ATLANTA -- Steve Willardsen, Cargill Value Added Meats, Wichita, Kan., was elected chairman of the board of directors of U.S. Poultry & Egg Association at its annual 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, George's Inc.
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. He has served on the USPOULTRY board of directors since 2001.
Vice chairman
Gary Cooper, Cooper Farms, Oakwood, Ohio, 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, Ala., is the new treasurer. He received his bachelor of science 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 bachelor of science in poultry technology and management and a masters in business administration, both from Pennsylvania 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.
Past chairman
Monty Henderson, George's Inc., Springdale, Ark., is immediate past chairman. A graduate of the University of Arkansas with a bachelor of science degree in agribusiness, Henderson began his poultry career as a broiler service manager with Tyson Foods. He later was broiler growout manager with Campbell Soup Co. He moved on to Pilgrim's Pride Corp. 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.
Board
Serving on the board of directors of USPOULTRY will be: Bill Bradley, CCF Brands, Rogers, Ark.; Lampkin Butts, Sanderson Farms, Laurel, Miss.; Lyman Campbell, Koch Foods of Alabama LLC, Montgomery, Ala.; Tim Davis, Pfizer Poultry Health, Overland Park, Kan.; Einar Einarsson, Marel USA, Lenexa, Kan.; Larry Gandy, Marshall Durbin Cos., Waynesboro, Miss.; Lester Gray, Perdue Farms, Salisbury, Md.; Greg Hinton, Rose Acre Farms, Seymour, Ind.; Jay Houchin, Farbest Farms, Jasper, Ind.; Donnie King, Tyson Foods, Springdale, Ark.; Richard King, Foster Farms, Livingston, Calif.; Dr. Kenton Kreager, Hy-Line International, Dallas Center, Iowa; Don Mabe, Aviagen Inc., Huntsville, Ala.; Elton Maddox, Wayne Farms LLC, Oakwood, Ga.; Pete Martin, Mar-Jac Poultry, Gainesville, Ga.; Dr. Don McIntyre, Hybrid Turkeys, Pageland, S.C.; Sherman Miller, Cal-Maine Foods, Chase, Kan.; Dr. Ron Prestage, Prestage Farms of S.C., Camden, S.C.; Walt Shafer, Pilgrim's Pride, Pittsburg, Texas; Keith Shoemaker, Butterball LLC, Mt. Olive, N.C.; Todd Simmons, Simmons Foods, Siloam Springs, Ark.
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