Taking Complicated Things and Making Them Simple
April 12, 2024
At Bazooka Farmstar, we have an exceptional team of employees who bring their best every day to deliver outstanding service and value to our customers. This last quarter, Travis Thompson, an Fabrication Engineer, was recognized with the “Bring It” Gamechanger award for consistently going above and beyond in his role.
Travis has been with Bazooka Farmstar for two years, joining the company after previously working at a grain company. When he saw Bazooka Farmstar’s name on the side of the feeder, he started researching. He was drawn to Bazooka Farmstar’s commitment to innovation and continuous improvement, and he quickly made his mark by troubleshooting problem parts, implementing fixes, and introducing new tools and machining processes to the plant.
“I don’t take the view that the way we do things now is the way it always needs to be,” Travis explains. “If there’s something I can fix or improve, I’m going to do it. We need to strive for perfection because so many people depend on us getting things right.”
Travis’s nominator for the Bring It award highlighted his willingness to go above and beyond, supporting individuals throughout the department and executing tasks without expecting thanks. His commitment to excellence and his drive to continuously improve has made him an invaluable asset to the Bazooka Farmstar team.
When asked how he felt about receiving this recognition, Travis expressed gratitude for the acknowledgment of his efforts. “It means a lot to be recognized for the work I’ve been doing,” he said. “But really, I’m just doing my job – trying to be the example of positive outcomes and striving for accuracy and repetitive success.”
For Travis, what keeps him at Bazooka Farmstar is the company’s culture and the ability to solve problems quickly and directly. “There’s no corporate bureaucracy here,” he notes. “If there’s an issue, I can go straight to the person involved, and we can work through it together. That’s what makes this a great place to work – if you’re willing to put in the effort and take ownership, you can really make a difference.”
And that’s exactly what Travis has done, earning him the well-deserved recognition as a Bring It Gamechanger at Bazooka Farmstar.
Beyond his professional accomplishments, Travis also shared some personal insights, including his experience serving in the Air Force for 10 years, during which he spent 1,000 days overseas and visited 43 countries. While those experiences were unforgettable, he says there’s no place he’d rather be than at home in Iowa, spending time bass fishing and working on woodworking projects.
Congratulations, Travis, on your outstanding achievement and for embodying the Bring It spirit at Bazooka Farmstar!