Ralco is pleased to announce that Tom Bruin was presented with the 2018 Minnesota Turkey Growers Association (MTGA) Allied Lifetime Achievement Award. He received the award in recognition for outstanding service and dedication to Minnesota’s turkey industry. Bruin has been involved in the turkey industry for more than 40 years. He has demonstrated long-term support of the MTGA. He is well respected by peers and customers and is committed to enhancing Minnesota’s turkey industry.
Brad Kelley serves on the Allied Committee and presented Bruin with the award. “I think Tom has been a mentor in many ways in this industry. He has always been willing to go the extra mile and help people learn. He is a great person to be around and he is very dedicated to the turkey industry,” he said.
At the beginning of his career Bruin achieved a Master’s in Animal Science and worked as a research scientist under Dr. Paul Waibel at the University of Minnesota Turkey Research program and Rosemount Turkey Research Unit. He served in that role until 1979 when he went to work in Indiana for the Armour company as a service representative.
Bruin moved his family to Willmar, MN in the winter of 1981 after accepting a position with GTA Feeds as a sales and technical service representative. In 1984 Bruin accepted a position with Willmar Poultry Company as a medication and purchasing manager for the PALS Company where he worked for 29 years. In 2013 Bruin accepted a position with Ralco where he conducts research, provides technical support and performs poultry business development.
“I have always enjoyed working with the people who make up the turkey industry. Over the years I have liked helping them solve their problems. It has been a great honor that the MTGA considered me for this award, and I am truly humbled by this recognition,” Bruin said.
