Employee Story: Bailey Schiefelbein - Feed Administrative Specialist

Sitting down at her desk each morning, Bailey Schiefelbein doesn't always know what will be waiting for her, and she likes it that way. Her position as a Feed Administrative Specialist keeps her on her toes and allows her the opportunity to have no two days that are exactly alike.

Bailey grew up in the Lake Crystal area and was familiar with Crystal Valley but not agriculture. After graduating from South Central College with a business degree, Bailey wasn't sure what was next. Having heard great things about Crystal Valley, she decided to apply for a Propane Administrative Assistant position.

For the next two and a half years, she worked in the Energy division, helping to provide outstanding customer service, and was tapped to train those who came after her. She also worked closely with propane delivery drivers on their orders and routes. 

In the spring of 2019, Bailey decided she was ready to move on and learn something new. So when a position in the feed division became available in Vernon Center, MN, she took it.

The Vernon Center feed mill manufactures between 900 – 1,000 tons of feed each day. Bailey plays an integral role in ensuring feed orders are entered accurately and quickly. This ensures the mill operators stay on top of batching orders, which keeps the 9+ delivery drivers out on timely deliveries. It's a well-oiled machine that many people have a hand in. The daily goal is to have all next-day orders in by noon. Knowing it can take 20 minutes to an hour to manufacture a 24-ton load of feed, any mix-up or breakdown can set the entire operation back hours.

As a Feed Administrative Specialist, some of Bailey's responsibilities include putting in feed orders, feed order invoicing, product inventory, product receiving, and customer service. In addition, she's the person customers will contact regarding their accounts or help calculate the correct amount of feed needed for an upcoming delivery. Not to mention being the go-to person at her location to answer IT, HR, and a myriad of other questions to help her fellow co-workers.

"There are no strangers that stop by the office, just great people who genuinely care about who you are and what you do," Bailey says. "People who work here are like family – it's a family-oriented company, and you're not just another employee. Every job is important here."