Growing up ..
|
My name is Lisa and I've lived in Minnesota my entire life. I grew up in the small town of Sleepy Eye. While I never had many pets, I've always loved all types of animals.
I was the kid who had Zoobooks and checked out library books on all sort of animals Instead of cartoons, I would watch animal shows on the Discovery channel or Animal Planet. I immediately gravitated towards peoples' pets or livestock, finding more company with them than people. I was otherwise a very shy, stoic, and untalkative Tomboy. I enjoyed my independence and being alone. I preferred my toy animals, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and Batman over Barbies and babydolls. |
|
|
In 4th grade, I joined 4-H. I started off showing my hamsters at the pet show and entering art exhibits at the fairs - usually photos, paintings, or drawings. I would also volunteer to work at the horse shows handing out ribbons.
As I grew, I started showing larger animals, such as pigs leased from my uncle and Suffolk sheep leased by my ag teacher. I did very well with sheep - winning several of my classes and even going to the state fair and winning our class with my yearling Suffolk ewe, "Annabelle", in 2000. In high school, I joined Future Farmers of America (FFA) and participated on the poultry and horse judging teams. I even won regional individual champion for poultry one year! I started my first job as part-time kitchen help at the age of 14 washing dishes, making pizzas, and doing prep work. When I turned 17, I worked at a nursing home in town as a nursing assistant until high school graduation in 2004. |
|
I enrolled at Minnesota State University in the fall of 2004 and graduated in May of 2009. I have a Bachelor's degree in biology with an emphasis in animal sciences and a minor in chemistry. During those years, I took a very special interest in genetics and reproduction.
In addition to my coursework, I was able to do several independent study projects for credit with a favorite biology professor; I studied parasitic controls in a swine barn, extraction, counting and development of staining techniques of the Cyathocotyle bushiensis (Digenea) parasite I had extracted from segments of deceased ducks found and turned into the University by the DNR, and observation of veterinary dental and surgical procedures at the vet clinic I worked at. |
|
|
During college, I also worked several part-time jobs. One was at a sow farm near home as a farrowing technician and, occasionally, as a breeding technician over summer and winter breaks.
I worked part-time during the school year as the kennel staff at a veterinary clinic where I took care of cats and dogs in for boarding or treatment. And I picked up pet and livestock-sitting jobs for several of the veterinarians. I also picked up pet-sitting jobs through veterinarian referral to a couple of their clinic clients. In my last year, I was able to work a temporary position at a research nursery barn through a swine vet clinic. |
|
After college, I moved home to start working back at the farm. That same year, I changed jobs from the sow farm to a boar stud. And within one year, I was made interim farm manager until a new one was hired. Within 2 years, I was promoted to a full-time farm manager.
At the boar stud, I was able to attend several expos, trade shows, symposiums, and listen to several speakers from all over the world. I learned quite a bit on (swine) reproduction, artificial insemination, genetics, health, welfare, and more. I also picked up some very useful skills from working on the farm; maintenance, carpentry, and electrical. |
I had spent the last 12 years in pigs. The hard work was beginning to take a toll on me physically. By November 2016, in addition to other health issues, I decided to leave the swine industry. While I don't miss the long 12 hr.+ days the barn, in the I do miss being able to work with the pigs.
|
Shortly after, I was hired at a manufacturing plant in a neighboring town. I worked shift work out for about 2 months and started training on an upgrade position. I wasn't afraid to get my hands dirty and take on more responsibility so I was looking for better paying opportunity. The Environmental/Safety Coordinator was retiring so I signed for the position when it posted as I had taken several environmental classes in college as well. I was chosen for an interview, and within a few weeks, I was notified I had been awarded the job.
|
|
In December 2016, shortly after I left the farm, I was contacted by the overseeing veterinarian of the boar stud that I had worked with for the last 7 years. He had left the clinic and was starting up his own practice and wanted me to run his swine andrology lab - which is an independent lab that examines boar semen quality sent in from different boar studs.
By January of 2017, the lab opened for business with very primitive beginnings. Through trial and error, I had developed analysis procedures based off all my experience working at the boar stud. Within a couple months, the total number of submission samples had grown fairly substantially and I had to hire on another person. We had also made a big purchase of the IVOS II CASA system to help with faster cell grading and motility. |
As we were fairly new, the genetic company I worked with at the boar stud had approached the vet about using us as a foundation andrology lab to help develop procedures to set up their own additional reference labs in various other countries. We agreed as they brought a substantial amount of business to the lab and continue to do so today.
|
A Dutch veterinarian, Dr. Hanneke Feitsma, became the overseer of the program development for the genetic company. Over the next couple of years, we worked closely together to make our lab better. Not only did her contribution help establish the procedures needed for reporting results back to the genetic company, but it also helped our lab fine tune our current procedures and develop better result reporting to our other clients.
She was a frequent speaker at several of the conferences I had been to in the past, so I was a excited to begin working with someone very well-known in the field of swine reproduction. Dr. Feitsma was also from Leeuwarden in the Netherlands. And, given my love for Friesians, she played a big role in helping me correctly pronounce the names of Friesian stallions. Unfortunately, Dr. Feitsma suddenly became very ill and passed away in early 2020. |
|
Analysis includes grading morphology (CASA and microscopic) and acrosomal integrity, motility, concentration, bacterial culturing, and volumes. Our lab helps stud farms monitor their quality of semen being used at sow farms. We can track trends to maintain or correct problems and ensure equipment is functioning properly or help locate areas of improvement for stud farm lab employee training. We currently have customers in Minnesota, Iowa, South Dakota, Nebraska, Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, and Illinois to name a few, and also service studs in Mexico, and occasionally Canada and Australia.
|
Hobbies and interests ..
Outside of my non-stop horse hobby, I’m an avid outdoor person, bake/cook, researcher, and history fanatic.
I love to hike. I must warn people in the beginning when they hike with me, “Dropping dead is not an excuse.” When I say we are hiking, I mean we are just shy of needing climbing equipment. Pack plenty of survival gear and water because we are going out of cell service on a one-lane, sketchy forest road in a high clearance vehicle with a sheer drop off on at least one side and car-sized pot holes - those are where some of the best trails are, where few dare to travel.
My favorite location is out in beautiful Washington state - especially in the Cascade Mountain range. All the waterfalls, forests, beaches, mountains, and there's also Mt. St. Helen’s, Mt. Shuksan, Mt. Baker, and (my favorite) Mt. Rainier.
I love to hike. I must warn people in the beginning when they hike with me, “Dropping dead is not an excuse.” When I say we are hiking, I mean we are just shy of needing climbing equipment. Pack plenty of survival gear and water because we are going out of cell service on a one-lane, sketchy forest road in a high clearance vehicle with a sheer drop off on at least one side and car-sized pot holes - those are where some of the best trails are, where few dare to travel.
My favorite location is out in beautiful Washington state - especially in the Cascade Mountain range. All the waterfalls, forests, beaches, mountains, and there's also Mt. St. Helen’s, Mt. Shuksan, Mt. Baker, and (my favorite) Mt. Rainier.
I also love to garden for tons of flowers as well as fruits and veggies. I try to plant or grow pollinator friendly plant species to attract as many of those little busy bodies as possible, especially bees. I mean, who in their right mind doesn't enjoy bees - they make honey!
And I enjoy being in the kitchen when I can. I don’t usually get to cook big meals or make a lot of sweets so it’s always a pleasure to be able to share it with friends and family.
Reading and research is also one of my favorite things. I’m a very curious person by nature. Very rarely will a day go by where I didn’t look something up, regardless of how insignificant it may have been. I’m not much of a story reader but you will almost always find me reading about a topic on human/animal-health, horse-related (bits, horsemanship, training, etc.), or the history of horse breeds or back in the old-world and medieval times. From ancient Egyptians to Teutonic Knights, to Vikings and everything in between.
I've found that in order to understand the present, we must learn from the past to ensure a better future. I’m always treading along on the continuous path of knowledge and education. It’s made me a better, logical, more well-rounded person.
And I enjoy being in the kitchen when I can. I don’t usually get to cook big meals or make a lot of sweets so it’s always a pleasure to be able to share it with friends and family.
Reading and research is also one of my favorite things. I’m a very curious person by nature. Very rarely will a day go by where I didn’t look something up, regardless of how insignificant it may have been. I’m not much of a story reader but you will almost always find me reading about a topic on human/animal-health, horse-related (bits, horsemanship, training, etc.), or the history of horse breeds or back in the old-world and medieval times. From ancient Egyptians to Teutonic Knights, to Vikings and everything in between.
I've found that in order to understand the present, we must learn from the past to ensure a better future. I’m always treading along on the continuous path of knowledge and education. It’s made me a better, logical, more well-rounded person.
|
Interesting Fact: I'm also an ordained minister through the Universal Life Church. (I have removed by middle name for security purposes.) I am legally able to officiate several functions such as weddings, funerals, and baptisms in the state of Minnesota as well as most other states and U.S. territories. |