One of my great honors is starting my first day with US Poultry & Egg Association at the Workforce Success and Engagement Conference eight years ago.

This conference provides human resource professionals in the poultry and egg industry with perspectives on day-to-day issues concerning our industry workers in today’s work environment. Our industry workers are our most important asset, and this impactful conference provided attendees with a safe and non-competitive environment to learn valuable opportunities to learn and engage with fellow professionals on supporting, educating, and retaining our industry workers.

The recent 2025 Workforce Success and Engagement Conference topics included timely updates from leading experts on the latest out of Washington, D.C., including information on labor policy changes, legislative actions, immigration and worker safety. Legal experts expanded on the immigration discussion by highlighting legal challenges to Visa and Temporary Protected Status (TPS) programs. Helpful resources were provided on preparation for governmental audits of worker eligibility requirements and preparations for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) inspections.

Panel discussions were conducted on retention and recruiting best practices, morale boosting for employee engagement and the next generation management, and upskilling and reskilling employees. These panel discussions allowed both the panel participants and the audience to share practical information on skills that have benefited their workforce and take away skills that can enhance their already established programs.

Open discussions on community and human relations centered around forming vital relationships with community officials, such as those in public health, emergency management, housing, transportation and with community churches. These relationships are essential in forming constructive connections that educate the employees and the community. Discussions around recognizing stress and healthy ways to cope with turmoil provided attendees with ways to manage complex scenarios and strategies for lessening the stressors of the attendees and their employees.

The Joint Poultry Human Resource Council, made up of members of the US Poultry & Egg Association, National Chicken Council and National Turkey Federation, met to discuss new administration policies affecting the industry and provide updated resources for HR professionals. The council also discussed developing resources for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) for HR professionals, including supporting and guiding workers during an HPAI event. Finally, it shared success stories and compliance solutions that should be highlighted.  

The Workforce Engagement and Success Conference is a critical forum for poultry and egg industry HR professionals. It allows professionals to share, learn and grow. Support for the HR professionals in our industry is needed as we are looking to recruit and retain the workforce of tomorrow. These individuals are at the forefront of the industry, providing a safe and productive workplace. Without our employees, we cannot feed the world. A well-staffed, trained and healthy workforce is the key to an industry's success.