Women in Feed.... and this week we focus on Versova

'I’ve been fortunate to have mentors who believed in me more than I believed in myself and guided me through rough times'
'I’ve been fortunate to have mentors who believed in me more than I believed in myself and guided me through rough times' © Gremlin (Getty Images)

We are highlighting women shaping the future of the feed and pet food industries

This week in our series, The Female Vision: Women in Feed, we profile Stacey Roberts, the head nutritionist at Versova, the third largest US egg producer

Career path

Can you share your journey into the feed industry? What inspired you to pursue a career in this field, and what challenges did you face along the way?

Ever since I can remember, I wanted to be a veterinarian. I attended Iowa State University singularly focused on going to vet school. About three years into my bachelor’s program in Animal Science/Pre-Vet, I realized there are a lot of ways to be involved in the livestock industry other than being a veterinarian (and incurring the cost of vet school). However, I didn’t have a backup plan. I went to graduate school to buy some time to decide what I really wanted to do. The opportunity for graduate school happened to be a research assistantship working on an egg-layer nutrition trial. I took the opportunity that was available. I wasn’t looking for poultry nutrition specifically. I grew up with cattle and horses; I hadn’t worked with poultry before that. I enjoyed my master’s research and rolled that into a PhD program in nutritional sciences and environmental science.

I’ve worked for two different companies since I finished graduate school. I started in a technical consulting role as a poultry nutritionist with Akey Nutrition, which was later acquired by Cargill. I had great opportunities to gain experience and gain experience in a safe environment alongside industry experts. I worked with egg producers across the US and collaborated with research teams globally. In 2020, I joined Versova Management as the Director of Nutrition. My responsibilities here include design and implementation of the nutrition program and ingredient procurement. I’ve expanded my skillset from strictly nutrition and the physiology and metabolism of chickens to a broader focus integrated into the business. In addition to working closely with feed manufacturing and formulation, I’m also tied in with accounting and IT to ensure the feed information is accurately tracked from the incoming ingredients to the invoicing of the feed.

I have never once regretted going into nutrition rather than veterinary medicine. I have found incredible opportunities in the feed and poultry industries that I never would have guessed existed. Being part of animal agriculture is incredibly fulfilling, knowing we are responsible for putting wholesome food on the tables of families across the country and around the world.

Impact of gender

In your experience, how has being a woman influenced your career in the feed industry? Have you encountered any gender-specific challenges or opportunities?

I have found the poultry industry to be very welcoming and inclusive as regards women. It is more about what you contribute than who you are, where you came from, or what you look like. I feel fortunate to work in an industry that values dedication and hard work.

Silly as it seems, some of the struggles have been more about the little things, especially when I was new to the industry and trying to make a professional impression. What shoes do you wear to a feed mill or farm? Dress shoes aren’t practical but practical shoes aren’t dressy enough…. I finally settled on hiking boots for a long time because they were clunky enough to hold on a pair of plastic boot covers. As I’ve advanced in my career and gained confidence, I don’t worry so much about appearance. Any shoes will work if they meet safety and biosecurity requirements. And having several company-branded polo shirts really helps take the guesswork out of wardrobe choices.

Mentorship and support

How important have mentorship and networking been in your career? Can you share any specific experiences where support from other women or mentors made a difference?

Mentorship and networking have been incredibly impactful for me. Throughout my education and career, I’ve been fortunate to have mentors who believed in me more than I believed in myself and guided me through rough times. I nearly quit graduate school at the beginning of my PhD program, but my now mentor, Hongwei Xin, was on my committee and stepped in to hear my concerns. He welcomed me into his research group, even though it was a different department – he was in agricultural and biosystems engineering and I had been in the animal science department. I joke that I got to work alongside the engineers without having to take all the hard classes, but I suppose the engineers think biochemistry is hard.

While my mentors have mostly been men, I recognize the importance of women supporting other women and building that network. At Versova, I’m a member of the steering committee for Women at Versova Excel (WAVE), an employee resource group, and I’m leading the development pillar that includes a forthcoming internal mentorship program.

Networking and industry connections have been cornerstones for my professional career growth as both companies I have worked for have recruited me through my connections rather than applying to a job posting. Fostering relationships and connections is an important part of the professional world and I encourage young women identifying current and potential mentoring or networking opportunities.

Through my experience, the poultry industry has been welcoming and I didn’t need another woman to invite me to the conversation. I feel empowered and seen by male and female colleagues alike. I’m incredibly grateful, as I know that isn’t the case for everyone.

Stacey Roberts, the head nutritionist at Versova Foods, the third largest egg producer in the US
Stacey Roberts, the head nutritionist at Versova, the third largest egg producer in the US

Industry changes

What changes have you observed in the feed industry regarding gender diversity and inclusion over the years? What more needs to be done to improve representation and equity?

Women have been well accepted into mid-level technical and professional roles for the past 10–15 years that I have been in the feed industry. However, there are still opportunities to increase diversity in operations roles and senior leadership. Teams are stronger when they are diverse. If you look around and you don’t see that diversity, seek to understand why. Some things might be straightforward and easy to identify such as having tools and safety equipment sized appropriately and comfortable for women. Other things are going to be more challenging to identify and resolve. Are women passing up advancement opportunities in exchange for work–life balance? Then the challenge becomes how to create an environment where women can contribute their unique skills to enrich the workplace while still having some bandwidth at the end of the day for family. And perhaps that desire is not unique to women.

Advice for future generations

What advice would you give to young women aspiring to enter the feed industry? Are there specific skills or experiences you believe are essential?

Do your best and believe in yourself. More so than men, women tend to carry self-doubt, which holds them back. If you struggle with this, I encourage you to identify the root of the doubt and determine what it will take for you to overcome it. Imposter syndrome is a real thing, but you must remind yourself – ‘I belong here, I have been chosen to be here because I deserve to be here, and I can do this as well as or better than anyone else can.’

I would also encourage young women to become well-versed in basic business principles. My formal education is in the sciences, and looking back, I wish I had taken business classes. No matter where you work or what your role is, your job exists to help someone make money and understanding how your job contributes to helping a business thrive is invaluable.

Vision for the future

What is your vision for the role of women in the feed industry over the next decade? How can we work together to foster an environment that supports women’s growth and leadership?

My vision is for it to no longer be novel or noteworthy for a woman to be in any industry or any role.

Open, honest, and sometimes difficult conversations will be needed to support women’s growth in the feed industry. Look around – if there aren’t women in certain areas, ask why and be prepared to do something about it. Where there are women, invite an open dialogue to understand what they need to succeed. The benefits of having women contributing their skills and perspectives in those roles will far outweigh the challenges of accommodating needs.