Delmarva Poultry Industry, Inc.. honored industry leaders at its Booster Banquet. During its 57th banquet, DPI recognized 12 chicken growers and three individuals for their work on behalf of the industry.
The J. Frank Gordy, Sr. Delmarva Distinguished Citizen Award, DPI’s highest honor, was presented to chicken industry veteran and past DPI president William G. Massey of Wicomico County, Md. Massey started working in the chicken industry in 1979 as a flock supervisor. He joined Mountaire Farms, Inc. in 1988 as a flock supervisor and worked up the ranks. He is now is Vice President of Live Operations, overseeing hatcheries, feed mills, and grower relations on Delmarva and in North Carolina.
Massey joined the DPI Board of Directors in 1998 and served as president in 2000. He remains on the DPI Board of Directors.
DPI’s Medal of Achievement award for an elected person was presented to Maryland State Senator Mac Middleton of Charles County in southern Maryland. Middleton, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, is one of the few farmers in the Maryland General Assembly. He has been a strong supporter of the chicken industry and agriculture in general since joining the Senate in 1995.
Delaware Department of Agriculture Secretary Ed Kee was presented with the Edward H. Ralph DPI Medal of Achievement for a non-elected person.
Kee, who has a lifetime of involvement with agriculture in Delaware, was educated at the University of Delaware. For more than 30 years, he worked for the University of Delaware; retiring in 2008 to become Director of Agriculture for Hanover Foods Corporation, a national vegetable processing company.
In 2009 Gov. Jack Markell enlisted him to become Secretary of Agriculture.
He has worked on behalf of the chicken industry by seeking money to maintain and improve chicken diagnostic services at the University of Delaware. DPI noted that Kee is interested in attracting and retaining young farmers into agriculture and has led Delaware’s efforts in this regard.
Additionally, DPI recognized 12 poultry producers. Selected by their companies from Delmarva’s nearly 1,600 poultry growers, this year’s recipients are:
– Mark and Theresa Baker, Greenwood, Del. – Allen Harim Farms LLC
– Sam and Patti Cooper, Marydel, Md. – Amick Farms, LLC
– Rick and Kim Hall, East New Market, Md. – Mountaire Farms, Inc.
– Kiwon and Sunmee Kang, Laurel, Del. – Perdue Farms Inc.
– Raymond and Dianne Marvel, Houston, Del. – Perdue Farms Inc.
– Ronnie and Barbara Matthews, Greenbush, Va. – Tyson Foods, Inc.
– Chad and Tami Mitchell, Frankford, Del.- Mountaire Farms, Inc.
– Honeysuckle Farm, Pocomoke City, Md. – Mountaire Farms, Inc.
– Mindy and Tom Phillips, Gumboro,, Del. – Perdue Farms Inc.
– Jason Powell, Delmar, Md. – Mountaire Farms, Inc.
– Lee and Dana Richardson, Willards, Md. – Perdue Farms Inc.
– Ronald and Audrey Tyndall, Seaford, Del. – Tyson Foods, Inc., Del.
Nearly 700 people attended the DPI banquet; an annual celebration of the Delmarva Peninsula’s chicken industry.
