Angela Barreau
Carrie Roach
Carrie saw the request for the project and took initiative to adopt it as her own, while Angela played a key role in testing by requesting improvements and sharing her unique lab perspective to enhance usability. With the new system now months into operation, Angela shares her perspective on what the success of the project means to her.
WHAT IS YOUR CURRENT ROLE AND HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN WITH FOREMOST FARMS?
I first joined Foremost Farms in 2002 as a lab technician. Over the years, I’ve grown within the organization and stepped into my current role as Lab Supervisor at the Richland Center plant in 2017.
WHAT ORIGINALLY BROUGHT YOU TO FOREMOST FARMS AND WHAT HAS KEPT YOU HERE?
I started at Foremost Farms right after finishing college. Foremost Farms appealed to me because the plant is in my hometown and it gave me the chance to do the lab work I truly enjoy. Whether it’s something happening in production or in the lab, there’s always something new to tackle and the work keeps you on your toes.
PLEASE DESCRIBE SOME HIGHLIGHTS OF YOUR ROLE WITHIN FOREMOST FARMS:
With my years of experience, I like to think I bring consistency and stability to the lab. I’ve had the chance to take on a wide range of responsibilities – from antibiotic training to installing new lab equipment to serving as the plant’s Environmental Coordinator. Each of these experiences has helped me build skills that I can now pass on to others.
YOU RECENTLY RECEIVED THE BREAKTHROUGH THINKER AWARD AS PART OF THE 2025 UDDER EXCELLENCE AWARDS. WHAT DOES THIS RECOGNITION MEAN TO YOU?
It was a nice surprise that we were considered for this award. I’m especially proud that the recognition is shared with the lab staff who helped test IT’s ideas. It truly was a team effort!
YOUR NOMINATION HIGHLIGHTED YOUR TEAMWORK IN BUILDING A SYSTEM THAT AUTOMATICALLY CREATED FINISHED GOOD SAMPLES AND ADDED THEM TO THE R12 SAMPLE TESTING SYSTEM USING BATCHING DATA. WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO TAKE ON THIS PROJECT, AND IN WHAT WAYS DO YOU FEEL IT’S MADE A MEANINGFUL DIFFERENCE IN IMPROVING OUR DAILY OPERATIONS COMPARED TO THE OLD PROCESS?
The project began with IT listening for what sample data systems would help labs. IT built the foundation, and the Richland Center lab staff helped test their plans and provide feedback on what worked and what needed refining. The result has been a major time saver for the lab. We can now register samples as a group instead of individually, which streamlines our workflow significantly
HOW DOES THIS PROJECT DEMONSTRATE THE POWER OF CROSS-FUNCTIONAL COLLABORATION BETWEEN IT/SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT AND THE LAB?
The IT group has always been great to work with, and they play a key role in installing and supporting many of our lab systems. Collaboration is essential – when both sides understand each other’s needs and goals, the end result is a solution that truly works for everyone.
