Posted: April 12, 2019

Menges will be honored by Penn State's Department of Animal Science on April 26 with a reception and at the Poultry Science Club's Spring Awards Banquet.

John Menges, Arendtsville, PA, will be honored by Penn State's Department of Animal Science with its 2019 Poultry Science Distinguished Alumnus award on April 26 with a reception from 2-4 p.m. at 324 Agricultural Science and Industries Building, University Park and at the Poultry Science Club's annual Spring Awards Banquet that evening at Above the Valley Special Event Center, Centre Hall.

Menges is Eastern Regional Manager for Best Veterinary Solutions, Inc. a position he has held since November, 2016. He has oversight for sales east of the Mississippi and is technical director for the United States. He also served as PA Growout Manager for the Virginia Poultry Growers Cooperative, in which he managed all aspects of No Antibiotics Ever and Organic turkey live production on 26 farms in PA. He was technical sales representative for Hybrid Turkeys, a Division of Hendrix Genetics, Ltd. from 2008-20012.

Menges graduated from Penn State with distinction, earning a B.S. in animal production/poultry science. He has continued his education with Wilson College, Chambersburg, studying educational psychology, technology for teaching and other education classes.

Dr. Terry Etherton, Head of the Department of Animal Science, said, "We are proud to honor John Menges for the many exceptional contributions he makes to the poultry industry. His leadership in developing Best Management Practices and working to educate turkey growers has had a positive and lasting influence on the industry."

Menges said, "After 31 years working in the poultry industry, primarily in PA, it is humbling to be recognized by peers in the industry. PA has such a rich and diverse poultry industry and it has been a pleasure to work with both industry people and poultry producers. People like the late Dr. Dave Kradel and others, including Dr. Bob Owen, Dave Boyer, John Martin, have been influential in my career. They have taught me to have passion and compassion for the animals under our control to provide a safe and economical food supply. It has been fun to work with Penn Staters all over the US during my career."

In addition to developing a manual for Best Management Practices which standardized practices for both technical support group and independent contract producers, he continues to provide training and educational programs on the latest in turkey production technology and biosecurity as well as the implications of sound water sanitation and the effects on bird performance. He has spoken at conferences and training programs through the country and internationally in Germany and the United Kingdom.

He began his career as a service technician within the turkey industry, working for Round Hill Foods, New Oxford, now Pilgrim's Pride.

As an undergraduate, Menges was a member of Delta Theta Sigma Agricultural Fraternity, including serving as president. He was active in the Block and Bridle Club and showed swine in the Little I.

Menges lives near Arendtsville, PA, with his wife Karen. They have two children, a daughter Hannah who will graduate from Penn State in May having majored in Animal Science with a Poultry Science minor, and a son Joseph, a freshman at Biglerville High School.