I wake up.

Brandon Mulnix: 36:25

Oh, I can tell I've been around you at these events and you are energy when you're around folks, and that's probably what created my need to reach out to you and say hey, dude, I got to get you on this show because you're full of it in a good way.

Steve Welch: 36:42

Well, I'll tell you what I was reluctant about doing the show, brandon. You know, for a myriad of reasons I'm not always the best speaker, I'm not a great public speaker at all, but this show so I've listened to your podcast really brings a new light to the industry. I want to thank you for putting this show together, having some of the people on that you have. I don't know if I've done any justice to your show at all, or to even to our company, but I do think your show has been great. I look forward to every week to seeing something new come out from you and from the speakers great leaders in this industry.

Brandon Mulnix: 37:20

Well, thank you, Steve. I really appreciate that. I mean, this show would not be possible without folks like yourself willing to share your story, willing to share your leadership journey, willing to share some insight so that the next generation of leaders are going to come up with a resource, because you can't learn the stuff at college. I mean there's, the stuff at college isn't going to teach you about what the behind the scenes of the industry are, what the terms in the industry are. It's going to introduce you to birds. It's going to introduce you to business. It's going to introduce you to technology. But this podcast is all about allowing somebody at the farm to just catch up with the market in terms of terminology and issues and associations and all the things that go around that you don't get typically without getting outside your comfort zone and listening to a podcast. I don't know of any YouTube channels right now that are doing this. I don't know anything else that are doing that. I just appreciate, Steve, I appreciate you and the listeners for the feedback that you guys have been giving me here lately. It just means a lot that I'm able to share these stories from across the industry. And with that I'm going to end today's show by also thanking Prism Controls. I say it every week Prism Controls is here. They make this show possible by allowing me time, allowing me a place and allowing me the support necessary and the access to the people that really make this industry wonderful.

Brandon Mulnix: 38:49

So please do us do Steve and I, a favor. Share this podcast with your friends. Share this podcast with a growing leader in the industry like it. Rate it on iTunes, rate it on all the different platforms that you can, because that helps others find it. If someone's at their farm and they're looking for this podcast, we want them to find this show. And it's now hit like I don't know 17, 18 countries. I don't even speak the languages in those countries and people are still listening to us. So really appreciate you listeners. Thank you again, Steve, for being here and just everyone. Have a great day.