Creighton Brothers Turns 100
Published: Friday, June 20, 2025
They're a big reason why Mentone and the surrounding area in Kosciusko County is known as the "Egg Basket of the Midwest."
This year, Creighton Brothers LLC is celebrating its 100th anniversary. Founded in 1925 by brothers Hobart and Russell Creighton, the egg producer is now in its fifth generation of family ownership.
Hobart's granddaughter, Mindy Truex, serves as president of Creighton Brothers. She oversees a company that produces and processes approximately 1 billion eggs per year from 3.2 million chickens at seven egg-laying farms. The shell eggs are marketed primarily to the food service industry and food manufacturers, with a small percentage going to the retail market.
"We have more emphasis on the food service market because the chefs demand a little higher quality," she said. "I guess I could say we put more pressure on ourselves to set a higher standard for our eggs."
The company also has a popular breakfast diner, Crazy Egg Café, that serves farm-fresh eggs and tells the story of the Creighton family farm. The café occupies the same building that formerly housed Creighton Brothers' shell egg grading facility and feed mill. The furnishings and old photographs remind diners about the company's agricultural roots.
Truex remembers her grandfather for being just that—Grandpa. Hobart died before she could fully appreciate his business acumen. In addition to co-founding Creighton Brothers, Hobart also served as a state representative for 16 years and as speaker of the House for eight years. He also ran for governor.
"He was a visionary," Truex said. "He could see a lot of things that the poultry industry needed."
Hobart passed away in 1976 at age 80, not long after the company celebrated its 50th anniversary. Truex was just 11 years old. Now that she occupies the same office within the company, she wishes she could go back in time and pick her grandfather's brain about poultry, leadership and innovation.
"The more I find out, the more I learn about him, the older I get, I wish I could have been one of my older cousins who had the opportunity to know him as the business guy and the politician," Truex said. "I think about all the things he's done, the stories people tell me. He was just Grandpa all those years, and Uncle Russell was the guy who let me ride horses."
Hobart and Russell had a unique partnership. Hobart was a "natural-born salesman," Truex said, while Russell managed the farm.
"He kept the wheels on the bus," she said, referring to Russell, "while Grandpa was gone in Indianapolis or at meetings."
As a tribute to the company's two founders, the Purdue University Hall of Animal Sciences was dedicated in honor of Hobart and Russell Creighton. The Creighton family donated money to the university for the creation of the building, dedicated in 2015.
Truex's father, Eddie Creighton, joined the growing business after he graduated from Purdue University in 1950 with a degree in poultry science. After serving two years in the Army ROTC, he and his wife Louise came back to Kosciusko County. Eddie served as president and CEO of Creighton Brothers until his retirement in 1997. He passed away in 2023, just shy of the 100th anniversary.
"The one reoccurring thing that I think about with my dad just passing away a year and a half ago (is) I don't know if that (anniversary) brings me down a little bit about the whole thing because he was supposed to be here to celebrate with me. I miss him a lot," Truex said.
Truex said her father benefited greatly from the influence of John Frederich. He joined the company in 1936 and earned a position of trust. When Eddie took the reins, Frederich served as a mentor, almost "like an older brother," Truex said. When Frederich retired in the mid-1970s, he was a part owner of the company.
Ron Truex, Mindy's husband, became president in 1997 and led the company for 23 years. Mindy took over in 2020 and has led the company through the COVID pandemic, a severe outbreak of avian influenza and record high egg prices. The egg market peaked in January and February due to avian flu forcing farmers to depopulate their flocks. That led to a shortage of eggs on store shelves.
"I really can't believe we'll see an $8 egg market again in my lifetime," she said.
She said the disease didn't strike any of the company's egg farms. That's due to strict biosecurity measures.
In addition to being CEO of Creighton Brothers, Mindy Truex serves on the board of the American Egg Board.
She said it's "awe-inspiring" to reflect on being president of a century-old agricultural company. To celebrate the 100th anniversary, she said the company is planning a community event in September. However, members of the Creighton family, now totaling well over 170, will hold a private celebration during their annual reunion next month.
"I'm so thankful every day for all of our employees, all the people who have worked here over the last 100 years, that have been a part of making this and keeping this a successful business," she said.
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