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Jay Dee Graber sits at a fascinating intersection in the poultry industry as president of Michiana Equipment. Serving northern Indiana's substantial Amish farming community, he bridges traditional agricultural practices with modern poultry production requirements while navigating his own journey from reluctant family business participant to determined second-generation leader.

Growing up on his father's broiler farm, Jay Dee initially swore he'd never join the family equipment business. Yet by 2018, he found himself taking on leadership responsibilities, learning crucial lessons about financial management and people leadership. When COVID hit in 2020, his father stepped back, leaving Jay Dee fully at the helm of a business that provides essential feed, water, ventilation, and electrical systems to poultry producers.

What makes Jay Dee's perspective particularly valuable is his deep understanding of Amish farming operations. Contrary to common stereotypes, he reveals that Amish farmers generally embrace technology that improves efficiency while maintaining their family-centered approach to agriculture. The typical 20,000-bird operation fits perfectly with both their farm size (usually 40-60 acres) and practical considerations like feed delivery and egg pickup schedules.

Perhaps most remarkable are Jay Dee's insights into what he calls "unconscious sustainability" - practices that have been standard in Amish communities for generations but are now trending in modern agriculture. From solar power adoption to maintaining diverse farm operations with gardens and multiple animal species, these methods reflect a long tradition of self-sufficiency. Equally impressive is the community response when disaster strikes, as recently demonstrated when neighbors immediately stepped in to run a farm after its owner was hospitalized following an accident.

For emerging leaders, Jay Dee offers straightforward advice: build relationships, help others (even competitors), and stay adaptable. As the poultry industry faces increasing challenges from biosecurity threats to market volatility, this willingness to collaborate and innovate becomes essential for success.

Want more leadership insights from across the poultry industry? Subscribe to the Poultry Leadership Podcast and leave a review to help others discover this valuable resource.

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

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A gentle voice with decades of wisdom, Mohamed Mousa reveals how his childhood experience of losing baby chicks in Egypt became the foundation for revolutionary animal welfare practices that transformed an entire industry.

From tending a small flock by the Nile River to implementing poultry management systems across the globe, Mohamed's 40-year journey contains profound lessons about leadership, compassion, and the unexpected connection between profitability and proper animal care. "Animal welfare is always a money maker for the business," he explains, challenging conventional thinking that treats ethics and economics as opposing forces.

Mohamed opens up about the mentors who shaped his philosophy—particularly Dr. Nagel, who shared knowledge with one condition: "You have to pass this to others." This commitment to knowledge transfer has become Mohamed's life mission. "I don't own this knowledge," he reflects. "It's borrowed information I have to lend to somebody else." His relationship with Herbruck's Farms owner Stephen Herbruck—founder of what is now Prism Controls—shows how visionary leadership can elevate entire organizations when values align.

Perhaps most powerful is Mohamed's approach to mistakes. Rather than seeing errors as termination-worthy offenses, he views them as "the best teaching moments ever." Through his own painful story of losing birds to a tripped breaker, he demonstrates how analyzing failures can lead to systemic improvements and deeper commitment.

For young professionals, Mohamed's message is clear: develop genuine passion for the animals, understand their needs deeply, build strong teams through listening, and recognize that food production carries responsibility to both animals and consumers. As he approaches his 72nd year with no retirement plans, his definition of purpose remains beautifully simple: "Life is about serving others."

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

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Ever wondered how the chicken on your plate became so efficient to produce? The answer lies in cutting-edge genetic science happening behind the scenes at companies like Cobb-Ventress. Brandon Mulnix sits down with William Herring, Vice President of Cobb-Ventress, at the Animal Ag Tech Innovation Summit in Dallas to uncover the fascinating intersection of artificial intelligence, camera technology, and poultry genetics.

With experience spanning beef cattle, pork, and now broiler chicken genetics, Herring brings unique cross-species perspective to genetic improvement. He walks us through Cobb's three-pronged approach to innovation: developing new genetic products, implementing cutting-edge science in their ongoing breeding programs, and staying ahead of scientific breakthroughs. The conversation reveals how every bird in their breeding program receives its own "social security number" and has countless traits measured to determine which individuals will create the next generation of broilers.

The most captivating revelations come when Herring details how AI and camera technology are revolutionizing trait measurement. Traditional subjective scoring systems are being replaced with precision phenotyping that can analyze bird locomotion and even monitor mating behavior to address industry-wide hatchability challenges. We also get an inside look at Cobb's impressive "Proving Grounds" facility where they can test 40,000 breeding females simultaneously and produce 100,000 broiler eggs weekly for evaluation. Their relationship with parent company Tyson Foods allows for comprehensive meat quality assessment, creating what Herring calls a complete "playbook" for each new genetic product.

Facing a future where beef prices reach record highs and pork supplies fluctuate due to African Swine Fever, Herring predicts continued global growth for poultry. For aspiring leaders, he emphasizes building teams with individuals smarter than yourself who can execute at high levels. Listen now for a fascinating glimpse into the technology shaping our food future and the leadership principles guiding agricultural innovation.

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