André Blok has been with Schothorst Feed Research since 1990. He started as an animal caretaker for the cattle but after five years, a reorganization offered him the opportunity to transition into the technical department. To make this change, André had to retrain in technical skills, something he never regretted. “My work is incredibly diverse,” he says with a smile. “I handle the feed and water dosing systems in the barns, but I’m also responsible for all technical equipment in the offices and labs. Sometimes, the work can be unpredictable, and you have to think on your feet during breakdowns, but that’s what makes it so rewarding. When you fix an issue quickly, everyone’s happy!”

Henk den Hartigh started his career at Schothorst Feed Research in 1983 as a lab analyst, working just twenty hours a week. "I wasn’t only in the lab, I also helped with poultry research. For example, I 'milked' roosters for hen insemination," he says with a laugh. By the late ‘80s, veterinary tasks were added to his role, such as drawing blood and histology.

Jaap started at Schothorst Feed Research in August 1982 as a pig caretaker, right after attending agricultural school. "In my first year, I also had the opportunity to explore other animal species, which gave me a good understanding of the entire operation," he says. Schothorst is a research company, which makes the work slightly different compared to a regular livestock farm. Jaap still regularly helps with research involving cattle and poultry. “It’s great how well everyone works together here, and how we support each other during busy research periods. It also adds variety to the work,” he says with satisfaction.

Jack attended agricultural school in Zwolle, specializing in pig and poultry farming. In August 1996, he joined Schothorst Feed Research as a poultry caretaker. "At that time, we had three barns: for laying hens, broilers, and parent stock, and there were only three of us working. Over the years, we’ve added more barns, animals, and staff," he explains. In addition to regular duties, Schothorst also conducts nutritional research with ducks and turkeys, which Jack finds an interesting expansion, as these sectors also require nutritional expertise.

Mirjam Scholten completed her vocational training in laboratory technology, but in the 1980s, there were limited job opportunities in the field. As a result, she initially worked as an administrative assistant at a post office. However, her passion for lab work remained, and on September 5, 1989, she started at Schothorst, initially through a temp agency, working two days a week.

Next year, Rienk van der Scheer will celebrate his 35th anniversary at Schothorst Feed Research. “In the late '80s, after studying Animal Husbandry in Groningen, it was difficult to find work,” he shares. As a result, Rienk pursued further education in Agricultural Informatics. He started on May 1, 1990, as an assistant in feed automation at Schothorst.

Wilfried van Straalen has been a cattle researcher at Schothorst Feed Research for over thirty years. “I was still working on my PhD in Wageningen when Piet van der Aar invited me to join Schothorst,” he recalls. “The position immediately appealed to me, so I started in Lelystad. As a result, the completion of my dissertation took a bit longer than I had planned.”