Select Genetics Holds Groundbreaking for New Hatchery

Select Genetics held its official groundbreaking ceremony for the new 118,000 square foot hatchery being built in Terre Haute, Indiana.  When completed in the summer of 2018 this will be the largest turkey incubation and hatching facility in the world. Key local officials, the Economic Development Corporation, industry representatives and members of the community joined Aviagen and Select Genetics in celebrating the progress that has been made on this new facility. 

Jihad Douglas, CEO of Select Genetics, said “We are proud to become a part of the Indiana turkey industry with this latest investment.  Aviagen and Select Genetics are fortunate to have owners that are committed to investing in infrastructure and the future of the turkey industry. This facility will complement a similar hatchery that was completed in Iowa in 2011 and the company’s four other hatcheries around the U.S.”

According to Rick Vanderspek, President of Select Genetics, “When looking for a hatchery site, we obviously wanted a location that was convenient to our customer base.  Terre Haute was in the right place, but just as important was a welcoming community with the employee base and infrastructure to support the operation of a hatchery this size.  We’ve been very pleased with the progress thus far and look forward to being a part of the community for years to come.” 

The hatchery was designed using the experience of John Sims, Aviagen Hatchery Specialist and Larry B. Smith, Jr. (JR) of L. B. Smith & Associate. Shawn Peltier is Select Genetics’ project manager for the hatchery and provided the following overview, “The design work was completed in May and Garmong Construction was appointed at that time allowing us to begin site preparation work during the summer months. The total site is 40 acres and the hatchery will have the equivalent of 2.7 acres under roof.  It will be equipped with the most advanced Jamesway single-stage incubation and hatching equipment and will have the capacity to set 61 million eggs per year.”

Douglas concluded, “Thank you to all that joined us in this groundbreaking ceremony.  We are pleased to be a part of this community and look forward to hosting an open house in 2018.”