Midwest Poultry Federation honors WATT Global Media

WATT Global Media was among 37 exhibiting companies honored in March for their longtime commitment to the Midwest Poultry Federation (MPF) Convention. 
WATT Global Media was among 37 exhibiting companies honored in March for their longtime commitment to the Midwest Poultry Federation (MPF) Convention.
WATT received a Longevity Award during the Fellowship Breakfast at the 44^th annual MPF Convention in St. Paul, Minnesota.
WATT was the only company recognized for 40 consecutive years of exhibiting at the convention.
“We absolutely could not do this show without the incredible support of our exhibitors. We are grateful and appreciative of the long-term commitment and dedication to MPF that these companies have shown through the years,” said 2015 MPF President Kim Reis of the Iowa Turkey Federation. “Our organization is extremely fortunate to be able to work with so many returning exhibiting companies year after year to provide an excellent trade show experience for our attendees.”

Ben Thompson named Midwest Poultry Federation president

Ben Thompson, an egg farmer from Pearl City, Illinois, has been named the 2015-16 president of Midwest Poultry Federation (MPF). Thompson, whose family owns and operates Pearl Valley Eggs, represents the Illinois Poultry Industries Association on the MPF board of directors.
Thompson replaces outgoing president Kim Reis, a turkey farmer from Ellsworth, Iowa. Reis now assumes the past president position and continues to represent the Iowa Turkey Federation on the MPF board.
“I am honored to lead MPF into the coming year,” said Thompson. “Our 2015 convention featured increased enthusiasm for our show as well as a continued expansion of our exhibit space so I am excited to capitalize on the momentum we experienced this year and build upon our successes for the 2016 convention.”
MPF board elections were held during the 2015 MPF convention, held March 17-19, in St. Paul, Minnesota. Other officers elected during this same time were:


• First vice president: Dr. Darrin Karcher, Michigan State University
• Second vice president: Bruce Eastlund, ILC Resources
• Secretary-treasurer: Greg Nelson, Nelson Poultry Farms Inc., Manhattan, Kansas
Also at the March 17 MPF board meeting, Glenn Schulz of Zoetis was elected to his second term as an allied director on the board. 

Nebraska egg farmer voted Midwest Poultry Federation president

The Midwest Poultry Federation recently elected its officers. Pictured, from left, are Dr. Darrin Karcher, Secretary-Treasurer; Kim Reis, 1st Vice President; Allen Behl, Past President; and William Claybaugh, President. (Not pictured: Ben Thompson, 2nd Vice President).

William Claybaugh, an egg farmer from Carroll, Neb., has been named the 2013-14 President of Midwest Poultry Federation. Claybaugh represents the Nebraska Egg Council on the federation's Board of Directors.
Claybaugh, owner/operator of TWJ Farms/Nebraska Eggs Ltd., replaces outgoing president Allen Behl of Behl Turkeys Farms, Watertown, Wisc. Behl represents the Wisconsin Poultry and Egg Industries Association on the board; he will assume the post of past president.
"I am honored to lead Midwest Poultry Federation into the coming year," said Claybaugh. "Our 2013 convention featured increased attendance and a continued expansion of our exhibit space so I am excited to capitalize on the enthusiasm and momentum we felt this year and build upon our successes for the 2014 convention."
Board elections were held during the 2013 MPF Convention, March 12-14, in Saint Paul, Minn. Other officers were elected during this same time.
Kim Reis, Ellsworth Turkeys of Ellsworth, Iowa, was elected First Vice President of the board. Reis represents the Iowa Turkey Federation on the Board.
Ben Thompson, Pearl Valley Eggs of Pearl City, Ill., was elected Second Vice President of the board. Thompson represents the Illinois Poultry Industries on the board.
Dr. Darrin Karcher, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Mich., was elected Secretary-Treasurer of the board. Karcher represents Michigan Allied Poultry Industries on the board.
Also at the March 12 MPF Board meeting, Bruce Eastlund of ILC Resources was re-elected to his second term as an Allied Director on the Board. ILC Resources is a long-time exhibitor at the convention; Eastlund is one of three Allied Directors who represent all exhibitors on the board.
Attendance at the 2013 Midwest Poultry Federation Convention topped out at 2,150 this year - and increase over last year and the highest it's been in over two decades. The show continued its expansion into two exhibit halls with 393 booths (226 exhibiting companies) as well as educational workshops with over 40 speakers from across the world.
This steady increase in exhibitors and booth space over the past 5 years has merited the distinction for the federation as one of the "50 Fastest Growing Trade Shows" in the U.S. by Trade Show Magazine. This award will be presented at a special ceremony in May in Chicago.
The 43^rd annual Midwest Poultry Federation Convention will be held March 18-20, 2014 at Saint Paul RiverCentre in Saint Paul, Minn. The show will feature a Pre-Show Nutrition Symposium and Welcome Reception on March 18 and exhibits and educational sessions on March 19-20.
As a nonprofit organization, all of MPF's revenue generated (after expenses are paid) from the convention goes back to its member organizations and to support poultry programs.

Midwest Poultry Federation plans March convention

The 42^nd annual Midwest Poultry Federation Convention will be held March 12-14 at the Saint Paul RiverCentre in Saint Paul, Minn. The two exhibit halls and education workshops will run March 13-14.
About 40 speakers will cover a variety of topics for the turkey, egg layer, broiler and organic/specialty poultry industries. Midwest Poultry Federation is also excited to report the expansion of its second exhibit hall, which debuted in 2012. The hall, adjacent to the main exhibit hall, will include even more booths and opens the door for more companies to participate.
The convention kicks off on March 12 with a Pre-Show Nutrition and Poultry Health Symposium, which will be coordinated jointly by Midwest Poultry Federation and the North Central Avian Disease Conference, and the annual Midwest Poultry Federation Welcome Reception.
Also bringing attendees in early will be the North Central Avian Disease Conference and the third annual Organic Egg Farmers of America Symposium. Separate registration fees apply for these events.
New for 2013, the American Egg Board will hold a special speaker training for egg farmers.
Preregistration ends February 15 and is available online, or by mail or fax. 

Midwest Poultry Federation donates turkeys to Minnesota organization

The Midwest Poultry Federation and the Saint Paul Convention and Visitors Authority have joined together to provide a holiday gift of twenty turkeys, totaling nearly 300 pounds, to families served by Neighborhood House on Saint Paul, Minn.’s, West Side.
“We know there are many families in need this holiday season, and through the strength of our partnership with Visit Saint Paul, it has become an annual tradition for our two organizations to join together to give back this time of year,” said Lara Durben, communications director of the Midwest Poultry Federation. “We want to share our success with the people who rely on the Neighborhood House to assist them in feeding their families during challenging economic times.”
Neighborhood House operates the largest single-site food shelf in Minnesota and has served as a multicultural, multilingual resource network for Saint Paul’s immigrants, refugees and low-income families since 1897.
The gift turkeys recognize a partnership between Visit Saint Paul and the Midwest Poultry Federation, which has been holding its annual conference in Saint Paul since 1997.

The conference will bring 2,100 poultry farmers, companies and suppliers to the Saint Paul RiverCentre in March 2013. The federation recently committed to hold the conference at the RiverCentre through 2015.

Midwest Poultry Federation elects new president

Allen Behl, a turkey farmer from Watertown, Wisc., has been named the 2012–2013 president of the Midwest Poultry Federation. Behl represents the Wisconsin Poultry and Egg Association on the Midwest Poultry Federation Board.
Behl replaces outgoing president Randy Olsen of Best Veterinary Solutions. Olsen is an Allied representative on the board, and he will assume the post of past president on the federation's Executive Committee. Other officers elected during the board elections included:

• 1st Vice President: William Claybaugh, Nebraska Eggs Ltd.; representing the Nebraska Egg Council
• 2nd Vice President: Kim Reis, Ellsworth Turkeys; representing the Iowa Turkey Federation 
• Secretary/Treasurer: Ben Thompson, Pearl Valley Eggs; representing the Illinois poultry industries

MPF fellowship breakfast honors exhibitors

A crowd of about 200 at the 2010 Midwest Poultry Federation Convention fellowship breakfast gathered March 18 to hear an inspirational speaker and honor 30 companies for their longevity in exhibiting at the convention.
Greg Watt, president and CEO of WATT, received a plaque recognizing his company’s 35 consecutive years of exhibiting at the MPF convention.
During the breakfast, Matt Lohr, the new commissioner of the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, spoke about the need for the poultry industry to communicate a positive public message.
More than 188 companies exhibited at the St. Paul, Minn., RiverCentre, and 30 were recognized for their longevity in exhibiting at the MPF. Other companies recognized for between 30 and five years of exhibiting included the following:
*30 years – IMV Technologies
*25 years – Chore-Time Equipment, EPS; and IVESCO LLC
*20 years – Aviagen Turkeys; CEI Pacer; Cumberland/Hired-Hand; ILC Resources; Katolight by MTU Onsite Energy; Kindstrom-Schmoll Inc.; Star Labs
*15 years – Anitox
*10 years – Baer Systems Inc.; Energy Panel Structures; Iowa Area Development Group; PW Aire Technologies; Ridley Feed Ingredients
*5 years – ARKO Laboratories Ltd.; Biomin, USA; Chantland - MHS; Diversified Imports; IPS-Carefree Enzymes Inc.; Nutriad Inc.; Plasson; Ralco Nutrition Inc.; Rotem; SEMA Equipment Inc.; Stenner Pump Company; TSS EggQuality.com; Ziegler CAT
The MPF is the largest regional poultry convention in the U.S. The 2011 MPF convention is scheduled for March 15-17 at the RiverCentre in St. Paul, Minn.

KFC creator to reveal 'secret recipe' at MPF Alltech meeting

Global animal health company Alltech will bring former Kentucky Governor and the creator of the Kentucky Fried Chicken brand, John Y. Brown Jr., to speak during the Midwest Poultry Federation Convention on Wednesday, March 17.
Recently named one of America’s top business leaders in the 20th Century by Harvard Business School, Governor Brown will be disclosing the "secret recipe" to creating a super brand, as he is recognized for being the individual to launch the super brand of Kentucky Fried Chicken.
Governor Brown will speak during a luncheon from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m in the Promenade Ballroom at the St. Paul Hotel. The event is open to the public.
For more information and to reserve your seat, contact Ann Kopecky, akopecky@alltech.com.