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Schuiteman, Jan

Published onOct 14, 2021
Schuiteman, Jan
·

(September 30, 1948 - )

Quick Facts

Alumnus Schuiteman is a retired veterinarian and entrepreneur.


Source: https://www.thebullvine.com/news/jan-schuiteman-co-founder-of-trans-ova-retires/

Jan Schuiteman was born and raised in Sioux Center, Iowa, on a small livestock farm, the oldest of eight children. He started a veterinary practice (Ireton Veterinary Clinic) in northwest Iowa after graduating from Iowa State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine in 1974. That practice grew and eventually evolved into a group Agribusiness and Biotechnology companies including Nobl Labs, Tans Ova Genetics, Bovance, Hematech Joint Venture, and Exemplar Genetics, all based in Sioux Center, Iowa.

Schuiteman’s entrepreneurial spirit led the creation of the companies from the humble beginnings of a veterinary clinic. He and his partners looked at opportunities in animal agriculture to build agribusinesses with the knowledge they had learned in veterinary school at Iowa State. They also strove to create job opportunities for the citizens of Sioux County, Iowa. With the support of the vibrant Sioux Center business community, Schuiteman encouraged and supported younger veterinarians who joined his clinic in their business endeavors. By working together and utilizing their strengths, a series of groundbreaking and varied agricultural-related companies were built.

Each of the companies Schuiteman started has made its mark in agri-business, helping make Iowa the “Silicon Valley” of Animal Biotechnology while creating and keeping high-paying jobs in Iowa. Each company provides technology to improve livestock quality as well as creating new markets for producers. Nobl Labs was the second largest swine biologics company in the United States. It was sold to Boerhringer Ingelheim in 1998. Trans Ova Genetics is the global leader in cattle reproductive technology. The company provides embryo production services, IVF embryos and semen sexing. Bovance is the global leader in animal cloning. Hematech Joint Venture has developed cows with a human immune system to produce human antibodies for treatment of viral infection, antibiotic resistant bacteria and for potential biodefense threats such as anthrax. Exemplar Genetics has developed pigs that get human genetic diseases. Examplar has pig models for 12 human genetic diseases like cystic fibrosis, high cholesterol (heart disease), cancer model and others.

Schuiteman retired from Trans Ova Genetics in 2018. He was active in any number of organizations including the American Association of Swine Practitioners and the American Veterinary Medical Association. He was a board member of the Pappajohn Center for Entrepreneurship at Iowa State University, Northwestern College in Orange City, Iowa, and the Iowa Ag Finance Corp.

Schuiteman’s quest to make Iowa and Sioux County a better place to live and work continues as one of the founding members of ATLAS Group, a nonprofit organization that provides mentors or “Christian friends” to address the unmet needs of a community. ATLAS currently has offices in 12 communities including Sioux Center. He and his wife Bev are also very active in their church.

He is the recipient of the Stange Award for Meritorious Service (2002) in the College of Veterinary Medicine, and the Floyd Andre Award (2001) from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.

He is married to Bev Schuiteman. The couple, who reside in Orange City, Iowa, are the parents of four children and 14 grandchildren. Their children are also active in developing their own business.

Selected Sources

“Jan Schuiteman co-founder of Trans Ova retires” The Bullvine.com, Friday, December 1st, 2017.

“Schuiteman retires after 43 years” Sioux Center News, Nov 29, 2017.

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