Delmarva Poultry Industry, Inc. (DPI), the trade association for the Delmarva Peninsula’s chicken industry, held its 55th annual Booster Banquet tonight in Salisbury, Maryland and recognized 14 outstanding poultry growers, four individuals, and one organization for their work on behalf of the chicken industry.
The J. Frank Gordy, Sr. Delmarva Distinguished Citizen Award, DPI’s highest honor, was presented to George Chaloupka of near Bridgeville, Delaware, a retired University of Delaware poultry specialist and a long-time DPI volunteer and the unofficial Delmarva Peninsula “chicken historian.” Mr. Chaloupka was an essential part of the DPI-produced 1998 history book about Delmarva’s chicken industry and has collected information about the chicken industry in the area of each recent Delmarva Chicken Festival. His work as a historian includes long service to the Delaware Agricultural Museum and Village. While with the University of Delaware until his retirement 20 years ago, Mr. Chaloupka conducted research and educational programs beneficial to the chicken industry. He is active in community affairs, including the Delaware Chapter of the Arthritis Foundation, the Bridgeville Public Library, Little League baseball, the band boosters, and decades of service through the Kiwanis Club of Bridgeville.
DPI’s Medal of Achievement award for an elected person was presented to Maryland Delegate Rudy Cane of Wicomico County. Mr. Cane has served in the Maryland House of Delegates since 1999 after a term as a Wicomico County Council member. His legislative service has been recognized by other groups. In 2004, he was presented the outstanding rural legislator award by the Rural Maryland Council and early this year he received the Casper R. Taylor, Jr. Founder's Award, presented to a sitting member of the House of Delegates for steadfast commitment to public service and the integrity of the House of Delegates. Delegate Cane, a leader on the House of Delegates Environmental Matters Committee, was recognized for his understanding, appreciation, and support of the chicken industry and agriculture in general. (more)
Valerie Connelly with the Maryland Farm Bureau and Lynne Hoot with the Maryland Grain Producers Association and the Maryland Association of Soil Conservation Districts were presented with the Edward H. Ralph DPI Medal of Achievement for non-elected persons, named after DPI’s second executive officer. As the Maryland Farm Bureau Director of Government Relations, Mrs. Connelly has worked for Maryland farmers and Delmarva’s chicken industry since 1995 and is widely regarded in government circles in Annapolis as a leading voice for agriculture in the state. Never to shy away from standing up for farmers on the many issues they face, Mrs. Connelly was recognized for her knowledge, tenacity, and a willingness to speak up on many issues, including many related to Delmarva’s chicken industry. Mrs. Hoot has worked for Maryland’s agricultural community for 30 years, starting as the executive director of the Maryland Agricultural Commission, an advisory group to the Maryland Secretary of Agriculture. After being there several years, she formed her own business that now represents several agricultural organizations. It is not uncommon for her to speak on behalf of the chicken industry because some of her groups and their members depend upon the chicken industry for their livelihoods. Mrs. Hoot works on behalf of the Maryland Grain Producers Association, the Maryland Grain Producers Utilization Board, the Maryland Association of Soil Conservation Districts, the Delaware/Maryland Agribusiness Association, and the Maryland Pork Producers Association.
Thanks to its financial commitment in the last five years to Delmarva’s chicken industry, DPI honored the United Soybean Board, the Delaware Soybean Board, the Maryland Soybean board, and America’s soybean farmers. They have provided support for many of DPI’s outreach and promotional programs, including the Eat Chicken Tonight signs in 2006, No Farms No Food bumper stickers and tee shirts, banners with positive messages about the chicken industry seen by thousands of bicycle event participants on Delmarva in the last year, updating DPI’s two promotional videos, by helping chicken growers plant Vegetative Environmental Buffers around their farms, and the five recent Lunch and Learn outreach meetings to community leaders.
Additionally, DPI recognized 14 outstanding poultry producers. Selected by their companies from Delmarva’s nearly 1,700 poultry growers, this year’s recipients are:
- Earl and Karla Beardsley, Nanticoke, Maryland – Tyson Foods, Inc.
- Nip and Jean Hudson, Laurel, Delaware – Allen’s Hatchery, Inc.
- Jin and Soon Kim with Union Mill Farm, East New Market, Maryland – Perdue Farms Inc.
- Jerry and Pat Lambertson, Snow Hill, Maryland – Tyson Foods, Inc.
- Tommy and Laura Leager, Sudlersville, Maryland – Mountaire Farms, Inc.
- Doug and Debbie Vanderwende, Locust Grove Farm, Greenwood, Delaware – Perdue Farms Inc.
- Hank McCulley, Trappe, Maryland – Amick Farms, Inc.
- Joshua and Dawn Parker, Seaford, Delaware – Perdue Farms Inc.
- Sun and John Sanns, Hallwood, Virginia – Perdue Farms Inc.
- Chittle and Jean Saylor, Preston, Maryland – Allen’s Hatchery, Inc.
- Donald and Jill Smith, Millsboro, Delaware – Mountaire Farms, Inc.
- Clifton Taylor, Taylor Farms, Marion Station, Maryland – Mountaire Farms, Inc.
- Ronald and Audrey Tyndall, Seaford, Delaware – Tyson Foods, Inc.
- James and Kim Wade, Nanticoke, Maryland – Mountaire Farms, Inc.
More than 800 people attended the DPI banquet; an annual celebration of the Delmarva Peninsula’s chicken industry.
Source: Delmarva Poultry Industry, Inc.
