 |
The Experience Behind
Protein Alliance
Jeff Stauffenecker and Carl Wittenburg created Protein Alliance in May of 1999, to follow their dreams of being entrepreneurs. However,
for Jeff and Carl, their education and love for the turkey industry began long before.
Jeff grew up on a turkey farm in northern Minnesota. Being the older of two boys in the family, Jeff became the "natural" hired hand. Jeff
took an active role in daily operations of the family turkey farm. During his high school years, he was active in FFA and was awarded the
National Poultry Proficiency Award for his turkey production project by the National FFA Organization. Jeff credits the responsibility
and leadership roles given to him by his parents as a jump start to running his own business in the future.
|
Carl grew up where turkey, cattle, and grain were farmed in southeast North Dakota. Carl began his career in the turkey industry at age
3 by gathering turkey eggs with his father, mother, older sister, brother, and younger brother. Carl learned at a young age the value
of the family farm. His early introduction to responsibility, work ethic, and teamwork has given him a good head start in life to become
a successful entrepreneur.
Carl and Jeff have similar educational backgrounds with degrees from the University of Minnesota-Crookston and North Dakota State University. Carl
started a commercial turkey company in Rugby, ND, in 1985. After establishing the operation, he returned to North Dakota State University to
finish his bachelor's degree in University Studies with a minor in Food Science. He was then employed by Northern Pride, a seasonal
whole body turkey processing plant located in Thief River Falls, MN. Then, in 1992, an international breeding company called Euribrid/Hybrid
Turkeys recruited him as their United States sales representative. Carl spent the next two years in North Carolina. The remaining five years
with the company were spent in Alexandria, MN, where he continues to reside. Carl is married to Sharlene and they have three boys,
Nicholas, Nathaniel, and Wyatt.
Jeff holds an Associate of Science degree in Agriculture from the University of Minnesota-Crookston, a Bachelor of Science degree from
North Dakota State University in Agricultural Economics, and a minor in Business Administration. After graduating from college, Jeff spent two years working for Northern Pride as the Live Turkey Procurement Manager. He then
moved to Willmar, MN, and went to work for Jennie-O Foods as the Commodity Sales Manager. He was there four years before
teaming up with Carl to form Protein Alliance. Jeff lives in Willmar, MN, with his wife LeAnn and two daughters, Jenna and Abby.
|
