Delmarva Poultry Industry honors growers, industry advocates

The Delmarva Poultry Industry Inc. honored 12 chicken growersand three individuals for their work on behalf of the chicken industry at the 2,000-membertrade association's annual membership dinner and booster banquet, held April 17.

The Delmarva Poultry Industry Inc. honored 12 chicken growers and three individuals for their work on behalf of the chicken industry at the 2,000-member trade association's annual membership dinner and booster banquet, held April 17.

The J. Frank Gordy Sr. Delmarva Distinguished Citizen Award, the organization's highest honor, was presented to William G. Massey. 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 now is vice president of live operations. Massey has been involved in various organizations to serve the industry, including the Delmarva Poultry Industry, the Maryland Agricultural Commission and the Maryland Poultry Political Action Committee.

Demarva Poultry Industry's Medal of Achievement award for an elected person was presented to Maryland State Sen. Mac Middleton. Middleton, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, is one of the few farmers in the General Assembly. He has been a strong supporter of the chicken industry and agriculture in general since joining the Senate in 1995. He was recognized, in part, because of his outreach to the chicken industry on General Assembly issues, the Star-Democrat reported.

Delaware Department of Agriculture Secretary Ed Kee was presented with the Edward H. Ralph DPI Medal of Achievement for a non-elected person. For more than 30 years, he worked for the University of Delaware; retiring in 2008 to become director of agriculture for Hanover Foods Corporation. In 2009, Gov. Jack Markell enlisted him to become secretary of agriculture. Kee credited with working to help the chicken industry remain strong and grow, as well as working on behalf of the chicken industry by seeking money to maintain and improve chicken diagnostic services at the University of Delaware.

DPI also recognized 12 outstanding 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 Amick Farms LLC

•Rick and Kim Hall, East New Market 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 Mountaire Farms Inc.

 •Mindy and Tom Phillips, Gumboro, Del. Perdue Farms Inc.

•Jason Powell, Delmar Mountaire Farms Inc.

•Lee and Dana Richardson, Willards Perdue Farms Inc.

•Ronald and Audrey Tyndall, Seaford, Del.

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