Veteran Spotlight on Tim Hermsen

Thank you to longtime employee Tim Hermsen for his service to our country! Tim enlisted in the US Army when he was 19 years old and soon was a generator mechanic on a missile unit stationed in Germany, tucked right inside the German border. He served in Germany for two years, then did one year in the US Army Reserves, where his unit built roads in the mountains of Honduras.

The college funding the Army made available to him took him to Kirkwood Community College, where he pursued a swine management degree. It’s also where he met his wife, Kris. Together, they moved back to his hometown of Colesburg, Iowa to join the family farming operation. A few years later, Tim was recruited by Iowa Select Farms and he and Kris began a new chapter of their lives in Iowa Falls.

Two big lessons he learned from his experience. “When serving in the military, you are rotated every 18-36 months to a new place with new people,” he explains. “We all know what it’s like to be the new guy; even if you are tenured in the military, you are still new. That experience reminds me of when we have people come on board to be friendly and go out of your way to make them feel like they are a part of something.”

The second? Treasure those lifelong friendships. This summer, Tim has a trip planned with four of the soldiers he was stationed with in Germany. He’s looking forward to reconnecting with buddies he served his country with nearly 40 years ago.

Today, Tim is a senior finishing supervisor who oversees our north central finishing region.

Tim is one of nearly 30 employees and contractors whom Iowa Select Farms recognize with the SelectCare Excellence Award.