ATLANTA – Steve Willardsen, Cargill Value Added Meats, Wichita, KS, was elected
chairman of the board of directors of U.S. Poultry & Egg Association (USPOULTRY)
at their meeting during the 2010 International Poultry Expo. He had previously
served as vice chairman. Willardsen was presented the traditional “working man’s
gavel” by 2009 chairman Monty Henderson.
A graduate of Utah State University with a degree in agribusiness, he has been
in the poultry industry for more than 26 years. He started with Norbest, spent
several years at Land O’Lakes as complex manager, and at Cargill as complex
general manager. Also, he was chief operating officer for Rocco in Virginia.
Willardsen is now president of Cargill Value Added Meats, Wichita, KS. He has
served on the USPOULTRY board of directors since 2001.
Vice Chairman
Gary Cooper, Cooper Farms, Oakwood, OH, was elected vice chairman. He began his
career more than 30 years ago at Cooper Farms, which produces turkeys and turkey
products, eggs, and pork. In the third generation at the family-owned operation,
he serves as vice president and chief operating officer. Cooper is a past
president of the Ohio Poultry Association and is a member of the Midwest Poultry
Consortium board.
Treasurer
Mark Waller, Ingram Farms, Cullman, AL, is the new treasurer.He received his BS
degree in poultry science at Mississippi State University. Previously, he was
with Tyson Foods for 19 years, serving as plant manager and complex manager.
Waller is now sales and processing director for Ingram Farms. He is a past
president of the Alabama Poultry & Egg Association.
Secretary
James Adams, Wenger’s Feed Mill, Rheems, PA, was named secretary. A native of
Pennsylvania, he received his BS in poultry technology and management and a
masters in business administration, both from Penn State University. Adams
joined Wenger Feeds in 1980, and has worked in a variety of responsibilities in
egg production, feed manufacturing, transportation, purchasing, and sales and
marketing. He is currently president and CEO of Wenger Feeds.
Immediate Past Chairman
Monty Henderson, George’s, Inc., Springdale, AR, is immediate past chairman. A
graduate of the University of Arkansas with a BS degree in agribusiness,
Henderson began his poultry career as a broiler service manager with Tyson
Foods. He later was broiler grow-out manager with Campbell Soup Company. He
moved on to Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation where he was live production manager and
senior vice president, and subsequently president and chief operating officer.
In 1994 Henderson joined George’s, Inc., where he recently retired as president
and now serves as consultant.
2010 U.S. Poultry & Egg Association Board of Directors
The 2010 U.S. Poultry & Egg Association Board of Directors was elected at the
International Poultry Expo (seated from left): Tim Davis, Pfizer Poultry Health,
Overland Park, KS; Keith Shoemaker, Butterball LLC, Mt. Olive, NC; Jay Houchin,
Farbest Farms, Inc., Jasper, IN; Mark Waller, Ingram Farms, Cullman, AL,
treasurer; Monty Henderson, George’s Inc., Springdale, AR, immediate past
chairman; James Adams, Wenger’s Feed Mill, Rheems, PA, secretary; Steve
Willardsen, Cargill Value Added Meats, Wichita, KS, chairman; Gary Cooper,
Cooper Farms, Oakwood, OH, vice chairman; Elton Maddox, Wayne Farms LLC,
Oakwood, GA; Todd Simmons, Simmons Foods, Siloam Springs, AR; Pete Martin, Mar-Jac
Poultry, Gainesville, GA; Donnie King, Tyson Foods, Inc., Springdale, AR; and
(standing from left): Walt Shafer, Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation, Pittsburg, TX;
Dr. Ron Prestage, Prestage Farms of SC, Camden, SC; Don Mabe, Aviagen, Inc.,
Huntsville, AL; Lampkin Butts, Sanderson Farms, Inc., Laurel, MS; Lester Gray,
Perdue Farms, Inc., Salisbury, MD; Sherman Miller, Cal-Maine Foods, Inc., Chase,
KS; Greg Hinton, Rose Acre Farms, Seymour, IN; Bill Bradley, CCF Brands, Rogers,
AR; Dr. Kenton Kreager, Hy-Line International, Dallas Center IA; Lyman Campbell,
Koch Foods of Alabama, LLC, Montgomery, AL; Dr. Don McIntyre, Hybrid Turkeys,
Pageland, SC; Einar Einarsson, Marel USA, Lenexa, KS; and Larry Gandy, Marshall
Durbin Companies, Waynesboro, MS. (Not shown Richard King, Foster Farms,
Livingston, CA.)
Source: U.S.
Poultry & Egg Association
