VERSAILLES – On Tuesday, April 15th, members of the Versailles FFA Chapter, along with alumni and family members, participated in an educational tour of Cole Luthman’s cage-free poultry facility.
This visit offered a valuable opportunity for students and supporters to gain a deeper understanding of modern poultry production and farm management before the arrival of birds. During the tour, attendees explored the barns and learned about the daily operations involved in managing a large-scale, cage-free egg-laying facility.
Cole Luthman guided the group through the process, highlighting key components such as animal welfare practices, feeding systems, and barn ventilation. Participants also toured the egg-packing area, where they learned about the logistics of collecting, grading, and packaging eggs.
Cole shared insights on the volume of eggs processed each day, as well as the labor and technology required to maintain efficiency and quality standards.
An informative portion of the tour included a walkthrough of the manure management system. Attendees were shown how manure is handled and stored in a sustainable and environmentally responsible manner, which sparked further discussion on nutrient management and environmental stewardship in agriculture.
The event concluded with a catered dinner, providing a time for fellowship and reflection on the experience. Those in attendance included: Madilyn Wagner, Rhylan Broerman, Greta Broering, Karlie Litten, Frankie Broerman, Dylan Meyer, Josie Pothast, Kolt Petitjean, Noah Seger, Owen Rindler, Nathan Timmerman, Jeremiah Wagner, Elias Moiser, Simone Broering, Cale Garland, Levi Subler, Kalivia Petitjean, Kayle Petitjean, along with additional family members and FFA alumni.
A special thank you to Cole Luthman for sharing his new poultry operation with all of us.