Agenda

31st Annual National Egg Quality School
Greenville, SC
May 19-22, 2025

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Monday, May 19

8:30 a.m.        
REGISTRATION

9:00 a.m.
Welcome to South Carolina
Mr. Derek Underwood, Assistant Commissioner
                        South Carolina 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 20

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 21

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 22

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