Eye on North Manchester: MPS Egg Farm Expands

from Wabash County Business Journal Spring 2020

COVID-19 Hits Many Industries, Ag Included

on Track website, some of these restaurants may begin to open with reduced-capacity seating and other restrictions.

Any further restrictions, cancellations, closings and/or policy changes related to COVID-19 also could have a major impact on demand for your products. This means you must become proactive in connecting with your customers.

People will still want to eat fresh fruits and vegetables, animal proteins such as meat, eggs, and dairy, and value-added food products, and they will still want to purchase flowers and vegetable seedlings.”

The article goes on to encourage farmers to change business models, meet the needs of the market, find ways to reach customer base without increasing potential exposure to COVID-19 and to continue to generate income.

Some of the methods suggested throughout the article include online or phone sales, delivery systems that promote safety, using social media, managing inventory, and adjusting scheduling with crops and livestock.

Geoff Schortgen, the extension educator, discussed how Wabash County specifically is dealing with the changes induced by the COVID-19 pandemic and how these changes might cause long term effects to farmers and the community.

“One thing Wabash County farmers do really well is farm. So they are getting their seeds in the ground and we are chugging along,” he said. “But we will have to wait and see for long term effects.”

With the ever-changing situation, he also said that it is hard to know what this will mean long term for the community, but at this point, things are doing alright when it comes to getting food to the community.

Manchester and Wabash Farmers markets are currently running while practicing social distancing, Schortgen noted.

In regards to the meat packing plants, many of the smaller ones are going full speed ahead while other larger ones are working hard to reopen.

“They are trying to get those plants open and trying to get information out to farmers, as far as the pork industry, to either slow the growth of their pigs or limit the amount of litters they are having,” he said.

For more information or help with issues arising in the agricultural fields, call Wabash County Purdue Extension at 260-563-0661, visit extension.purdue.edu/Wabash, or email gschortg@purdue.edu.

Eye on North Manchester

MPS EGG FARMS Expands Into Texas Market

MPS Egg Farms has purchased Feather Crest Farms, a Texas-based egg producer with two farms in Kurten, Texas, and Center, Texas.

The acquisition allows MPS Egg Farms to add approximately 1 million hens to its operation, for a total of 11 million hens – producing approximately 9.35 million eggs a day. The acquisition significantly enhances MPS Egg Farms’ geographic footprint, enabling the company to better serve existing and potential customers in Texas and beyond.

“We knew of Feather Crest Farms by reputation – they are solid and well-respected within the industry,” said Sam Krouse, Vice President of Business Development for MPS Egg Farms. “MPS Egg Farms is a sixthgeneration family-owned and operated company, so it was important that Feather Crest Farms share the same values and commitment to customer service and quality that we hold important.”

The Barrett family has been involved with Feather Crest since the 1950s, starting with Delvin Barrett, who began working there while a student at Texas A&M. The company was eventually purchased by the Barrett family in the 1970s, who has continually improved and expanded the operations. Following his death in 2001, his sons continued operation of the company until the MPS Egg Farms acquisition.

While there are no immediate expansion plans for the 70-year-old Texasbased farms, Dan Krouse, Vice President of Operations for MPS Egg Farms, said that remodeling existing facilities and expanding production are part of the long-term plan. For now, it’s business as usual.

“We hired everyone that was employed at Feather Crest Farms, a total of 96 people, which brings our total to about 630 employees nationally. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, transition of the farms is occurring electronically. Thankfully, no one from Indiana was planning to spend extended time in Texas because the expertise and strength of the Feather Crest team is already strong,” said Dan Krouse.

The farms will retain their local names – Feather Crest Farms (Kurten, Texas) and Pineywoods (Center Texas) – with the addition of MPS Egg Farms signs. The products produced are private label.

THE KROUSES (from left): Dan Krouse, VP of Operations; Bob Krouse, CEO; and Sam Krouse, VP of Business Development.

Wabash’s own Crystal Gayle opened the newly renovated Eagles Theatre. The new marquee lights up the street at night. Each suite has a view of the stage. North Manchester artist Penny French Deal worked on the ceiling of the ballroom.

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