{"id":4217,"date":"2026-08-19T10:36:36","date_gmt":"2026-08-19T15:36:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.niacc.edu\/niacc-minute\/?p=4217"},"modified":"2026-08-19T10:36:37","modified_gmt":"2026-08-19T15:36:37","slug":"growing-more-than-poultry","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.niacc.edu\/niacc-minute\/2026\/08\/growing-more-than-poultry\/","title":{"rendered":"Growing More Than Poultry"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"Suzzee
Pictured is Suzzee Meusel, Vice President of Human Resources at Hoover’s Hatchery.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

For more than 80 years, Hoover\u2019s Hatchery<\/a> has been a trusted name in backyard poultry, hatching and shipping chicks from its headquarters in Rudd, Iowa. What began as a small family operation in 1944 has grown into the largest provider of backyard poultry in the United States, offering more than 200 breeds. With locations across multiple states and partnerships with major retailers, Hoover\u2019s Hatchery continues to expand its reach while staying true to its North Iowa roots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As the company has grown, so has its commitment to investing in its people. Hoover\u2019s Hatchery was introduced to NIACC\u2019s Business and Workforce Solutions<\/a> through a personal recommendation that quickly developed into a strong partnership. \u201cIt\u2019s a testament to how much impact a simple recommendation can have and we\u2019re glad we took that first step,\u201d said Suzzee Meusel, Vice President of Human Resources. With support from NIACC, the company has implemented trainings focused on leadership, safety, communication, and customer service, along with customized training tailored to their operations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The goal behind the partnership has always been clear: to support employees at every level. As Hoover\u2019s Hatchery continues to evolve, leadership recognized the need to address skill gaps and prepare their workforce for new challenges. \u201cWe want to help our employees perform better in their current roles while also expanding their skill sets for future growth,\u201d Meusel shared. NIACC provided a way to deliver development opportunities without disrupting daily operations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The experience has been both seamless and impactful. Employees have responded enthusiastically, often sharing how the skills they gained have benefited them at work and in their personal lives. \u201cPeople don\u2019t just tolerate the training. They genuinely enjoy it and come away wanting more,\u201d said Meusel. This engagement has contributed to stronger communication, increased safety awareness, and a noticeable shift in workplace culture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today, the results speak for themselves. Hoover\u2019s Hatchery has seen meaningful improvements in communication, leadership, and daily operations. Their team is more confident, collaborative, and better equipped to support continued growth. For businesses across North Iowa, Meusel offers this advice: \u201cIf you haven\u2019t connected with NIACC\u2019s Business and Workforce Solutions team, you\u2019re leaving a real resource on the table.\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

Inspired by Hoover’s Hatchery’s success? NIACC partners with businesses of all sizes to deliver customized training solutions that help employees grow and organizations succeed. Learn more about Customized Training<\/a> or request a consultation<\/a> to discuss your workforce development needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

For more than 80 years, Hoover\u2019s Hatchery has been a trusted name in backyard poultry, hatching and shipping chicks from its headquarters in Rudd, Iowa. What began as a small family operation in 1944 has grown into the largest provider of backyard poultry in the United States, offering more than 200 breeds. With locations across […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":136,"featured_media":4218,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[146,148],"tags":[200,226],"class_list":["post-4217","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-inspiration","category-niacc-stories","tag-business-and-workforce-solutions","tag-customized-training"],"yoast_head":"\nGrowing More Than Poultry - NIACC Minute<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.niacc.edu\/niacc-minute\/2026\/08\/growing-more-than-poultry\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Growing More Than Poultry\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"For more than 80 years, Hoover\u2019s Hatchery has been a trusted name in backyard poultry, hatching and shipping chicks from its headquarters in Rudd, Iowa. 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