Delmarva Chicken Association announced the recipients of its Outstanding Grower awards, honoring 12 farm families in Delmarva’s chicken community with recognition as exemplary farmers raising broiler chickens. Each grower operates an independent, family-owned farm raising chickens under contract for one of Delmarva’s five chicken companies. There are more than 1,360 such chicken growers on Delmarva each one an important part of the $4.2 billion chicken community.
“To be a chicken grower in 2021 was to roll with the punches. In a climate roiled by COVID-19, avian influenza and the stirrings of inflation, chicken growers certainly dealt with adversity,” said Holly Porter, DCA’s executive director. “Growers came through for all the families, including mine, who depend on the chickens they raise. For this class of outstanding growers, earning recognition for their work in a year of challenge is a real feather in their caps. And when they share their everyday rewards and challenges with others, they help people who may never set foot on a farm understand how chickens are raised.”
The following growers were honored:
Gary & Pat Bennett
Gary Bennett Farm, Berlin, Md. | Perdue Farms
Brenda Cowgill
Brenda Cowgill Farm, Denton, Md. | Amick Farms
Aaron Dennis
Carrs Creek Farm, Preston, Md. | Perdue Farms
Ben & Kayla Dilworth
Beyla Farm, Greensboro, Md. | Mountaire Farms
Robert & Susan Elliott
Elliott’s Chicks, Delmar, Del. | Mountaire Farms
Aaron & Kathy Mast
Royal Oak Farm, Quantico, Md. | Perdue Farms
Muhammad Parvez
Ish Farm LLC, Oak Hall, Va. | Tyson
Alvin & Norma Warner
Warner Enterprises Inc., Milford, Del. | Coleman Natural Foods
Keith & Sandy Whaley
Three Jokers Farm, Hardscrabble, Del. | Allen Harim
Marcus & Marcia Woodward
Gryffen’s Roost, Houston, Del. | Mountaire Farms
Wan Ki Yu & Eun Young Yu
Cco Cco Farm, Laurel, Del. | Mountaire Farms
John & Carol Zoch
Dixie Line Farm, Seaford, Del. | Amick Farms |
