Iowa State ag students visit The Poultry Federation

A group of students from the Iowa State Agriculture Entrepreneurship Initiative (AGEI) visited The Poultry Federation to hear President Marvin Childers speak about the value of the poultry industry. Childers spoke to the students about challenges the industry faces and the responsibility future generations will have on changing the way society views animal welfare, vaccines and antibiotics.
The topic of avian influenza and biosecurity were at the center of the students focus as it is an all too familiar experience for their home state in Iowa.
One of the students, Daniel Schouvieller, said, “It has been interesting to hear the perspective of growers who have experienced avian influenza and those that have not. The ones that have experienced AI are more inclined to make changes to heighten biosecurity, while those that have not experienced AI stick to how they have always done things.”
Childers said, “There is a cultural change that is going to have to take place in an effort to heighten biosecurity.”
The mission of the Iowa State Agriculture Entrepreneurship Initiative is to provide students with practical business development and entrepreneurial experiences essential for their success in future careers and endeavors. Through their Domestic Development & Entrepreneurship in Agribusiness (DDEA) course the students are developing a comprehensive market analysis on the impact the recent avian flu outbreak has had on Iowa’s layer, broiler, and turkey industries. “Hearing from experts in the industry has been vital in validating the research we have done thus far,” said Ellie Flickinger, student at Iowa State University.
Their week-long research tour started in Iowa and has included stops in Missouri at Simple Life Farms, Missouri Department of Agriculture, Missouri Egg Council, and Cargill. Yesterday the students toured Tyson Foods headquarters in Springdale, AR then headed down to the University of Arkansas to visit Dr. Michael Kidd at the Poultry Science Department. 
After leaving The Poultry Federation the students are headed to the Arkansas Livestock and Poultry Commission and will conclude their tour in Nashville, TN.
“This experience has helped us see that the poultry industry is an important part of the agriculture industry,” said Izak Christensen.

Regional Poultry Federation announces leaders for 2015-2016

The Poultry Federation of Arkansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma, announces its Officers and Board of Directors for the 2015-2016 year. Serving as chairman of the board is David Elam, Complex Manager for Wayne Farms, LLC in Danville; vice chairman of the board is James Smith, Senior Vice President of Live Operations and First Processing, Simmons Foods, Inc., Siloam Springs; treasurer of the board is Jim Smith, President of Keith Smith Co., Inc., in Hot Springs; and secretary of the board is Drew McGee; Senior Vice President/General Manager Raw Poultry, Tyson Foods Inc., Springdale. In addition, James Smith will serve as the 2016 Annual Poultry Festival Chairman.
Board members for 2015-2016 include Bill Folk, Complex Manager at Butterball, LLC, Huntsville; Robert Garlington, Vice President of George’s Inc. Arkansas and Missouri Operations; Charles George, Co-CEO and Co-President of George’s Inc., Springdale;  Vaughn King, Western Region Sales Manager, Aviagen, Inc.; Wes McClure, Senior Vice President of Further Processing, Simmons Prepared Foods; Mike Pruitt, General Manager, North America, Cobb-Vantress, Inc., Siloam Springs; Tim Thompson, Vice President of Operations, Cal-Maine Foods, Inc.; Stephan Barnes, Vice President of Operations at Ozark Mountain Poultry, Rogers; Duane Weems, Live Operations Manager, Peco Foods, Pocahontas;  Shane Acosta, General Manager, Cargill, Springdale; Russell Bragg, Vice President Transportation and Grains at O.K. Foods, Fort Smith;  Don Burrows, Complex Manager at Pilgrim’s, DeQueen; Dr. Scott Gustin, Director of Veterinary Services, Domestic Poultry at Tyson Foods, Springdale; and Gary Hogue, Vice President of Live Production, O.K. Foods, Fort Smith.
Two Allied membership representatives serve on this year’s Board of Directors. They are: Preston Stiles, Vice President of Conveyor Technology located in Maumelle; and Tim Scott, Managing Partner at Clearview Enterprises, LLC, located in Tontitown.
Marvin Childers of Little Rock serves as president of The Poultry Federation. “Our federation board of directors has a long-standing history of maintaining strong leaders who contribute to the long-term prosperity of our industry,” stated Childers. “We appreciate their service to our tristate association.”

Simmons Foods CEO honored by The Poultry Federation

Todd Simmons, CEO and Vice Chairman of Simmons Foods and  Affiliates in Siloam Springs, Arkansas, was named “2015 Industry Leader of the Year” by The Poultry Federation (TPF) of Arkansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma, during the 56th Annual Poultry Festival, held in Rogers, Arkansas on June 19-20.
The award has been presented by TPF since 1955 and recognizes the outstanding achievements of poultry and egg executives and their contribution to the industry. Presenting the award this year was TPF’s current Board of Directors and Marvin Childers, TPF president.
Simmons has been involved in the poultry industry since birth. Following in his grandfather’s and his father’s shoes, he began working for the company at the age of 19, and after graduating from Georgetown University with a bachelor of science degree in business management, he returned to Northwest Arkansas to train in every area of the business. In 2013 he was promoted to CEO and vice chairman, after serving as CEO of both the Poultry and Pet Food divisions for the previous six years.
He has been credited for being instrumental in the vision of a new Poultry Federation building in Little Rock and provided the building committee and board of directors with an analysis of the financial commitment as well as the construction documents. He runs the day-to-day operations of Simmons Foods with the help of over 5,800 employees. Simmons Foods, according to TPF, focuses on customizing chicken products in foodservice and retail and they are recognized as one of the country’s top ten privately held poultry processors with operations in Arkansas, Oklahoma and Missouri.
Simmons’ grandfather, Bill Simmons, was named Industry Leader of the Year in 1961 and his father, Mark Simmons, was named Industry Leader of the Year in 1990.
Todd Simmons and his wife, Shelley, reside in Siloam Springs and have two children.

The Poultry Federation names Plyler Turkey Man of the Year

James Plyler receives The Poultry Federation’s Turkey Man of the Year Award from Gerald Duncan, left, agriculture operations advisor for Cargill Turkey and Cooked Meats, and Clint Grimsley, right, president of Valley of the Moon Commercial Poults. 
The Poultry Federation’s Turkey Man of the Year Award for 2014 was given to James E. Plyler. The award was given in recognition of Plyler's past and current contributions to the turkey industry and on behalf of The Poultry Federation's Turkey Meeting Planning Committee.
This year’s recipient has a career that spans 38 years in the turkey business, to which he is still a major contributor. Plyler began his career in the turkey industry as breeder/hatchery manager for ConAgra Turkey and then quickly progressed to the role of live operations manager, and then to Carthage complex general manager.  During his leadership period in Carthage, the complex tripled its live production volume, increasing from a nominal 40mm pounds in the late 1970s to over 150 mm pounds and double shifting its plant by the late 1980s.
According to the presenters, "This year's recipient is one that is not afraid to get his hands dirty. On more than one occasion he would help load or unload turkeys, ride with us in the fields and on one night in particular, when we were short of live haul drivers, he set an example of being willing to do whatever it takes, by driving a live haul truck and hauling birds from the farm to the plant."
Plyler is a Vietnam War veteran, having served his country four years in the United States Army Medical Corps, achieving an honorable discharge at the rank of Sgt. E-5.  He received his bachelor’s degree in animal science and biology from Stephen F. Austin University in 1975, and his master’s degree in poultry science and nutrition from Texas A &M University in 1977.  From 1977 to 1987, he worked in the Carthage Missouri Division of ConAgra Turkey Company, during which time he progressed to the level of complex general manager and vice president.
Since 1987 he has served as general manager for Swift Eckrich, as well as operations manager for companies like Louis Rich, McClain Farms and Powell Milling.  During the last six years he formed his own independent consulting business, Turkey Health and Specialties, working with the turkey industry in the upper Midwest, on the West Coast and in Canada.

Ceva’s Childress named sales representative of year

Ceva's Keith Childress has been named Sales Representative of the Year by The Poultry Federation. 
Keith Childress of Ceva was named the 2014 Sales Representative of the Year by The Poultry Federation (TPF) during the association’s 55th Annual Poultry Festival. This award has been presented annually by The Poultry Federation since 1968 and is based on the nominee’s involvement and support of the association and the industry.
Childress has been active in the poultry industry for over 29 years. He started out his career as a service technician for a broiler company. He then moved to the supplier side of the industry and has been a sales representative, a territory manager, a U.S. marketing manager, a global marketing manager, a western U.S. sales manager, and is currently a territory business manager for Ceva.
Childress has been a member of The Poultry Federation since 1988 and has served as secretary, vice-chairman, and chairman of the allied industries membership group. He has been a strong and avid supporter of TPF’s Allied Industries Scholarship Program and has been the co-chair for the past four years. He has attended every TPF annual festival since 1964. His poultry customers speak highly of him because of his extensive knowledge and expertise, and his diligent efforts to assist his customers in every aspect of the grow-out process.Ce
The Poultry Federation is a tri-state trade organization representing the poultry and egg industries in Arkansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma.

The Poultry Federation names industry leader of the year

Dr. Michael Kidd, director, department head and professor at the Center of Excellence for Poultry Science and the Department of Poultry Science at the University of Arkansas, has been named the “2014 Industry Leader of the Year” by The Poultry Federation (TPF). The award has been presented since 1955 and recognizes the outstanding achievements of poultry and egg executives and their contributions to the industry.
Kidd is a poultry science graduate from the University of Arkansas and was a recipient of the Arkansas Feed Mill Scholarship. He has a master’s degree from the University of Arkansas and a Ph.D. from North Carolina State University. He has been a lab technician for Hudson Foods and a research director and research manager for Nutri-Quest, has consulted in over 30 foreign countries, and has over 355 peer reviewed manuscripts. He has served as president of the Poultry Science Association and department head at the Department of Poultry Science at Mississippi State University.
Presenting the award this year was TPF’s current board of directors and Marvin Childers, TPF president.
“Dr. Kidd has revitalized the Poultry Science Department at the University of Arkansas by increasing the number of students and increasing their participation. He has led efforts to have the department become more engaged with the industry,” Childers said. “Dr. Kidd supports the industry with research. In doing this, he is also developing future poultry industry leaders.”
Kidd and his wife Denise reside in Tontitown, Arkansas, and have three children.
The Poultry Federation is a tri-state trade organization representing the poultry and egg industries in Arkansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma. 

The Poultry Federation: Immigration reform needed

Marvin Childers, president of The Poultry Federation, is calling for comprehensive immigration reform, saying that the poultry industry is currently struggling to find workers. Childers addressed immigration reform in a June 3 press conference with UALR KUAR, a public radio station at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.
Childers said that without reform, the price of food is sure to skyrocket.
“If we don't do something, we're going to drive the price of food completely out of reason for Arkansans and Americans,” said Childers. “We need employees. We need to find a way to make certain that the people that are here that we get them on some path to citizenship.”
He said it's been harder to find workers since the implementation of the federal government's E-Verify system, a program designed to ensure businesses are hiring legal immigrants.
"If they know they can't pass E-Verify, then they do not apply for a job with the poultry companies because every poultry company in Arkansas uses E-Verify," said Childers. 
Childers said he believes the system has failed for many reasons, including that businesses are not being given legal protection if they use E-Verify to vet employees and undocumented workers are discovered.
"If they are fraudulent documents, I'm not sure why the employer is held responsible for someone else's fraud. That's a change that needs to be made. There needs to be some kind of protection for the employers," said Childers.
He also criticized the program's accuracy and questioned its ability to actually catch fraudulent documents.
The Poultry Federation is a tri-state organization that includes Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Missouri.

Annual Poultry Processors Workshop features industry experts

The 2013 Annual Poultry Processors Workshop, co-hosted by The Poultry Federation and the Center of Excellence for Poultry Science, will be held October 2-3. The two-day educational event addresses current issues for the poultry processor including HACCP, QA, human resources, and environmental maintenance. The Supplier Showcase portion of the workshop is the largest local tradeshow for poultry processors and purchasing personnel to attend.
The first day of the conference will be held at the Holiday Inn in Springdale, located at 1500 South 48th St. The second day of the conference will be held at the University of Arkansas, Center of Excellence for Poultry Science in Fayetteville, beginning with an omelet breakfast hosted by the Poultry Science Club.
The conference continues its long-standing tradition of bringing together poultry processors and industry experts to discuss everyday issues of the poultry industry. Campylobacter, Salmonella, and water sustainability are just a few of the topics to be addressed at the educational conference. In follow-up to a recent conference hosted by The Poultry Federation, Campylobacter and Salmonella continues to be an important topic for the poultry industry and this will be addressed at the workshop by Dr. Peggy Cook of MCA Services and Dr. Scott Stillwell of Tyson Foods.
Other activities include a reception with door prizes during the Supplier Showcase, a networking event on Wednesday evening, and a golf tournament on Thursday afternoon.

Paul Fox -- Keynote Speaker, Wednesday: The Poultry Industry -- Looking Around Corners
Paul Fox is president and chief executive officer of O.K. Foods Inc., Bachoco USA LLC. Prior to his current position Fox was managing director of The Marfrig Group, a multinational protein company based in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Fox spent 17 years at Tyson Foods, Inc., as vice president of domestic and international operations and was a private equity CEO for the leading vegetable ingredient company.
Fox received his Masters of Science in Leadership and Ethics from John Brown University and his Bachelors of Science in Animal Science from Missouri State University, where he was a member of Kappa Alpha Order and hosted a radio talk show, "The Noon Farm Show." Fox currently resides in Fort Smith, Arkansas with his wife, Perla of 17 years, and their four daughters. He enjoys managing a six-generation family farm. He is a board member of the Fort Smith Regional Council, Union Christian Academy, and National Chicken Council.

Michael Gooch -- Keynote Speaker, Wednesday: The Value of Human Resources
Michael L. Gooch, author and retired executive consultant, specializes in providing practical, take-home information delivered in high-energy, high-impact presentations. He has shown numerous organizations how to make the best possible human resources decisions. Using a "folksy" humorous delivery, he defines true human resources management as more art than science. Gooch is certified as a Senior Professional in Human Resources.
Gooch is the former corporate director of human resources for Pilgrim's Pride Corporation. He recently retired from Perdue Farms as a complex HR manager. Prior to this, he worked in a variety of human resources positions at several locations for ConAgra Foods. Through the years, Gooch has won numerous eminent industry and governmental awards in leadership, teamwork, and safety. He has authored newsletter articles on a variety of management topics and is the author of the book Wingtips with Spurs and Lessons from the Ranch. 

Roddy Rogers -- Keynote Speaker, Thursday: Drinking Water Supply for the Future: A Regional Issue
Roddy Rogers is a native of Springfield, Missouri, and attended the University of Missouri-Rolla. He received his BS, in Civil Engineering in 1981, a Master's Degree in Geotechnical Engineering in 1983, and a second Master's Degree in Engineering Management in 1990. He is currently manager of water treatment and supply for City Utilities of Springfield, Missouri.
Rogers is a past president of two engineering societies, past chair of the Missouri Section of the American Water Works Association, and a Leadership Springfield alumnus. Rogers is a four-time Governor appointee to the Missouri Dam and Reservoir Safety Council and has served a total of nine years, four as chair. He is a past president of the Tri-States Water Resource coalition seeking to establish a water supply source for the region and has participated in volunteer engineering/mission projects in several impoverished countries.
Conference pre-registration fee is US$60 for TPF members; US$75 for non-members; US$25 for university personnel; students are free of charge. On-site registration is US$15 extra. The registration fee covers all session presentations, receptions, showcase, and accompanying meals. Exhibitor table top space fee is US$100 for TPF members; $200 for non-members. The workshop golf tournament will be held at Springdale Country Club on Thursday, Oct. 3 at 1:00 p.m. Individual entry is US$100 per person or US$400 per team; box lunch provided.
Hotel registrations are available by calling Holiday Inn in Springdale: +1.479.751.8300.
For more information on the workshop, visit The Poultry Federation's website.

Poultry Federation leader won't run for Arkansas attorney general

Marvin Childers, president of the Poultry Federation, has decided not to enter the race for Arkansas attorney general. Childers received an outpouring of support from friends and leaders around the state encouraging him to run, however Childers said after careful consideration, he will remain in his position as president of the Poultry Federation of Arkansas, Missouri and Oklahoma.
"I have always been interested in public service, and I hope I made a contribution to our state during the six years I spent in the Arkansas House of Representatives, and before that, as a prosecutor," said Childers.
"I love the political arena, and I will continue to look for opportunities to make Arkansas a place where people want to live and work. The poultry industry is critically important to the economy of Arkansas, and I am grateful for the opportunity, in my current position, to help lead this vital and dynamic industry," said Childers. "I look forward to continuing to work with the federal government and the state governments of our three-state region to help ensure the continued success of our industry."
Childers has been with the Poultry Federation since 2007. He served in the Arkansas legislature from 2001 to 2006. 

The Poultry Federation names Tyson CEO among speakers for 2013 conference

The Poultry Federation has announced the lineup of speakers for its 2013 Arkansas Nutrition Conference, being held September 3-5 at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Roger, Ark. Featured speakers include industry experts from the U.S. and around the world, such as Donnie Smith of Tyson Foods.
The program includes:
Tuesday, September 3: Rob Shirley, Ph.D., Adisseo, presiding
• Welcome and Introductions - Rob Shirley, Ph.D., poultry technical manager, Adisseo
• Methionine Inclusion in Poultry: Past and Present - Michael Kidd, Ph.D., poultry science director, Center of Excellence, University of Arkansas
• Advances in Sulphur Amino Acid Nutrition through Recent Metabolic and Physiologic Research - Pierre-Andre Geraert, Ph.D., director of innovation & marketing, Adisseo (France)
• Current Amino Acid Considerations for Broilers: Requirements, Rations & Economics - Paul Tillman, Ph.D., technical services consultant, Poultry Technical Nutrition Services LLC
• The Development, Use and Value of Adisseo's Precise Nutrition Evaluation Platform in Poultry Production - Rob Shirley, Ph.D., poultry technical manager, Adisseo
• NSP Enzymes: Interaction with Each Other and Dietary Factors - Jason Lee, Ph.D., assistant professor, Poultry Science Dept., Texas A&M University
Wednesday, September 4, morning: Nathan Collins, Ph.D., Simmons Foods Inc., presiding
• Broiler Production Efficiency: A Comparison between Brazil and the United States - Serigo Vieira, Ph.D., professor associado, Departmento de Zootecnia, Universidad Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, at Porto Alegre, Brazil
• UK and Irish Poultry Nutrition and Production - Bronagh Owens, Ph.D., poultry nutritionist, Devenish Nutrition Ltd.
• Poultry Production in Spain: New Advances in Feeding and Nutrition Production - Gonzalo Mateos, DVM, Ph.D., professor of animal nutrition, Universidad Politecnica de Madrid, Spain
• Broiler Production and Nutrition in the United States - Carla Price, Ph.D., poultry nutritionist, Sanderson Farms
• International Speakers Roundtable - All international speakers
Wednesday, September 4, afternoon: Nathan Collins, Ph.D., Simmons Foods Inc., presiding
• The Early Brooding Period:  Issues and a New Technology Solution (In-hatchery Feeding) - Donna Hill, Ph.D., hatchery management consultant, Hatch Tech Incubation Technology
• Enzymes and Their Effect on Amino Acid Nutrition - Mike Bedford, Ph.D., research director, AB Vista Feed Ingredients
• Antibiotic-Free Strategies for Poultry Production - Matt Greenwood, Ph.D., poultry nutrition consultant, Greenwood Nutrition LLC
• Servant Leadership - Donnie Smith, president and CEO, Tyson Foods Inc.
• Speaker Roundtable - All speakers
• Introduction of 2013 Scholarships
• Poster viewing with students present
Thursday, September 5: Keith Turner, Ph.D., Butterball LLC, presiding
• Departmental and Center Update - Michael Kidd, Ph.D., poultry science director, Center of Excellence, University of Arkansas
• Animal Wellbeing: A Nutrition Challenge - Yvonne Vizzier Thaxton, Ph.D., professor & director, Center for Food Animal Wellbeing, University of Arkansas
• Turkey Nutrition and Skeletal Development Research: 1992-2012 - Mike Lilburn, Ph.D., professor, Department of Animal Sciences, Ohio State/OARDC
• Pellet Quality Performance Tests: Milling to Bird Performance - Joe Moritz, Ph.D., professor, Animal & Nutritional Sciences, West Virginia University
• Equilibrium in the Gut Ecosystem for Productive Healthy Birds - Edgar Oviedo, DVM, Ph.D., associate professor, Prestage Department of Poultry Science on Affiliation, North Carolina State University
The event is co-sponsored by the Feed Manufacturers Committee of The Poultry Federation and the University of Arkansas, and the technical symposium is sponsored by Adisseo. Proceeds from this conference are designated for scholarship support at the University of Arkansas. The conference qualifies for 12 CEUs for members of American Registry of Professional Animal Scientists (ARPAS).
Advance registration for the conference is $100 and on-site registration is $125.  Professors, emeritus and students are free of charge. 

The Poultry Federation gives over $100,000 in scholarships

The Poultry Federation of Arkansas, Missouri and Oklahoma announced the recipients of its scholarships for the 2013-2014 academic year. A total of $102,000 in scholarship funds was awarded to four graduate students and 18 undergraduate students.
Graduate students receiving the Poultry Nutrition Scholarships are Chance Williams, David McCreery, Malea Frank and Alex Gilley, all attending the University of Arkansas-Fayetteville.
Undergraduate students attending the University of Arkansas-Fayetteville and receiving the Industry Student Scholarships are Dustin Dixon, Ashley Sizemore, Suzanne Sikes, Elizabeth Mosely, Valeria Quiroge Trigo, Heather Leding and Harlee Ray; and from Arkansas State University-Jonesboro, Kristen Miller.
Undergraduate students enrolled at the University of Arkansas-Fayetteville and receiving the Junior/Senior Scholarships are Jenifer Lutes, Ruben Kriseldi, Landon Gross, Devin Cook, Ethan Holt, Jacob Stonebarger, Jacob Harriman, Michael Schumbohm and Betsy Epps; and from Southern Arkansas University, Timothy Hanney.

Poultry Federation introduces newest board members

The Poultry Federation, a trade organization representing the poultry and egg industries in Arkansas, Missouri and Oklahoma, introduced three new members to its board of directors: Bill Folk of Butterball, Benny McClure of George's Inc. and Preston Stiles of Conveyor Technology. Each will serve a three-year term ending in 2016.
"We appreciate their willingness to serve and look forward to their leadership in our mission to protect and promote the poultry and egg industry of Arkansas, Missouri and Oklahoma," said Marvin Childers, president of the Poultry Federation.

Bill Folk
Bill Folk is the complex manager at Butterball in Huntsville, Ark. He has worked at Butterball for the past 23 years where he has held the positions of operations manager, human resources manager and controller. Previous to his career at Butterball, he worked for Louis Rich, a division of Oscar Mayer/Kraft Foods for 13 years where he held the positions of live operations controller, general accounting manager and cost accounting manager.
Folk will serve on this year's Processors Workshop Committee for the Poultry Federation. He attended Newberry College in Newberry, S.C., and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting. He and his wife, Judy, reside in Fayetteville, Ark.

Benny McClure
Benny McClure is the live production manager, Arkansas and Missouri Division, for George's Inc. He previously worked for Tyson Foods as hatchery manager and broiler manager. He currently serves as vice chairman of the Poultry Improvement Committee for the Poultry Federation and will also serve as the 2014 Spring Symposium chairman. Last year, he served as secretary of the Poultry Improvement Committee.
McClure attended Arkansas Tech University in Russellville and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in agriculture business. He and his wife, Tara, reside in Springdale, Ark.

Preston Stiles
Preston Stiles is the vice president of Conveyor Technology located in Maumelle, Ark. Stiles will serve as one of the allied membership representatives on the board of directors. He was previously self-employed with Access Control and Louisiana Prime as general manager for Louisiana and Texas.
Stiles serves on the Poultry Federation's Processors Workshop Committee and the Annual Poultry Festival Committee. He has also served as an Allied Industries officer as secretary, vice chairman and chairman.

The Poultry Federation names 2013-14 board members and officers

The Poultry Federation of Arkansas, Missouri and Oklahoma announced its board of directors and officers for the 2013-14 fiscal year. Serving as chairman is Shane Acosta, complex general manager for Cargill, Springdale, Ark.; vice chairman is Steve Storm, operations vice president for Cal-Maine Foods, Jackson, Miss.; treasurer is David Elam, complex manager, Wayne Farms LLC, Danville, Ark.; secretary is James Smith, vice president of live operations, Simmons Foods Inc., Siloam Springs, Ark.; and serving as past chairman of the board is Kevin McDaniel, vice president of production, O.K. Farms Inc., Fort Smith, Ark.
In addition, Steve Storm will serve as the 2014 annual Poultry Festival chairman.
Board members for 2013-2014: Charles George, co-chief executive officer/president, George's; Vaughn King, western region sales manager, Aviagen; Drew McGee, senior vice president/general manager raw poultry, Tyson Foods; Jerry Moye, president of Cobb-Vantress; Jeff Vanemburg, operations manager, Foster Farms; Duane Weems, live operations manager, Peco Foods; Brent Glasgow, complex manager, Pilgrim's; Trent Goins, senior vice president of O.K. Industries; Jim Smith, president of Keith Smith Co.; Dr. Scott Gustin, director of veterinary service, domestic, Tyson Foods; Bill Folk, complex manager, Butterball; Benny McClure, live production manager, George's; and Todd Simmons chief operating officer, Simmons Prepared Foods.
Three Allied membership representatives serve on this year's board of directors. Dr. Sara Steinlage of Elanco; Preston Stiles of Conveyor Technology; and Vic Smith of Phibro Animal Health will serve as ex-officio Allied membership representative.
Newly elected board members are Folk, McClure and Stiles.
Marvin Childers of Little Rock, Ark., serves as president of The Poultry Federation. "Our Federation board of directors has a strong history of maintaining strong leaders that will contribute to the long term prosperity of our industry," stated Childers. "We thank them for their time and dedication." 

The Poultry Federation names 2013 'Sales Representative of the Year'

Mark Martin of Applied Industrial Technologies was named the 2013 "Sales Representative of the Year" by The Poultry Federation of Arkansas, Missouri and Oklahoma, during the association's 54^th annual Poultry Festival. The award has been presented annually by The Poultry Federation since 1968, and it is based on the nominee's involvement and support of the association and the industry.
Martin has been in the poultry industry for more than 30 years.  During his career, he has worked up through the ranks, from driver position to local management to strategic account manager, gaining an understanding of how each role impacts the business network. According to his poultry customers: "He has made a great impact on the overall business as they have moved to new levels. He has earned respect and trust from several business units with his humble yet always business directed approach."

President of poultry federation named industry leader

Marvin Childers, president of the Poultry Federation was named the "2013 Industry Leader of the Year" by the Poultry Federation of Oklahoma, Missouri and Arkansas during the 54th Annual Poultry Festival. The award has been presented since 1955 and recognizes the achievements of poultry and egg executives and their contribution to the industry. Presenting the award this year was the Poultry Federation's current board of directors, led by Kevin McDaniel of O.K. Foods, board chairman. Archie Shaffer of Tyson Foods was present and read a letter of congratulations from Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe.
"Marvin Childers has been a strong leader and advocate for the poultry and egg industry since his appointment as president in 2007," said McDaniel. "For over six years he has worked tirelessly on our behalf to ensure that that our industry is protected and that our tri-state association maintains the highest levels of standards of operation. He has initiated and maintained industry relationships that are critical and important to our business functions." Specific reasons for the award were also mentioned, including the construction of the new organization headquarters in Little Rock, his multi-state government relations work and his attention to detail in the association's accounting processes.
Childers served as an Arkansas State Representative from 2001 to 2006 and has practiced law with Friday, Eldredge & Clark since 2000. Prior to joining the Friday law firm, he developed a general practice in Blytheville, Ark., where he was a partner with Burrow, Harlan and Childers. Childers received a B.A. in accounting from the University of Mississippi and his Juris Doctor from the University of Mississippi School of Law. He is a member of the Arkansas Bar Association, Missouri Bar Association and the Pulaski County Bar Association. Marvin was raised on a family farm in Cooter, Mo. where his family grew over 2,000 acres of cotton, soybeans, wheat and milo.  Marvin resides in Little Rock with his wife, Charisse.

President of the Poultry Federation considers run for Attorney General of Arkansas

Marvin Childers, president and chief lobbyist of The Poultry Federation, is considering a run for Attorney General of Arkansas. Childers has held the post with the poultry organization serving Arkansas, Missouri and Oklahoma since January 2007.
"I am getting a lot of encouragement and I'm going to give it serious consideration," Childers told the City Wire. He added that a deadline for making a decision would come "later this summer." The election will be held in 2014.
Childers, a Republican from Little Rock, is no stranger to holding public office. He previously served in the Arkansas House of Representatives from 2001 to 2006. He has practiced law with Friday, Eldredge & Clark since 2000. 

Regional Salmonella Summit announced

The Poultry Federation announces plans for a regional Salmonella Summit scheduled for March 26-27, 2013 at Cherokee Casino & Hotel in West Siloam Springs, Oklahoma. This summit includes speakers from academia and industry and covers live production through plant Salmonella interventions in the turkey and broiler industry.
"We believe it's beneficial for the industry to come together to discuss this important topic to help improve all of our food safety systems as it relates to Salmonella," stated Shane Acosta of Cargill and chairman of the summit. "We have exceptional speakers and with such a large concentration of the poultry industry in the northwest Arkansas and western Oklahoma area, we couldn't think of a better place to host such a Summit."
Advance registration for the conference is $100 through March 22 and on-site registration is $150.00. Attendees are asked to register online at the Poultry Federation's website, where the program for the summit can also be found.
Hotel arrangements should be made directly with host hotel, Cherokee Casino & Hotel at +1.800.754.4111, before Monday, March 18 to obtain the group rate of $69+ tax per night. The group code is Salmonella Summit.

Poultry federation names board members, officers for 2012-2013

The Poultry Federation of Arkansas, Missouri and Oklahoma has appointed its Board of Directors and officers for the 2012-2013 year. Kevin McDaniel, O.K. Foods, will serve as chairman of the board; Shane Acosta, Cargill, will serve as vice chairman of the board; Steve Storm, Cal-Maine Foods, will serve as treasurer of the board; David Elam, Wayne Farms, will serve as secretary of the board; and Todd Simmons, Simmons Foods, will serve as past chairman of the board.
In addition, Shane Acosta will serve as the 2013 Annual Poultry Festival chairman.
Board members for 2012-2013: Charles George, George’s Inc.; Troy Green, George’s Processing; Vaughn King, Aviagen; Andrew Lekwa, Butterball; Drew McGee, Tyson Foods; Jerry Moye, Cobb-Vantress; Jeff Vanemburg, Pilgrim’s; Duane Weems, Peco Foods; Tim Garber, Foster Farms; Brent Glasgow, Pilgrim’s; Trent Goins, O.K. Foods; James Smith, Simmons Foods; and Jim Smith, Keith Smith Co.
Two Allied membership representatives serve on this year’s Board of Directors: Vic Smith of Phibro Animal Health and Dr. Sara Steinlage of Elanco.
“Our Federation board of directors has a strong history of maintaining strong leaders that will contribute to the long term prosperity of our industry,” said Marvin Childers, president and chief lobbyist of The Poultry Federation. “We thank them for their time and dedication.”

Poultry Federation members donate to Arkansas Foodbank

Member companies of The Poultry Federation donated 4,300 cartons of eggs and various chicken and turkey products totaling 48,000 pounds to the Arkansas Foodbank. The donation, according to the Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance, will help the organization in its mission to reduce hunger through a unified effort to provide hunger relief, education and advocacy. “These groups and many state agencies, businesses, faith groups, federal organizations and individuals have responded to the needs of many low-income families by finding ways to help them access healthy, affordable food," said Joyce Hardy, director of the Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance. "This very generous donation from members of The Poultry Federation helps us move closer to our goal to end childhood hunger in Arkansas by 2015." Companies donating food included Butterball LLC, Cal-Maine Foods Inc., Cargill Inc., George’s Inc., Keith Smith Co., O.K. Industries Inc., Peco Foods Inc., Pilgrim’s Corp., Simmons Foods Inc., Tyson Foods Inc. and Wayne Farms LLC.

Poultry Federation to hold Arkansas Nutrition Conference in September

The Poultry Federation and technical symposium sponsor, Huvepharma, will host the 2011 Arkansas Nutrition Conference from September 6-8, in Rogers, Ark.
The conference will include a number of international and domestic industry experts addressing current topics and concerns in poultry nutrition. The conference qualifies attendees to earn 12 continuing education units for members of American Registry of Professional Animal Scientists.
The 2011 conference is dedicated to the memory of former committee chairman, Jean Allard of O.K. Foods, and will donate funds raised from the conference to TPF's Nutrition Scholarship fund in Allard's honor.
Advance registration for the conference is $100 through September 1, and on-site registration is $125.00. Registration for university faculty and students is free. To register, or for more information, visit TPF's Arkansas Nutrition Conference Web page.