A Day in the Life at Sunrise Farms with Johnny Troyer, Feed Mill Manager
At Sunrise Farms in Virginia, quality animal feeds don’t happen by accident. The high standards we uphold for our feed start long before it reaches the bag.
Each day, Feed Mill Manager Johnny Troyer plays a crucial role in ensuring every step of the process upholds our goals of producing clean, locally sourced feed, respecting local relationships, and adhering to non-GMO integrity. Let’s see what an average day on the farm may look like for Johnny.
7:15 am: Local Grain Delivery
Just after the sun begins peeking above the horizon, the first truck rolls into the farm with freshly harvested corn or soybeans. Johnny gets to work overseeing the weigh-ins and grain unloading. This particular load of grain comes from a local farm that is a long-time partner of Sunrise Farms.
“Most of our grain comes from people we know and have worked with for years,” Johnny says. “That trust works both ways.”
We source most of our grains locally to support the regional economy and maintain a direct line from field to feed.
7:48 am: Sampling and Moisture Testing
Johnny collects samples from each load and performs moisture testing on-site.
“Moisture is key to keeping grain stable and safe in storage,” he explains.
This crucial step determines how and where we store the grain and whether or not we can accept it.
8:31 am: Mill Oversight and Bulk Deliveries
Johnny switches his focus to feed production. He monitors the blending and batching processes to ensure consistency in all of our products. The mill schedule also needs to be reviewed to accommodate the latest orders for non-GMO feeds, minerals or supplements.
He also oversees outgoing bulk deliveries, ensuring drivers have delivery details and documentation before trucks head out.
“Our customers depend on accuracy and reliability,” he notes.“It’s my job to ensure we deliver on that promise.”
11:13 am: GMO and Residual Chemical Testing
Non-GMO feed uses grains that are not genetically modified. To ensure confidence in our feeds, we have become non-GMO verified. Because healthy, sustainable farming practices are important to us, we take extra steps to verify the purity of our feeds.
Johnny regularly sends samples from incoming grain to a third-party lab to test for glyphosate and over 300 chemicals found in pesticide residue.
“We want our customers to know exactly what’s in their feed and, more importantly, what’s not,” Johnny says.
1:22 pm: Recordkeeping and Forecasting
Throughout the day, Johnny oversees recordkeeping and detailed logs of tests, deliveries and incoming loads. In addition, warehouse supplies need to be monitored and raw materials and supplies ordered.
“It’s easy to overlook organization on busy days,” he says. “But making sure we document things like test results and inventory levels keeps operations running smoothly, which has a big impact on our customers.”
All of these steps are critical for the farm’s quality control and compliance.
3:37 pm: Next Day Planning (or Last-Minute Delivery?)
It is nearing the end of the day, and delivery drivers are returning to be loaded for a run the following day. Today, a truck is needing maintenance. Johnny schedules that with our in-house mechanic so that it can be back on the road in the morning.
On rare occasions, if needed, Johnny steps away from his desk and gets behind the wheel. With the feed loaded and the route mapped, he makes the delivery himself.
“If I can help keep things running smoothly for our customers, I’m happy to do it,” Johnny says.
Whether in the feed mill office or on the road, Johnny’s deep knowledge of our operations and the people we serve keeps things running without interruption.
As the day winds down, Johnny checks tomorrow’s schedule, knowing another round of grain, tests, and deliveries awaits.
At Sunrise Farms, every step matters. Thanks to Johnny and the rest of our dedicated team, that commitment shows in everything we do.
Choose Sunrise Farms Non-GMO Feed
For over 20 years, our family has been committed to ethical farming and fresh, non-GMO feed. Stop by our farm or contact us today to give your animals the feed they deserve and see the difference it makes.
