Mariah Ponton: At Your Service in the Strauss Feeds Lab
For Mariah Ponton, landing in the laboratory at Strauss Feeds was a career destination a long time in the making, but well worth the wait. “I worked to put myself through college, so it took me about 10 years,” she recalled. “I ultimately graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh with a degree in Biology.”
Mariah’s science career then took her to a naturalist position with prairie restoration organization, followed by a stint in a lab for a human food company. When she casually responded to an online job post with Strauss Feeds in early 2024, little did she know that her ideal endeavor awaited her. “I immediately loved the culture at Strauss,” she shared. “It’s a calm, laid-back, family type of environment. At the same time, you can really tell that everyone here really cares about the quality of our products and the animals that will consume them.”
Pictures Mariah took on a recent hike (L) and a trail in Scotland (R).
Starting as a laboratory technician, it was only a matter of months before Mariah’s organizational skills, attention to detail, and conscientious work habits earned her a promotion to Laboratory Supervisor. She now oversees two other employees and is responsible for the day-to-day management of the lab.
“Everything that comes through the plant also comes through our lab,” she explained. “We test protein and fat levels on all of the incoming ingredients and outgoing formulations. We also routinely test ingredients for mineral content and a variety of bacteria, yeasts, and molds.” Results from those tests might be available in as short as 3 minutes or as long as 2 days. When they are obtained, they must be meticulously logged, and batches flagged if their measurements do not fall within pre-determined, acceptable ranges.
Along with Mariah’s promotion came the responsibility of representing Strauss Feeds during internal audits for both business-to-business customers and regulatory agencies. ”Most of the customer audits are scheduled, but they also can be unannounced, as is usually the case for regulatory audits,” she shared. “So, it’s really important that our data and procedures are always on track. As long as we have everything in order, the audits go pretty smoothly.” The 3-person team in the Strauss lab is lean, but definitely not mean. “We are all team players and get along extremely well. Because we are a small group, we all know how to do every task in the lab,” she noted. “We actually rotate duties on a routine schedule, so we stay proficient at all the procedures, and can cover for one another without missing a beat.”
Even when she is not working, Mariah is a true biologist at heart. She lists birdwatching, hiking, and soaking up nature as her main hobbies. She and her husband, Tyler, also spend time daily at the scenic Horicon Marsh near their home with their 2 dogs. And as a self-described “plant nerd,” she also enjoys gardening and photographing natural flora in the spring, summer, and fall.
Looking ahead, Mariah is excited to embrace the continued growth of the Strauss business and lead her team as they encounter new challenges. “I love the variety that each day here brings,” she said. “I left my old lab job because it was very routine and non-stimulating. There’s no chance of that happening here. No two days are alike, and it’s definitely never boring!”
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Starting as a laboratory technician, it was only a matter of months before Mariah’s organizational skills, attention to detail, and conscientious work habits earned her a promotion to Laboratory Supervisor. She now oversees two other employees and is responsible for the day-to-day management of the lab.