COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Ohio Poultry Association (OPA) announced its 2022 award recipients during the organization’s annual banquet held last month in Columbus. This year, three awards were distributed to individuals and organizations who have greatly contributed to Ohio’s egg, chicken and turkey farming communities.
“It’s exciting to have the opportunity to recognize these individuals who have made a tremendous impact in our industry,” said Jim Chakeres, OPA executive vice president. “Their tireless efforts to advance agriculture have not gone unnoticed, and we’re grateful to have them as a part of the Ohio egg and poultry community.”
Awards and recipients at the annual OPA Banquet and Industry Celebration included:Â
Golden Egg Award: Kurt LauseckerÂ
The Golden Egg Award recognizes an individual that has worked to advance the mission and values of the poultry industry. This year, the award was given to Kurt Lausecker of Raymond, Ohio. Lausecker is a recognized egg industry veteran with more than 40 years of experience. He started his career in Germany, but new opportunities brought him to Ohio, where he served as general manager at Daylay Egg Farm and was later promoted to president, which ultimately propelled his career and leadership in the egg industry. Through his work and innovation at Daylay, Lausecker led the charge on research studies and collaboration efforts to improve air quality and employee welfare. In 2007, Lausecker founded Nature Pure, which has become one of the top producers of organic eggs in the United States. Lausecker is a strong advocate for egg farmers nationwide and has served in many board leadership positions.
Industry Partner Award: Capitol AdvocatesÂ
The Industry Partner Award is given to an organization that works to support our business. This year’s award was presented to Capitol Advocates of Columbus, Ohio. Capitol Advocates has worked in partnership with Ohio’s egg, turkey and chicken farmers at the Ohio Statehouse for more than two decades. This organization, through non-partisan approaches, has ensured the egg, chicken and turkey industry has been well represented on a variety of legislative issues – from water quality rules to advocating on overall animal welfare standards.
Career Achievement Award: Dr. Susan SkorupskiÂ
Dr. Susan Skorupski, of Grove City, was recognized at this year’s event for her years of service to Ohio’s poultry industry. Skorupski retired last month as the Area Veterinary in Charge for Ohio for District 2 for the USDA Veterinary Services. Her passion for doing the right thing for producers and advancing the agriculture industry have been her guiding principles throughout her career. She previously served as area epidemiologist and field veterinary medical officer in Ohio. Prior to government service, Dr. Skorupski worked in a mixed animal practice in Holmes and Wayne counties where she primarily worked with dairy cattle.
Ohio’s egg, chicken, and turkey farms are significant contributors to the success of the state’s economy. Ohio is one of the leading states in egg production and produces more than 10 billion eggs each year with an estimated retail value of $523 million. Ohio is also a leader in chicken and turkey production with more than 570 million pounds of chicken and 305 million pounds of turkey produced annually. Ohio’s egg, chicken, and turkey farms create nearly 16,000 jobs annually, plus an additional 60,000 jobs in supplier and ancillary industries.
For more information, visit the OPA website at www.ohiopoultry.org.
— Ohio Poultry Association