American Egg Board president and CEO recognized for transforming how the organization builds demand and creates growth opportunities for America’s egg farmers 

CHICAGO (September 24, 2026) Emily Metz, president and CEO of American Egg Board (AEB), has been named a 2026 recipient of the Women in Agribusiness Demeter Award of Excellence, the organization’s highest honor recognizing women who have demonstrated exceptional performance and made outstanding contributions to agriculture as a whole. 

This year’s four recipients were selected from more than 60 nominations and were recognized during the Women in Agribusiness Summit on Sept. 24 in New Orleans. Metz was nominated by current and former board members, colleagues and supervisors spanning her nearly twenty-year career in U.S. agriculture including work across the dairy, animal genetics and egg sectors.  

Over the six years since Metz became president and CEO, AEB has sharpened its focus on turning consumer insight into measurable growth for America’s egg farmers. Integrated marketing and strategic partnerships developed during her tenure have delivered double-digit category sales lifts and introduced hundreds of thousands of new consumers to the egg category.  

“Emily has fundamentally changed how AEB creates value for egg farmers,” said Andy Seger, chair of the American Egg Board. “She has brought greater rigor, accountability and ambition to the organization while keeping farmers and demand at the center of every decision. The results speak for themselves, and this recognition is well deserved.” 

Under Metz, AEB has expanded beyond traditional commodity promotion, building new capabilities to create commercial opportunities, protect confidence in the category and open markets for U.S. egg producers. Through the Eggcelerator Lab®, AEB works directly with foodservice operators and manufacturers to turn consumer insights into new egg-based products, technologies and menu applications, including patented foodservice technology. 

Her leadership was equally important when existing demand was at risk. After the egg industry lost 40 million laying hens to highly pathogenic avian influenza in 2025, egg supplies tightened and prices faced intense national scrutiny. Rather than moving forward with planned consumer marketing during constrained supply, Metz redirected AEB staff and resources toward farmer support and rapid-response communications. 

The coordinated effort included media engagement, customer and stakeholder communications, and consumer education designed to protect trust in eggs and the farmers who produce them. It generated more than 2,500 earned media placements, and coverage was 20 points more positive when AEB was actively engaged. Even at the height of the disruption, consumer trust in egg farmers held at 75%, and purchase intent remained strong at 79%. 

Internationally, AEB has worked alongside U.S. producers, industry organizations and government partners to return U.S. shell eggs to Singapore for the first time in over 20 years, creating a foothold for broader growth across Southeast Asia. The return builds on broader international momentum, with U.S. egg exports increasing 25% in the first half of 2026 and explosive growth in markets including Japan and South Korea. 

“I am deeply honored to receive the Demeter Award,” Metz said. “Being recognized for doing work that I love with and for people who I consider friends is the greatest gift of my life.  I have built my career around serving farmers and believing that agriculture should never be afraid to think bigger about what is possible. This recognition only strengthens my resolve and commitment to keep challenging conventions, pursuing growth and delivering for America’s farmers.” 

An attorney specializing in food and drug law, Metz has served agriculture throughout her career in roles at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Animal Agriculture Alliance, National Milk Producers Federation and Genus Plc. She also presented at the Women in Agribusiness Summit on Sept. 24. 

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About American Egg Board  

Home of The Incredible Egg, American Egg Board (AEB) is the national marketing organization of America’s egg producers. Its mission is to increase demand for eggs and egg products through research, education and promotion. AEB is 100 percent producer-funded and located in Chicago, Illinois. For more, visit IncredibleEgg.org.