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William Claybaugh's father and grandfather also have received this special honor.

Curt Arens, Editor, Nebraska Farmer

June 11, 2013

2 Min Read

William Claybaugh of Carroll grew up taking care of laying hens. He remembers feeding chickens back when he was four years old on his family's farm. Some things never change. Today, Claybaugh and his sister, Julie, own Nebraska Eggs Ltd., caring for a half-million laying hens, producing 10 million dozen eggs each year.

Earlier this year, Claybaugh joined his father, Joe, and grandfather, J. H., as the third generation in the Claybaugh family to be inducted into the Nebraska Poultry Hall of Fame. He also serves as the current president of the Midwest Poultry Federation.

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Claybaugh says that the industry has become very efficient. "There are less people involved, but we're producing more eggs with less people," he says. "Agriculture is by far the most efficient industry in the world."

There is more red tape than years ago, Claybaugh says. New requirements from numerous federal and state agencies have changed the way poultry producers operate. They are also consistently concerned about animal husbandry and flock health issues. Recent increases in feed costs and grain prices have cut into producers' bottom lines, he says.

"Feed costs account for 60% of our cost of production," Claybaugh says. Because of the cost of feed and the need to manage flock nutrition, the Claybaughs added TWJ Feed Mill in Carroll to their operation in 1985.

Involvement in the industry and in local community organizations are key aspects of farm life. He has served as an ambassador for agriculture, serving on countless committees and volunteering for community and county organizations as well. With family farming connections in Wayne County that go back more than 100 years, "the community has been good to us, so we need to return the favor," Claybaugh explains.

If you'd like more information on Claybaugh's operation and Nebraska's poultry and egg industry, watch for a future print article in Nebraska Farmer.

About the Author(s)

Curt Arens

Editor, Nebraska Farmer

Curt Arens began writing about Nebraska’s farm families when he was in high school. Before joining Farm Progress as a field editor in April 2010, he had worked as a freelance farm writer for 27 years, first for newspapers and then for farm magazines, including Nebraska Farmer.

His real full-time career, however, during that same period was farming his family’s fourth generation land in northeast Nebraska. He also operated his Christmas tree farm and grew black oil sunflowers for wild birdseed. Curt continues to raise corn, soybeans and alfalfa and runs a cow-calf herd.

Curt and his wife Donna have four children, Lauren, Taylor, Zachary and Benjamin. They are active in their church and St. Rose School in Crofton, where Donna teaches and their children attend classes.

Previously, the 1986 University of Nebraska animal science graduate wrote a weekly rural life column, developed a farm radio program and wrote books about farm direct marketing and farmers markets. He received media honors from the Nebraska Forest Service, Center for Rural Affairs and Northeast Nebraska Experimental Farm Association.

He wrote about the spiritual side of farming in his 2008 book, “Down to Earth: Celebrating a Blessed Life on the Land,” garnering a Catholic Press Association award.

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