Agenda
32nd Annual National Egg Quality School
Indianapolis, IN
May 18-21, 2026
Monday, May 18
8:30 a.m. REGISTRATION
9:00 a.m. Welcome to Indiana, Mr. 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. Megan Lighty, Penn State University
11:15 a.m. LECTURE IV “Secure Poultry Supply”- Dr. Megan Lighty, Penn State University
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. Aaron Kiess, North Carolina State University
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
8:35 a.m. LECTURE X “Cleaning Eggs and Conserving Egg Quality” – Dr. Kenneth Anderson, North Carolina State University
9:15 a.m. LECTURE XI “Eggs and Foodborne Disease” – Dr. Pratima Adhikari, Mississippi State University
9:55 a.m. BREAK
10:15 a.m. LECTURE XII “Promoting the Incredible Egg” – Ms. Katie Hayes, RDN, Director, Scientific Communications, Egg Nutrition Center
10:50 a.m. LECTURE XIII “The Nutritious Egg” – Dr. Jen Houchins, Egg Nutrition Center
11:30 a.m. LECTURE XIV “Overview – Current Egg Industry Issues” – Ms. Kim Rice, United Egg Producers
12:00 p.m. Make Your Own Omelet Lunch – Ms. Rebecca Eifert Joniskan, President, Indiana State Poultry Association
1:00 p.m. LECTURE XV “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 XVI “Egg Processing Plant Sanitation – SSOP’s and GMP’s” – Dr. Dianna Bourassa, Auburn University
3:30 p.m. BREAK
4:00 p.m. LECTURE XVII “Introduction to HACCP” – Dr. Deana Jones, USDA ARS
4:30 p.m. LECTURE XVIII “FSIS Role and Responsibilities for Eggs and Egg Products” – Mr. Daniel Sturzen, Compliance Investigator; Mr. Benjamin Duvall, Enforcement Investigation and Analysis Officer, USDA-FSIS
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 XIX “Salmonella Control – What can Producers Do?”- Dr. Aaron Kiess, North Carolina State University
8:40 a.m. LECTURE XX “FDA’s Egg Safety Rule” – Dr. Gerardo A. Ramirez, FDA CFSAN
9:30 a.m. BREAK
9:50 a.m. LECTURE XXI “Pre-Harvest Food Safety Plan: Implementing Pest Monitoring and Control”, Dr. Kenneth Anderson, North Carolina State University
10:30 a.m. LECTURE XXII “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 XXIII “Environmental and Egg Testing Procedures” – Dr. Paul Patterson, Penn State University
1:45 p.m. LECTURE XXIV “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 XXV “Federal and State Labeling Requirements” – Mr. Jeff Hendricks, USDA AMS Livestock, Poultry & Seed Program
4:00 p.m. LECTURE XXVI “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