Good Egg Award goes to veterinary supplier
The state’s egg industry on Thursday honored a Modesto man who has long helped chickens and other animals stay healthy.
The 52nd annual Good Egg Award went to John Scheuber, a leader for 35 years at Veterinary Service Inc., which supplies health products for livestock and pets.
The award was part of a DoubleTree Hotel event that, as usual, featured custom-made omelets and raised money for agriculture students at Modesto Junior College. About 350 people attended.
VSI, founded in 1960, employs 47 people at its headquarters and warehouse on Bangs Avenue and 205 others at branches in Merced, Fresno, Visalia, Riverside and Albany, Ore.
Scheuber became general manager in 1979 and retired in April as president and chief executive officer. He continues as chairman of the board. He grew up on a dairy farm off Crows Landing Road and taught agriculture at Patterson High School and MJC before joining VSI.
“(Being) recognized with the Good Egg Award, that’s about as good as it gets,” Scheuber said upon receiving the surprise honor.
Past awards have gone to leaders in the egg industry, as well as its allies in government, education and other businesses. Gov. Ronald Reagan took it home in 1970.
The Northern San Joaquin Valley produces roughly 40percent of the state’s eggs. Stanislaus County hens last year laid about 432million, worth about $33.8million to farmers, according to the county’s agricultural commissioner. San Joaquin County reported about 357million eggs, valued at $18.6million.
Merced County is the leader by far, with about 1.17billion eggs and $81.7million in sales in 2012. Its numbers for 2013 are not yet out.
The breakfast entertainment was Dan St. Paul, a Bay Area-based comedian who had little to say about eggs. He did riff on some of the bizarre uses of other foods: microwave milkshakes, shampoo made with fruit and nuts, and that bread spread called I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter!
“You guys have a product that’s natural,” he told the egg people, “and I appreciate that.”
The breakfast is sponsored by the Pacific Egg and Poultry Association, the California Poultry Federation, the Stanislaus County Farm Bureau and the Modesto Chamber of Commerce.
Bee staff writer John Holland can be reached at jholland@modbee.com or (209) 578-2385.
This story was originally published October 23, 2014 at 5:54 PM with the headline "Good Egg Award goes to veterinary supplier."