Agenda
32nd Annual National Egg Quality School
Indianapolis, IN
May 18-21, 2026
TENTATIVE
Monday, May 18
8:30 a.m. REGISTRATION
9:00 a.m. Welcome to Indiana
? Don Lamb, Director, Indiana State Department of Agriculture
9:15 a.m. ORIENTATION AND INTRODUCTION
9:30 a.m. LECTURE I
“Eggs 101” American Egg Board
9:45 a.m. LECTURE II
“Formation of the Egg”
Dr. Dianna Bourassa, Auburn University
10:15 a.m. BREAK
10:35 a.m. LECTURE III
“Egg Quality and Bird Health”
Dr. Carol Cardona, University of Minnesota
11:15 a.m. LECTURE IV
“Secure Poultry Supply”
Dr. Carol Cardona, University of Minnesota
12:00 p.m. DIRECTOR’S LUNCH
1:00 p.m. BUZZ SESSION
1:10 p.m. LECTURE V|
“Hen Housing and Egg Quality”
Dr. Mike Persia, Virginia Tech
1:50 p.m. LECTURE VI
“Biosecurity and Egg Safety”
Dr. Ken Koelkebeck, University of Illinois
2:30 p.m. LECTURE VII
“Hen Nutrition and Egg Quality”
Dr. Mike Persia, Virginia Tech
3:05 p.m. LECTURE VIII
“U.S. Standards for Eggs – Exterior Quality Factors”
Mr. Jeff Hendricks, USDA AMS Livestock, Poultry & Seed Program
3:35 p.m. BREAK
3:50 p.m. LABORATORY I
“Exterior Egg Quality Determination – Laboratory”
4:40 p.m. BUZZ SESSION, OPEN LAB AND REVIEW OF DAY
DINNER ON YOUR OWN
Tuesday, May 19
8:00 a.m. LECTURE IX
“Reducing Shell Damage”
Dr. Paul Patterson, Penn State University
8:40 a.m. LECTURE X
“Cleaning Eggs and Conserving Egg Quality”
Dr. Kenneth Anderson, North Carolina State University
9:30 a.m. BREAK
9:50 a.m. LECTURE XI
“Eggs and Foodborne Disease”
Dr. Pratima Adhikari, Mississippi State University
10:40 a.m. LECTURE XII
“Promoting the Incredible Egg”
Mr. Edward Hoffman, American Egg Board
11:15 a.m. LECTURE XIII
“The Nutritious Egg”
Dr. Jen Houchins, Egg Nutrition Center
12:00 p.m. Make Your Own Omelet Lunch|
Chef Jeanne Koenigsberg
2025 South Carolina Chef Ambassador
Executive Chef & Kitchen General Manager of Swamp Rabbit Café and Grocery
1:00 p.m. LECTURE XIV
“U.S. Standards for Eggs – Interior Quality Factors”
Mr. Jeff Hendricks, USDA AMS Livestock, Poultry & Seed Program
1:40 p.m. LABORATORY II
“Interior Quality Determination – Laboratory”
2:40 p.m. LECTURE XV
“Egg Processing Plant Sanitation – SSOP’s and GMP’s”
Dr. Dianna Bourassa, Auburn University
3:30 p.m. BREAK
4:00 p.m. LECTURE XVI
“Introduction to HACCP”
Dr. Deana Jones, USDA ARS
4:30 p.m. LECTURE XVII
“Overview – Current Egg Industry Issues”
Mr. Oscar Garrison, United Egg Producers
5:00 p.m. BUZZ SESSION, OPEN LAB AND REVIEW OF DAY
6:30 p.m. GROUP DINNER – Egg Handler’s Romp
Wednesday, May 20
8:00 a.m. LECTURE XVIII
“Salmonella Control – What can Producers Do?”
Dr. Aaron Kiess, North Carolina State University
8:40 a.m. LECTURE XIX
“FDA’s Egg Safety Rule”
Dr. Gerardo A. Ramirez, FDA CFSAN
9:30 a.m. BREAK
9:50 a.m. LECTURE XX
“Pre-Harvest Food Safety Plan: Implementing Pest Monitoring and Control”
Dr. Kenneth Anderson, North Carolina State University
10:30 a.m. LECTURE XXI
“Combining all Quality Factors into Standards and Grades”
Mr. Jeff Hendricks, USDA AMS Livestock, Poultry & Seed Program
11:00 a.m. LABORATORY III
“Combining all Quality Factors into Standards and Grades – Laboratory”
12:00 p.m. GROUP LUNCH
1:00 p.m. LECTURE XXII
“Environmental and Egg Testing Procedures”
Dr. Paul Patterson, Penn State University
1:45 p.m. LECTURE XXIII
“Egg Products Inspection Act and Voluntary Grading Programs”
Mr. Jeff Hendricks, USDA AMS Livestock, Poultry & Seed Program
2:15 p.m. GROUP PICTURE AND BREAK
3:15 p.m. BUZZ SESSION
3:30 p.m. LECTURE XXIV
“Federal and State Labeling Requirements”
Mr. Jeff Hendricks, USDA AMS Livestock, Poultry & Seed Program
4:00 p.m. LECTURE XXV
“Dispelling Myths About Eggs”
Dr. Deana Jones, USDA ARS
4:30 p.m. EXAM REVIEW
5:30 p.m. SESSION OVER – Dinner on your own
7:30 p.m. LABORATORY OPEN
FACULTY CONSULTATION
Thursday, May 21
8:00 a.m. WRITTEN AND PRACTICAL EXAM
“STUDENTS MUST TAKE AND PASS THE EXAM AT THIS TIME TO EARN A CERTIFICATE OF PROFICIENCY”
NOON SCHOOL ENDS