|
Marvin Childers, president of The Poultry Federation (left) congratulates Gary Murphy, Simmons Foods (middle) on being selected as the 2008 Industry Person of the Year at the 49th annual poultry festival. Ken Primm of O.K. Farms and 2007 Industry Person of the Year (right), assisted in the presentation.
|
Little Rock, AR, JUNE 24, 2008: Gary Murphy of Simmons Foods, Inc. in Siloam Springs was named “Industry Person of the Year”, by The Poultry Federation, at its 49th annual Poultry Festival held June 14 in Rogers.
Murphy is president of poultry operations at Simmons Foods and has served in this position since 1997. Responsibilities include live production, processing, purchasing, engineering, environmental, and international sales. Simmons produces 2.9 million broilers per week and employs 4,500 employees. Facilities include two hatcheries, one feed mill, two slaughter plants, two de-boning facilities and one fully cooked operation. Murphy has also served as Simmons vice president/complex director in Southwest City, Missouri.
Murphy started in the poultry industry at a very young age at his grandfather’s poultry processing plant, Hilbun Poultry in Laurel, Mississippi. He attended college at the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg, where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with a major in finance. Murphy recently served as the chairman of the Board for The Poultry Federation for the 2007-08 year. Last year he served as the general chairman for the 48th Annual Poultry Festival, as well as vice chairman of the Board. Murphy has served as a member on several community boards as well as industry federations including Missouri and Louisiana. He and his wife, Debbie of 36 years, have 2 children and 5 grandchildren.
The Poultry Federation is a 3-state trade organization representing the poultry and egg industries in Arkansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma. Offices are located in Little Rock, AR, Jefferson City, MO, and Oklahoma City, OK. The purposes of the Federation are to promote and protect all poultry interests relating to production, distribution, merchandising and consumption of poultry and poultry products; to disseminate information relating to the various phases of the poultry industry in order to improve and expand markets; to increase efficiency in production and marketing; to encourage and support research in production and marketing of poultry; and to encourage and support youth programs in poultry work.
According to the National Agriculture Statistics Services of the U.S Department of Agriculture, in 2007 Arkansas ranked second and Oklahoma ranked eleventh nationwide in broiler production; Arkansas ranked third and Missouri ranked fifth nationwide in turkey production. Also in 2007, Arkansas ranked eighth in egg production. Arkansas is the only state nationwide ranked in the top 10 of all 3 categories of broiler, turkey, and egg production.
###
Contact: Paulette Binkley
The Poultry Federation
321 South Victory
Little Rock, AR 72201
Phone: 501.375.8131 or
Ken Prim
OK Farms
Fort Smith, AR
Phone: 479.783.3451
|
