Todd Kroeze believes in encore performances. After all, he came back to Jennie-O Turkey Store for the second time four years ago. He is currently a supervisor at the Barron (Wis.) facility, reunited with co-workers who seem a lot more like friends and family than fellow employees.
Barron’s population is just shy of 3,500. The outlying areas augment that, but by all accounts, it has the feeling of a small Midwestern town. It’s the kind of place where everybody knows your name, and that’s just fine with Todd.
His family moved to Barron more than 40 years ago. For all intents and purposes, it’s home.
“People care about each other here,” he says. “We look out for one another.”
![Kroeze Family 1998](https://www.hormelfoods.com/wp-content/uploads/inspired_20181121_Text_Kroeze-Family-1998-375x209.1654622141.jpg 375w 209h, https://www.hormelfoods.com/wp-content/uploads/inspired_20181121_Text_Kroeze-Family-1998-575x321.1654622141.jpg 575w 321h, https://www.hormelfoods.com/wp-content/uploads/inspired_20181121_Text_Kroeze-Family-1998-775x433.1654622141.jpg 775w 433h, https://www.hormelfoods.com/wp-content/uploads/inspired_20181121_Text_Kroeze-Family-1998-1024x572.1654622141.jpg 1024w 572h, https://www.hormelfoods.com/wp-content/uploads/inspired_20181121_Text_Kroeze-Family-1998.1654621999.jpg 1110w 620h)
The Kroeze family in 1998.
That feeling of connectedness is as relevant in good times as in bad. Case in point: Todd’s son Chris is a contestant on “The Voice,” having progressed to the live – and final – round of competition. Twenty-four singers began the live round Nov. 12, vying for the title in the 15th season of the U.S. version of the internationally known reality show. In the end, only one will have her – or his – voice heard above the rest.
Note: Chris is one of only four contestants still in the running for the top honor. He’ll compete in the finals on Dec. 17 and 18, where the remaining singers will perform duets with their coaches and debut original singles. Once again, fans will have the chance to weigh in on who should be crowned the winner.